Celebrating New Year’s Eve at Home

Back in the good ole’ days, I had a blast going to New Year’s Eve parties and welcoming in the next new year with my friends. Now I prefer to stay home and hang out with my family and close friends. Staying home on New Year’s Eve doesn’t have to be boring, it’s a fantastic time to bond and have fun. So what can you do to make your New Year’s party special and perhaps turn it into a tradition?

Decide on an eclectic menu for the evening that doesn’t take a lot of time to prepare. Consider making a meal out of a variety of appetizers. Cheese fondue is a fun dinner idea for New Year’s Eve. Sharing a cheese fondue with bits of bread affords you the opportunity to eat, sit, visit, and recall fond memories together. Serve a dip, hummus, and or salsa with a choice of crackers, pita chips, and a veggie platter. Spinach puffs, stuffed mushrooms, and potato mini quiches are always a hit in our home. Have bowls of trail mix, spicy popcorn, and flavored peanuts ready for munching. Dress up some homemade pizzas with wholesome veggies and fruit. Don’t forget about some yummy desserts like cheesecake, cupcakes, cookies, and puddings.

There are oodles of non-alcoholic drink recipes that you can create for your festive evening. A holiday punch made from fruit juice and ginger ale is divine. The kids love cocoa garnished with whipped cream and candy cane crumbs. One of our favorites is Eggnog Coffe Punch and is great for Christmas and New Year’s Eve functions.

*1 1/2 cups coffee ice cream
*1 1/2 cups eggnog
*1 cup hot strongly brewed coffee
*4 tablespoons frozen whipped topping, thawed
*4 pinches ground nutmeg

Scoop the ice cream into a pan over low heat. Stir in the eggnog and coffee; and heat until warm, about 3 minutes. Pour into four glass or ceramic mugs. Top each with 1 tablespoon whipped topping and sprinkle with nutmeg. Serve immediately.

Bring out the board games, card games, and video games and get ready for some festive competition. The kids can play an age-appropriate game, while adults might what to play cards.

If you have a movie channel, see what’s playing. Or bring out your stash of favorite movies and revisit them. Why not make it a movie marathon night. We have several sets of various shows like Sherlock Holmes, Miss Marple, and Hercule Poirot that we love to rewatch during the Christmas holidays.

Have your camera ready to capture those impromptu and unexpected moments. We’ve taken lots of hilarious photos over the years that memorialize the day forever. We’ll pull out old family albums and reminisce.

The benefits of staying home with family are aplenty. Most people drink way too much during a New Year’s event, and they’re inhibitions are set free. You don’t have to travel on icy roads or take home an inebriated friend. Nor do you have to stand in cold or snowy weather waiting for the clock to ring midnight. At home, it’s quiet, safe and you’re with people you like and want to be with. You save time, money, and possible disappointments.