It’s nearly 2010, which means it’s time to start planning your New Year’s celebration. Food is probably what comes to mind first, so begin your search over at Gourmandia’s appetizer recipes on video.
I especially recommend artichoke hearts with crabs, horseradish butter and chives, fougasse bread, and pumpkin cappuccino with cardamom for those who don’t want alcoholic beverages.
Find excellent main courses at Gourmandia’s entrée 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.
Don’t forget to look for vegetable recipes on video, too.
For most, New Year’s Eve isn’t complete without adult beverages, so be sure to look at Gourmandia’s cocktail recipes on video and keep plenty of wine and champagne on hand.
The latest trend in parties is themes, so before you definitively choose your menu, consider if you’d like to go this route. Ideas include “Celebrity Night” (where everyone dresses as someone famous), “rock ‘n roll,” “Retro” (often choosing a specific decade), or “Historic Figures” or “masquerade” (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 you’re doing a Hollywood theme, you could print a card that quoted actress Sophia Loren: “Everything you see I owe to spaghetti” and place it in front of a bowl of the simple Italian dish.
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 don’t forget some fun party favors at each plate. For example, if your party theme is “pirates,” leave a sprinkling of gold foil wrapped chocolate coins on each plate.
Gourmet recipes at your finger tips...
