In our fast-paced world, hospitality is a much needed gift. It can be a gift to our neighbours as well as a gift to our friends, family and marriage. Here are some fun and easy ways to extend hospitality... start by planning a New Year's Bash! Enjoy...
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Can't come up with any of your own ideas? Need some help with the creative side of party planning? We decided to give you a few of our favorite ideas for food, drink, theme and game ideas for your New Year's Bash!
Appetizer -Shrimp Cocktail - Fill a large ring mold with water and freeze overnight. Turn the mold over and invert the ice ring onto a platter and return to freezer. When ready to serve, put cocktail sauce in the center of the mold and place shrimp over the edges of the ice ring.
Soup - Vichyssoise
- 2 small onions
- 2 C. water
- ½ t. salt
- 2 ½ C. instant mashed potatoes
- 2 T. chicken bouillon
- 4 C. whole milk
- 2 C. cream
- Chopped chives
Combine onion, bouillon, water, and salt in large kettle. Heat to boiling. Reduce heat, cover and simmer for 15 minutes. Remove from heat. Add milk and potatoes. Whip until fluffy. Gradually stir in remaining milk, heat just to boiling point, and remove from heat. Cover and chill in refrigerator. Just before serving, stir in cold cream, beating vigorously with a fork until blended. Serve topped with chopped chives. Makes 12 servings.
Main Course - Fillet of Beef
- 6 lbs. tenderloin of beef
- 1 lb. bacon
Place bacon strips on top of beef and roast at 325 approximately 2 ½ hours. Cut into thick slices to serve. For mushroom sauce, add one pound of fresh, sliced sautéed mushrooms to one large bottle of mushroom sauce. Heat thoroughly in a pot, and pour over beef slices before serving. Makes 12 servings.
Side - Buttered Red Potatoes
- 12 small red potatoes, peeled
- ½ C. melted butter
- Chopped parsley
Boil potatoes until tender. Serve covered with butter and parsley.
Side - Asparagus Tips With Hollandaise Sauce (This is a very elegant dish that requires little work!)
- 3 lbs. frozen asparagus tipsCook asparagus according to directions on package. Pour Hollandaise sauce over asparagus as it is served onto guests' plates!
Dessert - Chocolate Symphony
- 2 T. cocoa, 1/8 t. salt
- 1 C. whole almonds
- 1 pkg. (6 oz) semisweet chocolate chips
- 2 ½ sticks unsalted butter
- 1 ½ C. sugar
- 3 eggs
- 1 C. flour
- 2 pints chocolate sorbet
- 12 truffles
- Chocolate sauce
Heat oven to 350. Heat ½ C. water to simmering. Stir in cocoa and salt, let cool. Grease 10" springform pan. Grind almonds and chocolate separately in a food processor; set aside. In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Stir in almonds and chocolate. Beat in flour. Add cocoa mixture; stir well. Pour into prepared pan; bake 35-45 minutes, until inserted wooden toothpick comes out clean. Cool in pan on rack 1 hour. Remove cake from pan; cool on rack 1 hour more. With 2 ½ " cookie cutter, cut 12 circles from cake. Place each on a dessert plate; top with a small scoop of sorbet and a truffle, and drizzle with chocolate sauce.
Games & Activities -
A formal, sit down dinner is always a wonderful way to spend the last few hours of the existing year. Wonderful conversations occur during this time and are usually centered around hopes and dreams for the future as well as reminiscing about what the previous year has brought. We recommend that this activity be the focal point of the evening, but we have the following suggestions to help you make the transition from dinner to the all-out wild celebration that occurs at the stroke of midnight!
Hold a "Top This Toast" contest to see who can come up with the most impressive or exotic toast of the evening. Be sure to award the winner with a bottle of champagne!
Themes -
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