Party Ideas

[Redlass]

You guys did such a wonderful job of helping me with the shower that I threw earlier this year, that I'm turning to you for help again.

Every year we throw a New Year's Eve Party. I cook for 2-3 days before the party and we serve lots and lots of homemade appetizers (I think we average around 15-20 different appetizers) and usually one main course meat dish (such as turkey, ham, duck, etc.).

However, this year I want to do something a little different or more themed. See, New Year's Eve is our wedding anniversary which is why I get elaborate in the first place. This year we're probably going to have fewer people than normal, but it is also our 10th anniversary, so I want to do something special.

So I need some creative ideas for food, decorating, music, and/or games.

Oh, and we usually have 5 to 8 children under age 10 so I usually make kid-type appetizers too (peanut butter and jelly roll-ups, reindeer chocolate pretzels, ham/cheese/pineapple sticks, etc.). Some of the kids are pretty picky eaters so I need to mix in some things that are basic.

Got any ideas?

[mjfrombuffalo[$]]

Cheese. Ya can't go wrong with cheese. Have lots of cheese.

mj
who isn't really helpful but hopes she gets invited - if, of course, there's cheese

[theworm[$]]

Oh fun! Any happy anniversary!
I'm going to put my thinking cap on - and I'll be back!!!

[Redlass]

MJ: You're invited. Heck, anyone here who wants to show up is invited. There will be plenty of food.

Cheese is definitely on the list. Here are some things I've done in the past:

Baked brie with honey and walnuts (this is almost mandatory as my friends expect it. I'll sometimes try to dress it up by cutting shapes in the cresent roll dough I use before baking).

Cream cheese with pesto cut into the middle

Cream cheese mixed with paprika and basil

Baked brie with cranberry (didn't go over nearly as well)

Various store-bought cheese (my favorites being havarti dill and jack cheese with wild morel)

[theworm[$]]

OK
The traditional 10th anniversary "gift" is tin or alluminum

The modern 10th anniversary "gift" is Leather

The alternative 10th anniversary "gift" is Diamonds


Here's where I would start! - It's 10 years for you two, AND it New Years eve. That means glitz and glammer. I would decorate in shiny metalic foil - for the tin/alluminum theme.

You are already planning to make a meat dish - so that will cover you in the leather area.

Diamonds - Well - I think we may have to talk to Redlord about that, but you should work in sparkley things. Sparkling champagne and/or cider. Those sparkley sugar thingies to decorate cake or cookies. Cut things ( Like MJ's cheese) into diamond shapes - diamond shaped crackers, etc.

You also need hearts and "rings" to show continuity and love.
This will be fun!!!!

That's just a start - I'll keep thinking!

[Redlass]

Oh, thank you! I've been meaning to look up what the 10th anniversary is, but hadn't done so yet. Leather, aluminum, and diamonds (I always thought diamonds were 75th! But given that we'll be 99 on our 75th anniversary, I don't think we'll be needing diamonds at that point. Heck, we might not even remember each other's names at that point. Rick insists, though, that he'll still be telling the same dumb duck joke and I'll still be falling for it. He's probably right.)

I don't usually do cookies, but I have some time off this year and was thinking the little oen and I could bake cookies together. Sparklies are a good idea!

[magenta321]

Hmm. I don't know the specific recipe, but I have had FANTASTIC hor d'orves (sp?) recently that would be good for kids and adults alike.

I believe they were strips of bacon rolled in brown sugar. Then they were wrapped around thin breadsticks, and baked. Not sure if I left out any ingrediets. Perhaps someone else knows.

They were absolutely fabulous, however. And they looked really nice.

[Redlass]

That sounds delicious! And a great appetizer/finger food!

[CurtisEdmonds]

A little Southwestern flavor:

Mix up cream cheese and salsa, then spread on flour tortillas. Roll up the flour tortillas, stick in some toothpicks, and then slice away. Instant snack.

[Redlass]

Oh! I like that. And if I use green tortillas (either the basil flavor or the jalapeno flavor), it'll even look festive for the holidays.

[murasaki]

Bridgette - You can also sprinkle a little bit of chopped olive to the tortillas after you'd spread the cream cheese and salsa on them, before you roll them up. Depends on the flavor you're going for. I think this would work better with the jalapeno tortillas than basil.

--naomi