Today I’m sharing 10 New Year’s Eve Party Tips and a Chocolate Almond Banana Bites recipe, sponsored by Q Squared NYC.

New Year's Eve Party Tips and Chocolate Almond Banana Bites

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If you’re throwing a New Year’s Eve dinner party this year, remember my friends at Q Squared! Founded by a mother-daughter team, Nancy and Alaina, Q Squared was created as an alternative to overpriced and under-designed dinnerware. I love their beautiful ornate designs of the highest quality melamine (yes, melamine!) that makes setting a classy table very affordable!

New Year’s Eve is all about celebration, so I chose to make our table sparkle with gold, silver, and white with a lot of candlelight, and these cute little glitzed up characters wearing “party” hats, from my friend Carmen’s shop, Elegance Home Decor in Jacksonville, Oregon.

Q12

Essex pattern.

This Essex pattern collection was inspired by the bold geometrics of art deco and the lavish lifestyle of the roaring twenties.

I mixed this Essex pattern with Dollar Store goblets and champaigne glasses, gold paper napkins that made the table feel formal, yet fabulously modern.

New Year's Eve Party Tips and Chocolate Almond Banana Bites

Black and White 10.5″ Dinner Plate
Gold Lamè 7.5″ Salad Plate
Set of 4 Deluxe Coasters with Non-Slip Silicone Bottom
Peony appetizer plates

New Year's Eve Party Tips and Chocolate Almond Banana Bites

Q Squared melamine.

100% highest quality melamine. BPA-free. Dishwasher safe (top and bottom rack). Heat resistant. Lightweight and durable. Not Microwave safe.

New Year's Eve Party Tips and Chocolate Almond Banana Bites

I always like the vibe of a party to be fun and festive. Between prepping the food and drinks, it’s easy to run out of time so setting the table early is KEY.

10 New Year's Eve Party Tips

10 New Year’s Eve Party Tips:

1. Set the table early. Make it sparkle and keep the centerpiece height around 8 inches. It’s enough to make an impact while still allowing guests to see those who are seated across from them at the table.
2. Set up different serving and drink stations.
3. Have fun hats, horns, noise makers off ot the side, ready for the countdown!
4. Dress up — it’s New Year’s Eve!
5. Lighting creates a more relaxed, casual environment – use lots of candles!
6. Make a batch of a signature cocktail for guests ahead of time and serve in a decorative punch bowl, a simple way to get the party started right away!
7. Serve delicious hors d’oeuvres that pair well with champagne and/or the evening’s specialty cocktail to start the evening off right. We’ll be serving shrimp with cocktail sauce spiked with atomic horseradish, and crab claws served with mustard sauce.
8. Make a killer main dish. I’ll be sharing my Cafe Mingo (Portland, Oregon) recipe soon! It’s a pasta dish with so much flavor, your guests will be asking for the recipe. I promise!
9. Ask one of your guests to bring their signature dessert so you don’t have to do it all!
10. Lively music and good conversation is what makes a fun NYE party! Plan ahead with questions for your guests, and get the play list ready!

New Year's Eve Party Tips and Chocolate Almond Banana Bites

If you’re looking for quick “bites” of chocolate to serve toward the end of the evening, I whipped up a dessert appetizer.

Chocolate Almond Banana Bites.

So easy, you can buy the ingredients at any grocery store. Start with banana chips.

New Year's Eve Party Tips and Chocolate Almond Banana Bites

Layer with these yummy ingredients.

Chocolate Almond Banana Bites

Our champagne isn’t open yet, but the table is set and we’re ready to celebrate “out with the old, in with the new” with great friends this year!

Always about the “people.”

I have to admit I enjoy a New Year’s Eve filled with pomp and circumstance – good food, drinks, conversation, music, and of course the people.

For me, New Year’s Eve is all about the people!

How will you be celebrating NYE this year?

Chocolate Almond Banana Bites
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Get the Recipe:

Chocolate Almond Banana Bites

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 10 minutes
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Ingredients
 

  • Dried banana chips
  • 1 jar hot fudge
  • Flavored almonds, I used cinnamon almonds from Trader Joe’s
  • Sea Salt

Instructions
 

  • Lay the banana chips on a platter. Spread with hot fudge (right from the jar, not heated).
  • Place an almond on top of each chip.
  • Sprinkle lightly with sea salt; serve.
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This post is sponsored by Q Squared in NYC who also provided me with the dishes. As always, all opinions are my own.

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