Invite your family and friends over for a casual, relaxing evening of fellowship and fuss-free fare! Bring in the New Year with this easy, healthy and delicious menu!

Indian food is one of my favorite types of food to make and this is one of my favorite menus.

Indian Chicken

Feeds 6 people

1 cup plain non-fat yogurt
1 tablespoon fresh emon juice
2 teaspoons ground cumin
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
2 teaspoons cayenne pepper
2 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper
1 tablespoon minced fresh ginger
4 teaspoons salt, or to taste
3 boneless skinless chicken breast, cut into bite-size pieces

Curry Sauce

1 tablespoon butter
1 clove garlic, minced
1 jalapeno pepper, finely chopped
2 teaspoons ground cumin
2 teaspoons paprika
1 tsp. ground cloves
2 tsp. garam masala
3 teaspoons salt, or to taste
1 (8 ounce) can tomato sauce
1 cup heavy cream or evaporated skim milk
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro

In a large bowl, combine yogurt, lemon juice, 2 teaspoons cumin, cinnamon, cayenne, black pepper, ginger, and 4 teaspoons salt. Stir in chicken, cover, and refrigerate for 1 hour.

Cook chicken in a saute pan, on a grill, or under the broiler; discard marinade. Cook until juices run clear.

In the meantime, melt butter in a large heavy skillet over medium heat. Sauté garlic and jalapeno for 1 minute. Season with 2 teaspoons cumin, paprika, and 3 teaspoons salt. Stir in tomato sauce and cream. Simmer on low heat until sauce thickens, about 20 minutes. Add grilled chicken, and simmer for 10 minutes. Transfer to a serving platter, and garnish with fresh cilantro.

Indian Yellow Rice

2 c. water
1 c. Basmati Rice
Pinch of saffron threads
½ tsp. ground cloves
½ tsp. coriander
1 tsp. salt
1 bay leaf

Bring water to a boil. Add salt, bay leaf, saffron and ground cloves and rice. Lower and simmer about 10 minutes or until rice is cooked. Very easy!

Cucumber and Tomato in Yogurt

1 medium cucumber, seeded and cubed
1 tomato, seeded and chopped
1 green onion, chopped
1 tbsp. cilantro, chopped
1/4 tsp. cumin
Dash of pepper
½ clove garlic, minced or a little garlic powder
½ c. plain yogurt
½ tsp. salt

Combine all ingredients and refrigerate.

Yogurt Cake

Ok, so this cake is full of sugar and not so healthy, but we enjoyed a very healthy dinner, so live a little… Moderation will be the key to your success this year!

1 c. plain yogurt
½ c. confectioners’ sugar (you can also use agave syrup)
3 eggs
¼ c. melted butter
2 c. unbleached flour
Zest of one lemon
1 tsp. baking powder

Preheat oven to 350*.

Beat yogurt and confectioners’ sugar. Beat in remaining ingredients. Bake in a greased 9 x 13-in baking pan for about 40 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.

While baking make syrup:

3 c. granulated sugar
3 c. water
2 tbsp. lemon juice
Zest of one lemon

Bring syrup to a boil and pour over cake as soon as it comes out of the oven. Watch how the cake moves away from the pan. Just when you think you can’t pour any more syrup over it soaks into the cake!

Garnishes might include fresh fruit, blueberry syrup and whipped cream. Nuts are also a nice garnish.