Planning the Perfect New Year’s Party
Itâs nearly 2010, which means itâs time to start planning your New Yearâs celebration. Food is probably what comes to mind first, so begin your search over at Gourmandiaâs appetizer recipes on video.
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I especially recommend artichoke hearts with crabs, horseradish butter and chives, fougasse bread, and pumpkin cappuccino with cardamom for those who donât want alcoholic beverages.
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Find excellent main courses at Gourmandiaâs entrĂ©e recipes on video, or meat recipes on video, or poultry recipes on video, or seafood recipes on video. Some nice choices include milk-fed veal chop with vegetable ragout, leg of lamb, roasted duck, or salmon express.
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Donât forget to look for vegetable recipes on video, too.
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For most, New Yearâs Eve isnât complete without adult beverages, so be sure to look at Gourmandiaâs cocktail recipes on video and keep plenty of wine and champagne on hand.
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The latest trend in parties is themes, so before you definitively choose your menu, consider if youâd like to go this route. Ideas include âCelebrity Nightâ (where everyone dresses as someone famous), ârock ân roll,â âRetroâ (often choosing a specific decade), or âHistoric Figuresâ or âmasqueradeâ (for an all-out costume party). Try to make your menu fit in, even if it means thinking of creative titles for each dish. Or try this idea: If youâre doing a Hollywood theme, you could print a card that quoted actress Sophia Loren: âEverything you see I owe to spaghettiâ and place it in front of a bowl of the simple Italian dish.
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Decorations are a must, and should fit in with your theme. If you choose to not have a party theme, go with classic decorations like balloons and streamers. Decorate the table, too. A buffet table should have centerpieces along its length, and dining tables can have one or up to three low centerpieces. Try recycling Christmas decorations. For example, remove the Christmas decorations from small wreaths and use them around serving dishes or candles. Also be sure to check out some fun napkin folding how-tos on video and donât forget some fun party favors at each plate. For example, if your party theme is âpirates,â leave a sprinkling of gold foil wrapped chocolate coins on each plate.
