Easy New Year's Soiree

home remodeling articles and tips

by Kathy Hester

There's no better way to start the New Year than having all your friends and family over to celebrate it together. It's much less expensive to have a fancy dinner at your own house instead of going out to eat. Plus, you don't have to drive home afterwards. It's also a great idea to have some extra places prepared for your friends to sleep over as well. If they drink or not, it is often safer to not drive on New Year's Eve because of other people who did imbibe too much. It's always a treat to dress up for parties, so why not make this a black tie affair? It's just one more way to set this day apart from all the rest. Set the table with a beautiful gold or silver tablecloth, your best silver and Noritake dinnerware to set the scene. Set up your table ahead of time with glasses, even put your dessert silver down in advanced. This will save you a ton of time during the dinner. After all, you want to spend more time with your friends and less time running around throughout the night.

Make up glass water pitchers full of fresh mint and lemon slices. While you're at it, go ahead and mix up a special cocktail for the night. This year I'm doing a gin drink with equal parts lemon and orange juice. Add a splash of pomegranate juice to add that festive flare. Do a non-alcoholic version using sparkling water in place of the gin for designated drivers and anyone else who wants to skip the alcohol. You can keep it simple and just have 3 drinks for the whole evening, or go ahead and add wine service to the dinner. It's really up to you.

Have some simple nibbles for when your guests arrive. Make a beautiful cheese or veggie platter and you won't go wrong. If you want to add some hot appetizers, try a warm crab or spinach artichoke dip that you keep warm in a little dipper Crock-pot.

For dinner, serve a soup you can make earlier in the day. It's one less thing to worry about before the party. Keep it warm in a larger slow cooker and it's ready whenever your guests sit down for dinner. Salads can also be made up in advance and kept chilled in the fridge. Try adding some pomegranate seeds and fresh raspberries to give it a colorful twist.

You can keep it simple and only serve a soup or salad, then add in your famous main course and a few veggies on the side. Try something unusual like pumpkin or sun-dried tomato lasagna. Look at sites like foodgawker.com to get some great inspiration.

For dessert, fill up champagne flutes with chocolate mouse or vanilla custard layered with fresh berries and chocolate curls. It's a perfect way to top off an elegant meal with friends.