Welcoming In The New Year, 2019!

My dear readers……it is almost time to be Welcoming In The New Year!

And I believe the tips and recipes I have below will be a help if you are still deciding what to do or what to make.

I know this works because I set up this tablescape and easy peasy recipes on last New Year’s Eve.

Yep! if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it…I always say.

I love this festive table and our guests last year loved it too…don’t let the clocks fool you.  

We had an early dinner, our guests went home and the Captain and I went to bed about 11 p.m.

We did manage to wake up and celebrate at the stroke of midnight with our Orange Crush!

See this post for the orange soda explanation. 🙂

This platter was so easy…I bought cupcakes at the supermarket and placed a sparkler in the center of each one.

Sorry, I forgot to put the cupcakes into the silver and gold cupcake liners after sitting them on the platter. It makes your cupcakes look a bit home made.

Oops!

And the simple to make appetizers will surprise you…

Here is the secret ingredients for the appetizer bites.

Are you ready? You won’t believe how simple this is.

…Mini frozen Eggo waffles, Chick-Fil-A nuggets, maple syrup and red pepper jelly!

Say What?????

Just place the waffles in the oven per directions on the box, top with your favorite chicken nuggets and drizzle the mixture of maple syrup and red pepper jelly to taste over the top and serve! Oh so crispy and I’ll bet you can’t eat just one. 🙂

AND the combination of the syrup and jelly taste wonderful the next day on pancakes …or left over mini waffles for your New Year’s Day breakfast! 😉

AND the pudding parfaits couldn’t be easier, and they are just waiting for someone to grab a long teaspoon.

Like a Iced tea long teaspoon…oh wait!

They are iced tea spoons!

See? Use what you have on hand.

So simple to make too!

You can make your own pudding(s)…chocolate and vanilla OR you can do what I did and buy already made puddings!  

Then you cut up an angel food cake or pound cake or whatever your choice is and layer in a parfait glass and top with whipped cream.  

I sprinkled gold sugar (from Michael’s) on the top.

Quick and easy and pretty.

How simple is that?

Oh, and a suggestion for making them?

Use a plastic bag and cut off the tip for piping in the puddings and you won’t mess up the sides of your narrow parfait glasses.

(I always think I don’t need to use that step…but when I am done “spooning”, I have that old hindsight is 20/20 thing)

Oh, and I tossed in a few silver dragees.  

They are safe to eat, but if your guests are concerned…just eat around them. 

Then I poured the champagne …use the good glasses, they are so pretty with some of the same gold sugar on the rims.

Now that we have talked about the food, let’s talk about the table.

I used a black tablecloth and black linen napkins.

The clock salad plates are an old Pottery Barn purchase many years ago when living in Seattle.

I don’t think you can find them anymore.

I have always liked them and use them for every New Year’s Eve or anytime I have a clock theme.

I have the napkin rings, the little saucers and the dinner plates.

I like that the plates and napkin rings have different clock faces as you can see. Sooooo cool.

I also have the platter (holding the cupcakes) and the dipping bowls (holding the votive candles)

The square chargers are silver and a black plate sits beneath the clock plates.

I used gold flatware and black napkins and sprinkled star and circle confetti on the black tablecloth.

This makes the stars and circle confetti pop.

You can’t begin a countdown unless you have an hour glass on the table….and of course several clocks of various sizes and shapes.  

A tall aspen tree adorned with small led lights sits in the center of the table along with a few sprigs of flocked pine needles.

There are also party hats and party horns.

The champagne bucket sits on one end of the tablescape and has a “cheers” wine stopper sitting in the bucket.

I found it at Pier 1 along with the initial “M” wine stopper. 

Below you will see the black and white straws with black bow ties I found at World Market, along with a few “poppers, or crackers” that I like to give my guests as party favors.

I don’t remember where I purchased the paper napkins.

The gold swizzle sticks with various words atop …are really cool too…..

…..and I placed each one in the flutes.

So dear friends….this was how we spent last New Year’s Eve enjoying the company of good friends.

I hope this gives you a few ideas for your New Year’s Eve celebration.

Just remember, whether you are at home or at a party, above all…please be safe!

“Here’s to a bright New Year and a fond farewell to the old;

here’s to the things that are yet to come,

and to the memories that we hold.”