Low Key New Year’s Eve Ideas

This year we are having a super low-key New Year’s Eve…well, most years we do but don’t tell anyone OK!! I really like hanging out at home for New Year’s…that way I can wear my jammies!

When my boys were younger we started the tradition of making a bunch of different appetizers and then letting them eat at the coffee table while watching a movie.

Fast forward a few years…they are older and hang out with their friends on New Year’s Eve (not their lame-o parents!!) So it’s just my husband and myself now.

By the time NYE rolls around I’m pretty burnt out from all the holiday work and festivities and want to keep things as easy-peasy as I can for myself.

Let me show you a couple of quick and easy appetizers that we love!!

Spinach Artichoke Bites

ingredients:

• 2 cups frozen chopped spinach. (defrost then press out excess moisture)
• 6 oz artichoke hearts, drained and chopped
• ½ tsp garlic minced
• 3 Tbsp grated parmesan cheese 
• 4 oz  softened cream cheese 
• ½ cup shredded mozzarella cheese
• 1 can Pillsbury seamless crescent dough
• extra mozzarella for sprinkling over bites

instructions:

1. PREHEAT YOUR OVEN TO 375°. Lightly grease a mini muffin pan.
2. Defrost the frozen spinach. To remove excess moisture I wrap the spinach in a dish towel and squeeze out the water.
3. In a bowl, combine spinach, artichoke hearts, garlic and parmesan cheese.
4. Blend in cream cheese and mozzarella cheese. Sprinkle with a little salt & pepper to taste.
5. Roll out the crescent roll dough on a cutting board. Use a rolling pin or your hands to stretch out the dough.
6. Cut the dough into 24 pieces. Use a pizza cutter and cut 2 inch squares.
7. Place one piece of dough into each muffin space and push down lightly.
8. Fill each cup with the spinach artichoke mixture. Sprinkle mozzarella cheese over each one.
9. Bake at 375° for 15 minutes until the dough becomes a golden brown. Let cool for a few minutes in the muffin pan before removing them and serving.

These bite-sized appetizers are yummy…and so quick to throw together!

Defrost the spinach first. To get rid of all the extra water I wrap the spinach in a dish towel and squeeze out all the water...seriously, where does it all come from!!

Then I chopped up the artichoke hearts.

I added the spinach, artichoke hearts, minced garlic, and parmesan cheese in a large bowl and mixed them together.

The last step was adding the softened cream cheese and mozzarella and really stirring it until the cream cheese was combined throughout the mixture.

Putting the bites together

The shells are a cinch to make. All I did was pop open a can of Pillsbury seamless crescent rolls, unroll them on a big cutting board. To stretch the dough out a bit I grabbed a rolling pin and went over the dough a few times.

I want to fill a 24 count mini muffin pan so I cut the dough in 2 inch squares…using a pizza cutter to just quickly roll over the dough to slice it.

Then I placed one piece of the crescent roll dough in each opening of the muffin pan and pushed it down.

After the dough was in place I went back and put a scoop of the spinach mixture into each shell. Then sprinkled more shredded mozzarella on top.

Pop the pan into a 375° oven and bake for 15 minutes or until the crescent shells start turning golden brown.

Let them cool for a few minutes before serving.

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Easy Bruschetta Bites

These bruschetta bites are sooo easy and super tasty. Plus you can grab everything at Trader Joe’s.

ingredients:

• Fresh Baguette Loaf
• Prepared Bruschetta Sauce
• Shredded Mozzarella
• Melted Butter (for brushing on baguette pieces)

Instructions:

1. Slice the baguette loaf diagonally into ½ inch wide pieces.
2. Arrange on a large cookie sheet in single layer; brush both sides lightly with butter.
3. Bake in a 375° oven for 5 minutes then turn the slices and bake for another 5 minutes
4. Remove pan from oven and spoon bruschetta over baguette slices, sprinkle tops with shredded mozzarella and return to the oven for 5 minutes or until the cheese has melted.
5. Serve while warm.

I cut the baguette diagonally down the loaf (I’m left-handed so I do everything crooked anyway!!) and made the slices roughly ½ inch thick.

I melted a couple of tablespoons of butter and used a silicone brush to coat both sides of the bread with butter.

Pop them in a 375° oven for 5 minutes then flip them over for another 5 minutes. Take out the pan and scoop bruschetta sauce over each piece of baguette and sprinkle with shredded mozzarella…pop them back into the oven for another 5 minutes or until the cheese has melted.

Serve them while they are still warm and crispy.

When I took the bruschettas out of the oven I sprinkled a little fresh chopped basil on top.

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A couple of the snacks I put out for my New Year’s spread are premade.

If you haven’t tried the Everything but the Bagel nuts from Trader Joe’s….oh my gosh, go get a bag!! They are the perfect savory snack!!

The last easy appetizer I am putting out for our New Year’s Eve snacks is chickpea salad (A local New England brand Joseph’s....it’s so good if your grocery store carries it!!) served with pita chips.

If my sons were going to be around I would also make my Buffalo Chicken Dip for New Year’s Eve…it’s their absolute favorite!

Setting Up My New Year’s Table

Keeping with our yearly New Year’s tradition I wanted to set up our little New Year’s celebration in the living room.

For a fun table cover, I threw down a faux fur throw over my coffee table.

I put the warm spinach artichoke bites and bruschettas on an oblong serving tray…pretty but not fancy.

I found a little set of Happy New Year’s gear at Walmart…my husband won’t wear the little hat but I’m a sucker for this stuff…and the party horns!!

Did you know you can buy little 4 packs of single-serve champagne bottles?? They are so cute!! Perfect for a midnight toast or a total lightweight like me who has half a glass of champagne and gets tipsy!!

A couple of fun balloons and streamers made my table party-ready…even if it was a pajama party!! The balloons were from Walmart and already had the confetti pieces inside…so pretty.

Are you team clean up every inch of Christmas the day after or team wait until New Year’s?? I’m always so curious about what everyone does!! I usually start putting things away the day after but like to leave a tree up in the living room to enjoy for one more week.

Well, thank you for joining me for our little New Year’s Eve celebration! Wishing you all the best for the upcoming year!!

For more ideas for celebrating check out Easy Ideas for Hosting New Year’s Eve at Home.

Happy New Year!

Jennifer