It’s that time again. One year gone and another fast approaches. If you are used to being the party host, mix things up this year with a New Year’s Eve theme party.

What is a theme?

A theme party is one that is based around a certain idea. It can be something related to the holiday or something totally different. It is all up to you.

Theme parties are fun because everyone gets to participate. All of your guests can wear a costume and come ready to have fun.

Theme Ideas

Well, there are a million ideas that would be appropriate for a party. Now, some stick with a traditional theme for New Year. How about the Roaring Twenties? Your guests can dress as Dapper Dan or a sultry flapper.

What about a 60s party? You’d be surrounded by flower power and long hair all evening but to each his own. The idea is to make the party one that your guests won’t want to miss.

Theme Decorating

When you choose your theme, you will want the guests to feel like they have walked into that time. If your theme is “disco boogie,” be sure that there is at least one disco ball hanging from your ceiling. You can forgo the lit dance floor if you don’t have room, but it would be a conversation piece!

What You Need:

2 (9 oz.) pkg. southwestern cooked chicken breast strips

2 (11.5 oz.) cans refrigerated cornbread twists

1 (8 oz.) pkg. Mexican cheese blend, shredded

How to Make It:

Allow the oven to preheat to 375 degrees.

Cut the chicken strips into small chunks.

Unroll both cans of cornbread twists and separate into 4 rectangles each.

Place the rectangles of dough onto an ungreased cookie sheet.

Roll the each rectangle out to 5 1/2 in long and 4 1/2 in wide pieces.

Cut each rolled piece into 2 pieces longwise.

Spread the chicken over the top of each rectangle piece of dough.

Sprinkle each piece of dough evenly with the cheese.

Bake 18 minutes or until the dough is a golden brown and the cheese has melted.

Makes 16 mini pizzas

Serve these mini pizzas with salsa on the side.  To save time use left over chicken breast cut into bite size pieces.  If the chicken is frozen be sure to let it thaw before using.

Preparation Time:  approximately 25 minutes

Baking Time:  approximately 18 minutes

Total Time: approximately 43 minutes

Nutritional Information per mini pizza:  (approximate values)

Calories 480; fat 23 g; sodium 1,260 mg; carbohydrates 36 g; sugar 9 g;

protein 33 g

The Party Setup

With kids involved, you will want them to have their own space. That means at least two rooms for the party. Kids aren’t very picky but they like their space.

You can set them up in the garage, the den or the family room. Any activities that you have planned for them will take place here. Include sleeping bags and pillows in case someone crashes before the ball-dropping hour.

The centrally located space can be for the adults. You can set up for party games, socializing and the food area here.

Decorations

These all depend on you and your guests. The kid area will make more of an impact with a great decorating design going on. For the adults, decorating with party favors gives you something to share with everyone when it’s time to go.

Partying with your kids isn’t so bad and you’ll prove that this year by hosting a family-oriented party of your own. Give the babysitters a night off for once. They want to party too.

What You Need:

12 T cheese spread with bacon

8 slices of deli roast beef

24 baby sweet pickles, drained well

How to Make It:

Spread the cheese evenly over one side of the roast beef slices.

Lay 3 pickles along the short side of each piece of roast beef.

Roll the roast beef around up around the pickles. 

Place a toothpick into the middle of each pickle in each roll.

Cut the rolls into 3 pieces each.

Makes 24 bites

Use deli ham, chicken or turkey in these tasty bites.  The kids will love them because of the sweet pickles but if you have children who like a little bite dill pickles may be used instead.  Serve with honey mustard dipping sauce or ketchup and mustard.

Preparation Time:  approximately 20 minutes

Total Time:  approximately 20 minutes

Nutritional Information per roll:  (approximate values)

Calories 180; fat 11 g; sodium 1,750 mg; carbohydrates 7g; sugar 5 g;

protein 15 g

The most important part of any party is the planning. You want this party to be family-oriented so that adults and kids can both have a good time. First of all, that may mean no alcohol except the celebratory glass of champagne at midnight. But, having fun doesn’t mean that alcoholic drinks have to be involved, not at your big bash anyway. For kids, try some sparkling cider or grape juice so they can join in the glass tinking at midnight as well.

Invitations

These need to go out as early as possible. Even before Christmas, folks are talking about how they will celebrate the New Year. One of the best things about a family-oriented party is that no one has to find a babysitter or stay home when they can’t find one.

With that in mind, invite your close friends and their families. Remember that each invitation will have at the least two and at the outset four or five respondents. So, five invitations can equal 25 guests. Check to see if your home can hold that many or more.

Make sure that the invitation is from everyone in the family. Use wording like: The Philip Family would like to invite you to their New Year’s Eve Party 2010.

What You Need:

2 (29 oz.) cans of sliced peaches, drained well

2 (29 oz.) cans of sliced pears, drained well

1 (20 oz.) can pineapple chunks, drained well

1 (15 1/4 oz.) can apricot halves, drained well and sliced

1 (21 oz.) can cherry pie filling

How to Make It:

Place the peaches, pears, pineapple and apricots into the slow cooker.

Stir the cherry pie filling in with the fruit.

Cover the crock pot and cook on high heat for 2 hours or until heated through.

Makes 16 servings

Preparation Time:  approximately 10 minutes

Cooking Time:  approximately 2 hours

Total Time:  approximately 2 hours 10 minutes

This easy mixed fruit compote served on a cold Christmas day will definitely warm their hearts as well as their tummies.  It makes a great side dish with any of your favorite meats. 

What You Need:

1 (4 oz.) pkg. cream cheese, at room temperature

3 T powdered sugar

1 1/2 t lemon juice

1 t lemon peel, grated

1 lb. seedless globe grapes

How to Make It:

Place the softened cream cheese into a mixing bowl.

Add the powdered sugar, lemon juice and lemon peel and stir until well smooth.

Place the lemon cream into a baggie and snip off one corner.

Cut an X through the top of each grape to 1/4 inch from the bottom. 

Gently spread each grape open with your fingertips.

Pipe the lemon cream into each grape. 

Cover tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate at least 1 hour before serving.

Makes 3 dozen

If you’re having a Christmas buffet, these little wonders can be used as an appetizer, side dish or even a dessert.  Be careful when cutting and opening the grapes. Use a small sharp knife to make the cuts and be careful not to squeeze the grapes when opening them. 

What You Need:

3 (16 oz) cans pork and beans

1 onion, chopped

1 green pepper, chopped fine

3 T brown sugar

3 T brown mustard

1 1/2 C ketchup

1 T white vinegar

1/2 t chili powder

1/4 t hot sauce

How to Make It:

Place the beans juice and all into a large mixing bowl.

Add the onion and green pepper and stir to combine.

Sprinkle in the brown sugar.

Add the mustard, ketchup and vinegar and stir until all the ingredients are incorporated together well.

Add the chili powder and hot sauce and stir until mixed in thoroughly.

Set the oven temperature to 350 degrees and allow the oven to preheat.

Pour the bean mixture into an ungreased 3 qt baking dish.

Bake 30 minutes or until bubbling around the edges.

Allow the beans to sit for 10 minutes before serving.

Serving Size:  10

These beans are very simple to make and go well with a ham dinner.  Add some crumbled cooked bacon to enhance the flavor even more.