Sparkling New Year's Party

Everyone knows new year’s eve is amateur night. People who go out only once a year crowd into restaurants and bars to celebrate. This year, stay off the roads and count down to midnight while you prepare for your new tradition―a glittery, glam New Year’s Day party.

Use a discarded winged elm branch to create an eye-catching look along one wall. In this space with an industrial feel, the branch is secured to a pipe with pipe cleaners. You could use a Christmas tree stand to hold the branch upright. Wrapped in twinkle lights and small mirrored garland, the branch creates a light and lovely focal point.

Recipe: Red Roosters

Recipe: Slushy Red Roosters

Recipe: Fruity Salad With Sugared Almonds and Sweet-Hot Vinaigrette

Welcome friends with a Red Rooster―the toasting beverage of the day. Steer them toward the awesome Hot Roast Beef Party Sandwiches, our Fruity Salad With Sugared Almonds and Sweet-Hot Vinaigrette, and a comfy seat to catch glimpses of the bowl games on your big screen. Near party’s end, forget the diet plans, and indulge in Dressed-Up Cheesecake Bars. Cheers to this stylish party and a great year to come.

Wrap glasses with short lengths of silk and velvet ribbon, and secure with double-sided foam tape. Use Glue Dots (available at crafts stores) to attach embellishments such as glitter-covered card stock circles or stars. Or use stick-on jewels. Choose materials that play up the theme of your party. For a more organic look, wrap glasses in twine.

Recipe: Hot Roast Beef Party Sandwiches

Get ahead of holiday parties. Plan to stash a few batches of these casual, three-bite sandwiches in your freezer. When preparing Hot Roast Beef Party Sandwiches, don’t separate the tray of rolls into individual buns when cutting in half. Once cut, place top and bottom pieces side by side, cut sides up, on a long sheet of aluminum foil on a jelly-roll pan. Use the foil to lift the top of buns over the beef and cheese on the bottom buns. Fold foil edges to seal.

Recipe: Peel-and-Eat Shrimp

Set up a serving area for the shrimp and sauces on your kitchen island or breakfast table, and let everyone help themselves. To shortcut prep, ask your seafood monger to steam shrimp for you. Try them with Tangy Garlic Tartar Sauce, Rémoulade Sauce, or Spicy Cocktail Sauce.

Recipe: Dixie Caviar Cups

Here's to good luck for the year! For a more casual presentation, place black-eyed pea mixture in a bowl, garnish with sour cream, and serve with scoop-style tortilla chips.

Recipe: Grilled Herbed Chicken Drumettes With White Barbecue Sauce

Depending on where you live in the South, it may be 85° on January 1 or chilly. If it's the latter, our team says to "bundle up, and do it." The results are worth a brief shiver. After you place the chicken on the grill, don’t move it until time to turn, or the chicken will stick to the cooking grate.

Recipe: Warm Turnip Green Dip

To make the dish spicier, offer guests several brands of hot sauce on the side.

We did not call for sugar in the crust―it's tasty without it―and the sauces add sweetness. Arrange a mini buffet so guests may customize their pieces of our cheesecake bars with sauces and sprinkles.

Recipe: Dressed-Up Cheesecake Bars

Recipe: Cherries Jubilee Sauce

Recipe: Dark Chocolate Sauce

Recipe: Hot Caramel Sauce

Recipe: Cashew-and-Gingered-Apricot Sprinkles