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Need ideas for a New Year's Eve bash! Help.

851 views 9 replies 5 participants last post by  Lockwood 
#1 ·
A month or two ago we and a group of friends started talking about us hosting a dinner and a campfire for New Year's. Now it's turned into a big deal, over 40 people are coming! I couldn't be happier, but I don't know what to do with them!

So far I'm cooking my very best dish, veggie and meat lasagnas (enough to feed an army :D), salads and bread, we are getting roasted chickens, and providing all the wine and champagne.
I'm asking everyone to bring additional drinks, appetizers, and desserts.
Many will be staying with us, so I'll also be cooking breakfast.
(Any ideas on an easy breakfast menu?!?)

I'm going to turn the apps and desserts into a recipe exchange. Everyone provides cards to sit next to their dish, my hope was that everyone would bring their best, and it would be fun.
(Would you like this?)

Our friends came up with the idea of drawing a few names, only those interested playing would submit, and doing a mock newlyweds game.
(Need game ideas!)

Do you guys have any ideas? I need this to be classy (yet informal), fun, and something that will leave a lasting impression! Any ideas for decorating?

Thanks so much for any help! HELP!! :lol:
 
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#3 ·
You are a brave woman.

Your ideas sound fun! I like the recipe exchange idea...neat.

In the SW we do pig roasts, some people bury them on coals (night before and all through the day), some roast them in a pit. Chicken sounds good.

Pinata's are fun, so is karaoke. My favorite game is pictionary... for a small "split off" from the group of 40.

Music, gotta have music. :) If a few or more of your guest are musicians, see if they want to bring their instruments and play w "others". Our friends did this at there last NYE party - they seemed to have a blast, made me wish I could play something!

My favorite NYE party favor (left a lasting impression) was these japanese origami looking things that you unrolled and they had little objects in them, like tiny saws and hammers. They were just so "different".

2013 wine glass charms?
 
#5 ·
Thanks guys for the ideas!!
I'm stressing a bit wanting to be the "hostess with the mostest!" Lol!

Digging online for awesome favors Missy, recipes, and must have that Jenga game!

DD is getting a karaoke machine for Christmas, going to bring that out, and we've been looking for a musician!! Pretty sure no one in the group plays.... Bummer!!
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#6 ·
I am a complete dud for party ideas, but food I might offer an idea…
Breakfast-
Not sure how your egg supply is, but whenever I have too many eggs, I make a crustless quiche/frittata “thing” (you know me) and bread puddings.
These can be made ahead/stored in the fridge until you are ready to pop them in the oven to bake. There plenty of good quiche recipes out there, but here is my favorite EASY but nice version that you can double or triple no problem.

1 dozen eggs
1 to 2 cups milk (*see note)
1 +cups Chopped veggies of choice
1+ cup Sausage of choice (**see note)
Garlic
Salt
Seasonings/herbs
Shredded cheese
Paprika
In large bowl (or mason jar) beat (or shake) eggs.
Add milk and mix (shake) again.
*Note- less milk equals denser texture. More milk equals fluffier texture.
Add seasonings and herbs of choice.
Mix
Spray square or rectangle casserole dish(s) with pam.
Scatter veggies and sausage into dish(s)
**Note- any sausage will do. If using sliceable/Polish type sausage of sausage just cut into bite sized pieces. If using soft Jimmy Dean type, crumble and brown in a skillet first.
Pour egg mixture over top, sprinkle with cheese, then paprika and some leftover herbs (for pretty factor) and bake at 350 to 375til done. (Over baking doesn’t hurt at all) Slice and serve.

You can have the sausage and veggies precut and ready to go in baggies, and the egg/milk mixture in a jar waiting in the fridge. Pour/assemble and bake when ready.
I have used both types of sausage and they are equally as good. The veggies are usually whatever is handy- broccoli, cauliflower, chopped spinach, shredded potatoes, mushrooms, whatever. Frozen work just as well.

Bread pudding-
Well, you will have to look one of those up for the exacts, but I make them all the time. Using homemade GF bread makes no difference in the end dish (if you need to do that) and you can make these savory or sweet.
They are super easy because you can actually put the whole thing together, cover with wrap, and keep in fridge overnight or until you are ready to bake. You can also make these in a crockpot too.
Our favorite is maple cinnamon (with a drizzle of French vanilla CoffeeMate creamer for me)

Ree Drummond lives way out in the country and cooks for large groups of people a lot. She has a show on Food Network and some good cookbooks. ( I recently got one from the library, and I will be buying as soon as I can)Her food is down home good, but with a flair towards entertaining a hungry crowd. I'm not the biggest fan of her, but the food is yummy and she is like us- on a ranch/farm.
click "cooking" (not tasty kitchen) then click "breakfast."
enjoy
The Pioneer Woman | Ree Drummond
 
#7 ·
Hiring a musician, wow! You are going to be the hostess w the mostess! My sister makes "pretty food", I am lucky if I make it well, period. She makes "finger sandwiches" and stacks them in a pyramid "array" on a pretty tray. They are just little sandwiches...but they look classy! And, I think pinafores look so beautiful all stacked and displayed. Making them is above my pay grade, so I buy them. Yeah, I just cheat..what the heck. Big events...I have catered. Its cheaper than a nervous breakdown. :) I soooo envy someone that can do it themselves!!!
For the small groups we have over during the holidays, I get the sparkling stuff that looks like wine or champaigne (non alcholic) b/c I don't drink (except kahlua), and I always figure others might not also. I like it b/c I, too, can pour something into crystal. :) To date, its just been me and the kids hitting the sparkling grape juice. :) But, ya never know. :)
 
#8 ·
You guys rock!

Thank you thank you Lockwood!!! Going to do the casserole, you saved me hours looking online! I like TPW too, not really her personality, but I have a few of her shows locked down on the DVR! Going to visit her. Cheese guru, what kind would you suggest? LOL!!

Well Missy, DH is on a roll tonight... I just asked him AGAIN to find me a musician, guitar player, his comment... "Hey! I know this guy named Sirius!! He's GREAT! Knows all the classics'!"
BA bum bump. So that's another thing on my "to do" list.

I'm going to do the casseroles, think kielbasa sausage would be good in it (better than ham, blegh), and then do a broccoli, and a bacon one? And then I was thinking a bagel bar, with lox, cream cheese, veggies...
I'll make it purdy, like you suggested Missy!!
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#9 ·
Ohh, good idea on the juice, some sparkling grape will be perfect!! There will be a couple older kids (upper teens) I have to cover!! Pretty sure everyone else drinks, I'll set some aside for me since I have to get up early and play pretend chef...
Kailua will be going in my coffee!!! Awesome! And I'm not sharing. :P
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#10 ·
Love the bagel bar idea!
Colby/Monterey Jack blend. It is an excellent morning cheese that is tasty and cheesy without being oily or having the "bite" that cheddar can. It browns just as well in the oven as cheddar and I think adds more depth to the dish.
Yup, Colby/Jack....my go to cheese.

Keilbasa is the sausage I meant to say, not Polish (close though, right?)
Didn't think of the bacon, and like you, I think ham is over rated for a dish such as this.
And the nice thing is... no crust needed!
 
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