A Family New Year’s Eve

Have an Old and New Party (from Family Traditions by Elizabeth Berg). Invite old and young people – children and grandparents, older and younger friends. Have them wear a combination of old and new. Serve a new recipe and an old favorite. Have guests bring something old – a book they’ve read, costume jewelry they’re tired of, a recipe, a puzzle or game they no longer play. Put these in paper bags and, grab-bag style, exchange with other guests so that each guest goes home with something “new.”

Let the kids help with making food and decorating. Here are a few ideas for a New Year’s Eve party with kids.

Mozzarella Bites

Ingredients

• 1 can refrigerated crescent dough sheet
• 12-oz mozzarella cheese, cut into 24 squares, or 8 mozzarella sticks, cut into thirds
• 3 tablespoons butter, melted
• 1/3 cup panko or regular breadcrumbs (Italian flavoring works well)

Heat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Unroll the dough and press into a single rectangle, 12×8 inches. Using a sharp knife or pizza cutter, cut the rectangle into 6 rows to make 24, 2-inch squares.

Place a piece of mozzarella in the center of each rectangle; wrap the dough around the cheese and press edges to seal.

Place melted butter in a small bowl and breadcrumbs in another bowl. Dip each stick in butter and then breadcrumbs to coat.

Place on an ungreased cookie sheet. Bake for 11 to 13 minutes until golden brown. Serve with marinara sauce and/or Ranch dressing, if you like.

Fruit and Dips

Slice apples, bananas, peaches and pears. Add strawberries, kiwi chunks, pineapple chunks and other fruits. Arrange on a platter with a variety of fruit dips.  (You can even add some angel food cake cubes or marshmallows onto your dip platter for variety.)

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Caramel Dip

• ½ cup butter
• 1 ½ cups brown sugar
• ¾ cup light corn syrup
• 1 can sweetened condensed milk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla

Melt butter in medium saucepan over medium heat. Add next three ingredients, stirring to combine. Stir constantly until just beginning to bubble. Do not boil. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla.

Chocolate Dip

• 1 cup chocolate chips
• ½ cup evaporated milk
• 1 teaspoon butter

Place ingredients in a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave on high for approximate 1 ½ minutes. Stir until smooth. Add more chocolate chips and stir until smooth to thicken.

Yogurt Fruit Dip

• 1 cup plain Greek yogurt
• 2 tablespoons honey
• ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract

Mix ingredients together.

Fruit Mocktail

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Get out the fancy glasses or buy some plastic wine glasses for this festive drink. It’s even more fun if you have several types of juices available so kids can create their own mocktail.

• Ginger Ale
• Club Soda
• Grape juice, apple juice, cranberry juice
• Assorted fruit such as blueberries, strawberries, pineapple chunks, orange wheels for garnish, etc.

Use equal parts of Ginger Ale, Club Soda and juice in a glass filled with ice. Dress up the drink with fruit dropped in or skewered on a toothpick or placed on the edge of the glass or plastic cup.