Make This New Years Eve Your Best One Yet!
WORDS : CHYKA KEEBAUGH
PHOTOS : LISA ATKINSON + COMMISSION STUDIO 2019
Whether you stay in or go out - NYE is the night of nights!
Now you know I love a good party, so having a big celebration on the last night of the year is a must in the Keebaugh Family. Ideally, it’s a night out at a lovely restaurant followed by some drinks with my gorgeous family and friends, because really, there is nothing better than being with the ones you love on this particular night. So let’s start it off with a delicious NYE cocktail, shall we?
I love a gorgeous glass of sparkling, and New Year's Eve is the perfect night for it. Fun, flirty and always looking great, Sparkling is being served in just about any vessel these days, and if you have a beautiful bottle as the base of your cocktails then you are set to go! On arrival to any party I like to offer (and be offered!) a special drink, and I think for New Year's Eve you should absolutely offer your guests a special first drink to set up a fantastic night ahead.
GRAPEFRUIT MIMOSA
Ingredients
Pink sanding sugar, for rims
1/2 c. grapefruit juice
1 bottle Champagne
Method
In a small bowl, add pink sanding sugar. Dip Champagne flutes in water to wet the rim, then dip in sanding sugar.
Add grapefruit juice and top off with Champagne.
PERFECT THE ANTIPASTO PLATTER TO SATISFY ALL YOUR PARTY GOERS
An antipasto platter is the perfect solution for snacking party goers, consisting of easy finger foods that can be prepared earlier in the day to free you up all night. Most of the ingredients are fridge staples and it always makes me feel very European grabbing a great wooden platter and just layering it with food! Stock your fridge with platter refills and top it up during the night, keeping your guests stomach lined as the countdown ‘til 12 gets closer. Staples I always have on platters are goats cheese, olives, a selection of dips, sun-dried tomatoes, grissini sticks, fresh tomatoes and avocado and fresh basil. Make sure your selection visually looks great, matching your New years Eve decor and that here are lots of great flavours to eat.
What I love the most is - no matter what your tastes are, antipasto platters can be created to cater to all. Take this item off your menu, add this in, cut some bread, decant some dips - the possibilities are endless. As long as you have a great platter and a few small bowls, you can't go wrong. Getting creative with ingredients is not a problem - sometimes just plating up what is in the fridge can create a funky platter in itself.
STYLING YOUR PLATTER:
Depending on your NYE style is how your antipasto should look.
Put ingredients in all glass jars.
Using fresh basil as a garnish but so guests can break off too and eat with the tomato etc.
Be generous with your serving as an antipasto board need to look full and inviting.
Make sure you have crackers, lavosh or bread as a filler & dipper.
There is no such thing as the wrong thing to have on your board. Go crazy!
Chyka Celebrate | New Years Eve
The night of nights needs a playlist that peaks at the right time! Starting out fun & cheeky then working its way through the 80s-90s as it heads towards the final countdown. A fun collection that will fill a dance floor and create an atmosphere that only comes to life one night of the year.
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