“…to make an end is to make a beginning.”
— T.S. Eliot
Tonight is the big night. Have you decided what you are doing?
I thought I would share a couple more ideas perfect for a New Year's Eve celebration.
Aren't these party blowers lovely? The full instructions are available on Martha Stewart.com along with a whack of other craft ideas. It's listed as an easy and fun craft but for me right now they seem to be easy and fun in the same way as a root canal might be. No thanks. I would gladly buy some ready made though.
These decorations are so pretty and if you have a circle punch this is quite simple. Read on Martha for the full details. I might have my kiddos do their own version. This idea reminds me of the lovely glass hanging ball strings I saw at Momentum Interiors:
Here is another Martha idea I really like and will definitely use:
Lining a deep tray with gorgeous paper to set off the glassware and punch. I have been oogling a simple punch bowl like this one at Superstore for months now, love the shape.
Hubbie will be off for the first time in many years. We are staying home and having an appies feast, games and family disco party. For desert I have chosen to make a gingerbread cake with homemade caramel sauce and fresh whipped cream.
Are you still needing a simple dessert idea?
I will give you the secret to the easiest most impressive dessert I know. I even saw a version of it done by bakery owner Rosie Daykin and featured in House & Home this past May in the entertaining section... are you ready?
Cookies and Cream Cake
1.Go to the grocery store and buy a package or two of plain chocolate wafer cookies. It's a blue bottomed box and the top is clear plastic so you can see the dark oreo coloured disks.
2. Buy a large container of whipping cream and whip it with a bit of real vanilla or add the scrapings of a vanilla bean.
3. Flip over the box and look at the recipe shown for a chocolate log and do that...OR I like to use a footed cake stand and make it in a circle. Plop cream to anchor the first layer and keep layering and circling until you have a height/size of cake you like. One large whipping cream will do a box and a half.
(I only remembered to snap a photo near the very end but you can get the general idea. I had just started to cover the cake with cream when I took this.)
4. Use the remaining cream to frost the entire cake and let sit several hours before serving.
5. Garnish with a mound of blackberries or baby tangerines or raspberries or even chopped candy canes.
6. Use any leftover broken wafers to scoop up the last bits of cream in the bowl and share the beater licking with a cute friend...
By the time you serve it the cookies will have expanded with the cream and it will slice like a cake. It will look like a very complicated torte and there won't be any leftovers.
Have a wonderful night friends! Wishing you the Happiest of Happy New Years.











