New Year’s Eve

Phew, you’ve survived the holidays!! But, wait a minute…..New Year’s Eve is right around the corner! This is typically when my husband asks me, “what do you want to do for New Year’s?” I respond, with “I don’t know, what do you want to do?” And so on…

Even though New Year’s Eve is less than a week away, there is still plenty of time to plan a fun, yet intimate get together. In fact, some of the most fun parties that we have hosted have been last minute! I kid you not!

Charcuterie Board

Now that you have decided to invite some friends over to celebrate the New Year, what are you going to serve? Charcuterie boards are the perfect answer to this question. They’re easy to assemble, require minimal prep, and are a definite crowd pleaser. The key is to mix a variety of meats, cheeses, fruits, and spreads… so there’s something for everyone. There’s really no right or wrong way to do it.

Here is a list of my go-to ingredients:

Red Grapes (on the vine)
Seasonal Berries/Fruits
Dried Apricots
Seasalt Almonds
Rosemary Crackers
Sliced Baguette
Bleu Cheese with Honey
Aged Gouda
Chevre or Brie
Prosciutto
Salami

Need some more inspiration, Trader Joe’s has broken down the makings for a Toscano Cheese board. It combines the robust, nutty characteristics of aged parmesan with a creamy farmstead Cheddar—a particular profile that allows for maximum fromage flavoring. The great thing, is that you can find everything you need in one stop. Simply click the link, print the shopping list and you’re good to go!

In regards to assembly, there is no right or wrong. I like to keep it visually interesting by balancing the different colors and textures. Once the board is complete, I add some fresh herbs for garnish and serve!

Spirits!

One of my favorite local wines is from Coach House Cellars. Coach House Cellars, is a Pacific Northwest boutique winery committed to crafting small lot wine production in order to produce extraordinary wines. Their mission is to create highly sought wines that reflect both the fruit and terra of the region using old world wine making techniques. Each wine they make is meant to stand the test of time and are age worthy with plenty of structure balanced by intense fruit.

Coach House Cellar wines have won SAVOR NORTHWEST WINES award for Coach House Cellars 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon, WINE SPECTATOR rated Coach House Cellars 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon 91 Points and BEST OF THE NORTHWEST 2013 silver medal in Northsound Life’s best of the Northwest BEST WINERY category.

Their newest wine, GARAGE, is named after Coach House Cellars humble beginnings, where the wine was first created. It has quickly become one of their most popular wines as it delivers quality at a friendly price. This makes it a perfect wine for entertaining!

Sweets!

When entertaining, I like to provide a combination of homemade treats and local bakery or grocery store. Fortunately, Bellingham has a plethera of bakers and bakeries to choose from.

antler dark chocolate cupcakes with earl grey chiffon frosting

One of my favorite local bakers is Veronica of Antler Baking Company. Veronica’s creations combine a rustic style with complex flavor fusions.

Some of my favorites from Antler Baking Company include:

Lemon bar bites topped with blueberry and thyme compote.
Southern carrot cake stackers.
Dark chocolate cupcakes with earl grey chiffon frosting and sea salt caramel sauce.

Short on time, Trader Joe’s has you covered here as well with their selection of artisan inspired sweets, including:

Italian Cookie Collection
Dark Chocolate Stars
Champagne Gummies
Butter Toffee Pretzels

What’cha Gonna Wear?

Decisions, decisions, decisions. New Year’s Eve is a celebration, so you should definitely dress for the occasion!

For an intimate gathering, I love combining casual and dressier items together. My typical party uniform is a fun silk blouse and a pair of skinny jeans. Another great option is a cashmere sweater and black velvet joggers.

These fabulous options, plus many more are available at Quinn and Foster, an upper scales men’s and women’s clothing store located in downtown Bellingham.