Don’t Judge Me Mondays: New Year’s Eve!
I hope you all had a nice Christmas yesterday with your families! My husband and I are now looking towards New Year’s Eve. We’re hosting a party (surprising right?), so I’ve been thinking about what we’ll serve. I thought I’d share a list of ideas for those of you that are also hosting parties.
For drinks we will probably have some beer and wine available and I’ll make one signature cocktail for the evening. I selected the list of cocktails below because they are easy to throw together. There are some that could be made in batches and then served or some that are easy to make on the spot.
The Boozy Palmer – This drink is simple (only 2 ingredients), tasty and can be made ahead. You can mix a large batch in a pitcher and let it chill in the fridge. When you’re ready to serve, pour it over ice in jars or other fun glasses. Add a straw, lemon wedge and mint sprig if you want to get fancy.
The Blackberry Sparkler – This is a great drink if you’re looking for something bubbly. It’s relatively easy to mix at the time you’re going to serve it. It’s also a nice option to break out just for a midnight toast.
The Tropical Storm – Many of you are probably in areas with temperatures below freezing so I’m sure your guests would appreciate a tropical cocktail. The Tropical Storm is also an excellent contender for a party because you can mix up a big batch ahead of time and store in the fridge. I recommend storing it in a sealed container so the ginger beer doesn’t lose its carbonation. When you’re ready to serve, pour it in a fun tropical glass and garnish with a Maraschino cherry or pineapple wedge.
The Orange Gin & Tonic – Even though this drink requires a little assembly, I like it as a cocktail option because it’s light and crisp. If you’re serving any heavy foods, your guests might appreciate the respite this citrusy cocktail provides. To make things easier have a shot glass or cocktail jigger and measuring cup at the ready. Being prepared will make putting this drink together that much easier. It’s simple enough that if you’ve made it a few times, you could probably have the elements out and let your guests make one themselves when they’re ready.
Cranberry Celebration Punch – This is another great make ahead option. Put in everything but the sparkling cranberry juice and frozen cranberries. When you’re ready to serve, add those elements and pour into wine glasses.
Now onto the food! There are several things I consider when planning foods to serve for a party like this:
- Does anyone have dietary restrictions (vegetarian, nut allergies, etc.)?
- How many people will be coming?
- How long will the party last?
- Are you ok with preparing/cooking food while your guests are there?
- What sweet item should I serve?
Here are some options.
Sweet and Salty Roasted Chickpeas – These chickpeas are tasty but also vegan so they’re a nice item to have out for any vegan guests you’ll have. They also have a nice crunch and toe that line between sweet and salty that everyone will appreciate.
Caramelized Onion Dip – The recipe for this dip makes a large batch. If you know it’s going to be a long party and/or you’ll be having a lot of guests this is a good choice. You can serve the dip with veggies and potato chips and it’s a real crowd-pleaser. It also keeps in the fridge for up to a week so you can make it days ahead of time and it will still be delicious!
Cocoa-crusted Pulled Pork – My husband and I most likely going to serve this tasty pork at our New Year’s Eve party. Even though it takes some work up front, it’s a great option to serve in a crockpot. We’ll serve it with those little Hawaiian rolls and maybe some raw onion on the side. I also like it as an option for a party like this that may go quite a few hours. I think it’s a good idea to have at least one item that’s a bit heavy to soak up some of the booze your guests are drinking. 😉
Cranberry Baked Brie – This is an item that will require you be in the kitchen when your guests are there. You can get it assembled a few hours ahead of time, but this pastry-wrapped brie is best served warm. You’ll want to wait until most of your guests have arrived to bust it out. However, it is a real crowd-pleaser so no one will mind that you had to disappear into the kitchen for a bit to make it (I promise!).
Sesame and Brown Sugar Cookies – I like to have at least one sweet or “dessert-y” option available. These cookies are a good choice because they are still tasty at room temp, are a little bit different than just your average chocolate chip and they are already in individual servings.
So there you have it, I hope you have found this list helpful in planning your New Year’s Eve party.
I’d love to hear what you’re all doing for New Year’s! Do you have a food you always serve?