by Isabelle Esteves

Created on: December 29, 2009

For most people, New Years Eve Day is not a day off of work. Some employers have a little mercy and allow their employees to leave early on December 31. Others for a variety of reasons require that you stay at work and leave at your usual time. That may mean that you arrive home at 7pm with guests expected at 8pm. Is it time to panic? Not if you have planned ahead.

Up to a week before the party

Purchase your party plates, cups, tablecloths, hats and favors. Put them away in a place you will be able to find them quickly.

Plan your menu. You can have a hot item that can be prepared in your crock-pot. There are many meatball recipes that you can prepare in the crock-pot with frozen meatballs that will impress without causing you stress.   Try to choose items that will not require more than 15 minutes in the oven and are easy to prepare.

Do your grocery shopping. Get your food and drinks into the house so that you can prepare things easily in the hour you will have on December 31st. Knowing that you will have only an hour to get everything ready perhaps you only want to have one protein.  Take advantage of all the prepared foods that are available to you either fresh or frozen at the grocery store. Consider something as impressive as an antipasto9 platter. You can buy most of the items already prepared at the deli. You just need to plate them on New Year’s Eve.

Day before

Do the prep work today. Have your veggies all cut for the veggie platter, make your dips and sauces. Make sure the soft drinks and mixer are chilled and that you have plenty of ice.   

Do all your last minute cleaning. Make sure the bathroom or bathrooms are spotless. Put out fresh towels and get everything ready for guests.

One hour before the party

This is crunch time. All the fresh foods can be prepared now. Get some crackers and cheese onto a platter with some chips and dip. Pop any hot hors d’oeuvres into the oven. Having things that can cook   simultaneously will save you time and effort. Buffalo or lemon pepper wings, stuffed mushroom caps, clams casino etc. You can purchase all of these frozen and just warmed up and platted by you.

Put down your potholders, pour yourself a drink and take a deep breath. This is going to be one great New Year’s Eve party.

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