Vivacious Vegan Recipes for New Year's Eve Parties

With New Year's Eve just around the corner, many people are beginning to plan their celebrations to welcome in 2010. If one is seeking to celebrate in a healthy way, he or she may want to try these vegan friendly recipes. None of these party foods require cooking and can be prepared ahead of time.

Festive Black Bean and White Corn Dip

1/4 cup Bragg's apple cider vinegar

1/4 cup organic olive oil

1/4 cup organic sugar

2 teaspoons organic garlic salt

1 can of organic black beans, drained and washed

1 can of white corn, drained (I recommend using organic if available)

1 bag of corn tortilla chips

Mix apple cider vinegar, olive oil, sugar, and garlic salt together in a bowl with a wire whisk. Add black beans and white corn, and stir the mixture with a spoon until the beans and corn are well coated. Serve with corn tortilla chips (my family enjoys the white corn ones, but the yellow or blue corn chips work well too).

Fantastic Fruit Salad

1 cup of organic strawberries, quartered

1 cup of organic mango, chopped

1 cup of organic pineapple, chunked

1 cup of organic blueberries

Wash fruit. Slice the strawberries into quarters, the mango into bite-size pieces, and the pineapple into chunks. Place these into a large bowl. Add the blueberries. Cover the top of the bowl with plastic or foil wrap, and refrigerate for 1 hour. This process will allow the juices of the fruit to mingle. Serve and enjoy with granola or by itself.

Bountiful Brown Rice Treats

1/2 cup creamy peanut butter or almond butter

1/2 cup agave nectar

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

2 cups crispy brown rice cereal

Mix peanut butter, agave nectar, vanilla, and cinnamon together in a bowl. Add cereal, and stir until all the ingredients are well blended. If the mixture sticks to the spoon, use another spoon or knife to get it back into the bowl.

Have either a bowl of water or a sink nearby and wet hands. With wet hands, form the mixture into spoon-sized balls and place them on a plate. Serve and enjoy.

When planning your menu for your New Year's Eve party, give one or all of these recipes a try. Your taste buds will thank you. May you and yours have a happy and prosperous New Year!