PARTY HOSTING 101
The key to a good New Year's Eve party at home is the same as any (other) party, and that is setting a mood. You need to make sure your guests feel welcome from the second they walk into the door. You need to greet them, offer them a cocktail or a beverage, and there needs to be food immediately ... Then, it's (all about) setting a party mood in your house.
To set the mood, I recommend dimming the lights and getting the music going early. Be sure to do a little festive decorating and have party hats and noisemakers to encourage the fun.
Having a few activities planned and some games handy isn't a bad idea, either.
Charades lets people be silly, and they're more likely to be silly on New Year's Eve than other nights. And Twister, especially if it's a bunch of singles - need I say more? Monopoly and Life are too time-consuming and require too much thought. Save those for a family game night.
Want another tip? Keep things sexy but simple.
If you're not asking people to dress up, you might suggest to them in the invite that you want them to maybe do creative dressing or creative festive. Maybe you're going to get guys in jeans and bowties; you might get women in jeans and feather boas, but someone's going to step it up.
MIND YOUR MANNERS
And if you're planning on going to a party at a friend's house this year, be the life of the party without killing it.
Everyone has an obligation to be a fun guest. If your mood's not up, don't go ... And most importantly, no one wants to be stuck with a really drunk guest, because then we have to worry about what to do with you. You become the host's responsibility, and no one wants to ring in the new year like that.
Now that you have the basics out of the way, check out six recipes sure to get your party started this New Year's Eve.
PARTY STARTERS
4 recipes guaranteed to add flavor to your New Year's Eve night!
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Tuxedo-ed Strawberries
TUXEDO-ED STRAWBERRIES
Ingredients
* 24 strawberries, stems intact
* 11⁄2 cups semisweet chocolate chips
* 11⁄2 cups white chocolate chips
Instructions
1. Line a large baking sheet with parchment or waxed paper. Wipe strawberries clean with paper towels.
2. Place semi-sweet chocolate chips in a microwave-safe glass bowl. Cook on 50 percent power or defrost for 45 seconds. Press finger into chocolate to see if it is melted; if not, heat for another 45 seconds.
3. Repeat process until chocolate is soft. Stir until mixture is smooth. Repeat process with white chocolate chips.
4. Holding one strawberry by its green top, dip three-fourths of the strawberry into melted white chocolate. Let excess chocolate drip off.
5. Repeat with remaining berries. Place on lined sheet.
6. Dip each white chocolate-dipped berry, at an angle, into the semisweet chocolate, creating one side of the “lapel.”
7. Repeat at an angle on the other side of the berry. Place on waxed-paper-lined sheet.
8. Place a small amount of melted semi-sweet chocolate into a small zip-lock bag. Cut the tip off the corner, creating a very small opening.
9. Pipe on buttons and a bow tie. Refrigerate until chocolate is firm, about 1 hour.
Makes 24 pieces.
“They're easier than they look to do. If you don't feel like you can do this technique, just dip them in melted chocolate chips and call it a day.”
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Vodka-spiked cherry tomatoes with sea salt trio
VODKA-SPIKED CHERRY TOMATOES WITH SEA SALT TRIO
Ingredients
* 24 cherry or grape tomatoes
* 11/2 cups vodka
* Assorted sea salts for dipping
Instructions
1. Place cherry tomatoes in a decorative glass bowl; pour vodka over.
2. Arrange three sea salt varieties in small bowls. Place toothpicks nearby.
3. Encourage guests to dip the cherry tomatoes in the salt of their choice.
Makes 24 pieces.
“You dip them in a trio of sea salts, and you can use a smoke salt, you could use a Hawaiian salt – there’s so many cool salts out – and guests just take a toothpick and dip it in the salt of their choice.”
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Pistachio grapes
PISTACHIO GRAPES
Ingredients
* 4 oz cream cheese, at room temperature
* 2 oz goat cheese, at room temperature
* Salt and pepper to taste
* 24-36 seedless red or green grapes
* 1⁄2 cup pistachios, shelled, finely chopped
Instructions
1. In a medium bowl, mix together the softened cream cheese and goat cheese. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
2. Scoop about a teaspoon of the mixture onto a sheet of plastic wrap; place grape on cheese and use plastic wrap to encase the grape in the cheese mixture.
3. Roll the coated grape in the chopped pistachios; press into the nuts gently to fully coat each grape. Repeat with remaining grapes, cheese and nuts. Refrigerate until ready to serve.
Makes 24-36.
“The juicy top of the grape inside with the nut and the cheese is just a terrific combination.”
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Sausage rolls
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SAUSAGE ROLLS
Ingredients
* Flour for dusting
* 1 sheet of pastry from a 17.25-oz box frozen puff pastry, thawed according to package directions
* 16-oz package bulk breakfast sausage
* Egg wash (1 egg lightly beaten with 1 tablespoon milk or cream)
Instructions
1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
2. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or spray with nonstick spray; set aside.
3. On a lightly floured surface, unfold thawed puff pastry. Cut along the fold lines to create 3 equal-sized rectangles. Roll out each rectangle slightly to a 10- by 5-inch rectangle; set aside.
4. Divide sausage into 3 equal pieces. Fashion each piece into logs the length of the pastry.
5. Place a log just off center on each pastry piece. Fold pastry over the sausage.
6. Seal the long edge by crimping with a fork; roll the pastry log over until the sealed seam is underneath.
7. Brush the pastry log with egg wash. Cut log into 8 pieces. Place the sausage rolls on the prepared baking sheets.
8. Repeat with remaining sausage, pastry and egg wash. Bake 10-12 minutes or until golden brown. Serve warm or at room temperature.
Makes 24 pieces.
“They are classic British pub fare.”
RAISE YOUR GLASS!
Here are simple mixed drinks you can make at your New Year’s Eve party
BREEZE FREEZE MOCKTAIL (FOR YOUR DESIGNATED DRIVERS)
Ingredients
64 oz can of pineapple juice
12 oz can frozen pink lemonade,thawed
12 oz can frozen orange juice,thawed
7UP-
Instructions
Blend together juices and then freeze. Scoop mixture into glasses and top off with 7UP. Garnish with a cherry or slices of orange. Make enough frozen mixture to have on hand for the drivers for the entire evening.
COSMOPOLITAN
Ingredients
* 2 oz citrus vodka
* 3⁄4 oz orange-flavored liqueur
* 2 oz cranberry juice
* 1⁄2 oz fresh lemon juice
* Ice
Instructions
1. Combine all ingredients in a cocktail shaker half-filled with ice cubes.
2. Shake well and strain into a frosted cocktail glass.
3. Rub the rim with orange zest (if desired) and drop it into the glass and serve.
PEACH BELLINI
Instructions
Mix the peach nectar, lemon juice and schnapps in a chilled glass. Add half a cup (or more) of crushed ice, stir, and add the champagne. (Serves 2).
May be prepared in a blender to produce a frozen drink.
APPLE MARTINI
Intructions
Pour all ingredients into a shaker. Shake well and strain into a Martini glass.
A couple of good wines in both Red and White are a good addition to these specialty drinks.
Don't forget to have a couple bottles of bubbly on hand to toast the New Year in.
Have a safe and fun New Year kiddies!
