Pulling together a last-minute New Year’s party? Cookbook author Gena Knox tells us how.

By Amy Flurry
December 30, 2010

Gena Knox; Southern My Way: Simple Recipes, Fresh Flavors

Gena Knox; Southern My Way: Simple Recipes, Fresh Flavors

Among Gena Knox’ fondest childhood memories of growing up in rural south Georgia are those of her mother preparing to entertain at home on Saturday nights. “She would break out the Gourmet magazine and experiment with fun recipes,” said Knox. “I remember her making Baked Alaska the first time and the smell of roasted pecans and Willie Nelson playing on the record player.”

Her mother’s culinary traditions and delight in entertaining, whether around the dinner table each night or for special occasions, nurtured the same sense of connection to family and community in Gena Knox.

In her new cookbook, Southern My Way: Simple Recipes, Fresh Flavors, (a sequel to her first book, Gourmet Made Simple) Gena Knox puts a modern, healthier spin on the classic recipes she was raised on, lightening them up with contemporary flavors and ingredients and simplifying recipes for a new, faster paced of life. She also revisits the local farmers and southern food artisans who keep the region’s foodways and farming traditions vibrant.

But the real allure of Southern My Way is that the prep for homestyle recipes that yield made-from-scratch taste is no more than 20 minutes. That's particularly important if you've decided to throw together a last-minute New Year's Eve party and need to fit food shopping, cooking, decorating and planning a party outfit into a few short days. “My fondest New Years memories are of small dinner parties with close friends sharing great champagne and a delicious dinner together. I love a low-key, relaxing approach to New Year's, which is a nice change from the busy, and often hectic holidays” Knox told us. We asked Gena Knox—who often uses eBay to source creative tabletop décor and serving platters— how she plans a New Year's Eve party without the stress or worry.

The Inside Source: With New Years right on the heels of the holidays, what do you serve that is easy, fail-safe and impressive?

Gena Knox: I always think you should do a little more than just dips for the holidays. There are several easy options that make impressive appetizers. Roasted chickpeas with spices is one of my favorite appetizers to make because it is so simple: Toss rinsed and drained chickpeas with olive oil and spices such as cumin and Ancho Chile powder then roast at a 450 degree oven for 10-12 minutes until crispy. These are great to put next to the bar and are quick and easy to prepare. Another recipe I love to serve is a unique spin on traditional hummus. Substituting chickpeas with edamame makes a festive appetizer with its fresh green color. Edamame hummus is great to serve with fresh veggies or crackers for dipping. From Southern My Way, my recipe for pickled shrimp is a nice alternative to so many of the rich holiday appetizers. These shrimp are filling yet healthy and are a great start to the New Year.

Sour Cream Rolls; Pickled Shrimp; Berry Dessert

Sour Cream Rolls; Pickled Shrimp; Berry Dessert

The Inside Source: How important is food presentation to you?

Gena Knox: People always eat with their eyes first and presentation is key. Simple garnishes with seasonal fruits and fresh greens make a world of difference when arranging food on a platter. Sprinkle platters with pomegranate seeds for a shot of color or nestle an open pomegranate in the corner of the platter with sprigs of flat-leaf parsley. Another great winter fruit to garnish with is kumquats. Simply arrange the kumquats with Meyer lemons and greenery on a full platter of food.

The Inside Source: What should you keep in your pantry in case you want to pull together a last-minute party?

Gena Knox: I always keep good quality fruit jams and preserves in my pantry. They make a nice accompaniment a variety of cheeses. I also always keep assorted olives in our refrigerator. These are easy to heat with a little olive oil, bay leaves and lemon zest, which infuses the olives with great flavor and is perfect for serving with fresh bread for dipping. Another easy, quick fix is to have some smoked wild salmon stored in the freezer, which thaws quickly. You can serve with crackers or mix with cream cheese, capers and lemon to make a delicious spread.

The Inside Source: You mentioned that you’ve sourced items off eBay to display food or to spice up the food presentation. Share your eBay finds with us?

Gena Knox: Celebrating New Years reminds me of a clean, fresh start, so I like using simple décor for my celebration. My favorite combinations are silver and white. I find beautiful white platters and vintage silver platters on eBay to create an elegant but classic look. Always have a designated area in the home for a self-service bar and arrange champagne glasses on silver trays. I look for any excuse to use my nice crystal and some of my favorite glasses are Colleen by Waterford I purchased on eBay when I got married. Everything tastes better when you are drinking out of a beautiful glass. If you don’t have nice crystal on-hand, a variety of vintage glasses creates a glamorous look.

The Inside Source: What are other easy ways to dress up your table decor?

Gena Knox: I source eBay for silverplated bud vases to arrange white amaryllis blooms. Another of my favorite unconventional displays is vintage cutting boards in unusual shapes or interesting woods. They make great serving platters for cheese and other appetizers. And embroidered table linens, easy to find on eBay, add the sweetest touch of the handmade to a table.

Do New Year's Like Gena Knox

These recipes from Southern My Way are a delicious way to kickstart the New Year.

Manchego-Stuffed Dates

From Knox: "These little canapés are served at Five and Ten, my favorite restaurant in Athens. They remind me of the bacon-wrapped dates my grandmother used to serve at Christmas: a little sweet, a little salty, and totally irresistible."

PREP TIME: 20 minutes; YIELDS: 12 canapés

½ cup celery, very thinly sliced at an angle; ½ teaspoon sherry vinegar; ½ teaspoon olive oil, plus more for drizzling; 12 Medjool dates; 1 ounce Manchego cheese, cut into 1-inch matchsticks; ½ teaspoon smoked or regular paprika

1. In a small bowl, toss celery with vinegar and oil and lightly season with salt.

2. Gently cut a slit into each date using a small knife. Remove pit and stuff each date with 2 slices of celery and 1 stick of Manchego cheese.

3. Arrange dates on a platter and drizzle lightly with olive oil. Sprinkle with just enough paprika to give the plate a little color, and serve.

Cheese-Wrapped Olives

From Knox: "Very seldom will you arrive at a cocktail party in the South and not be offered a homemade cheese straw. The dough is extremely versatile; my mom favored it as a crispy coating for olives. One bite and you’ll understand why"

PREP TIME: 20 minutes; COOK TIME: 15 minutes; YIELDS: about 3 dozen

1 (10-ounce) block sharp cheddar, room temperature; 1 stick unsalted butter (1/2 cup), softened; 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour; 1 ½ teaspoons kosher salt; ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper or more to taste; About 40 large green olives with pimentos

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Shred cheese using a hand grater or a food processor with cheese-shredding attachment. Combine cheese, butter, flour, salt and pepper in a food processor fitted with the blade attachment. Process until dough forms a ball and separates from side of processor.

2. Using hands, roll dough into 1-inch balls and shape 1 ball around each olive, making sure olive is completely covered in dough. Place on ungreased baking sheet about 2 inches apart.

3. Bake for 15 minutes until lightly browned. Allow to cool before serving.

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