Creating a special dinner to celebrate New Year’s Eve is a special skill. First of all, the atmosphere: it needs to be a perfect blend of intimate and celebratory (I celebrated most of my new years at home). Second, the food – it has to be fun, yummy but easy to make (in one of the years we attempted to make one of the Gordon Ramsay recipes – took 3 hours, was burnt and raw at the same time and kind of stole the focus from celebrating to cooking. Don’t do it!). Finally – the drinks, plan wrong and you either too bored or too drunk to enjoy. But let’s unpack this:

Atmosphere: it starts with proper light. Not too bright, side lamps and Christmas tree are perfect. I always light candles at the table for a special mood. And, of course, twinkling lights, fireplace, or even glow in the dark bracelets and disco lights for dancing!

The table itself needs table cloth. I don’t go for centrepieces but can add sparkles or Christmas tree toys for the mood. We also put a symbol of the next year on the table for good luck, based on the Chinese horoscope. The 2026 is the year of the horse.

The music/what is on tv is important. You probably do not want news, anything political or your regular shows. I like playing few festive movies for background that are about new years/Christmas. I also have a playlist of active songs off youtube (I am sure various radio stations will do that too!). Finally, when the clock hits 12, after champagne popping, making wishes, sending wishes to everyone I know, taking pictures and lighting up sparklers, we usually like to see fireworks around the world. It is just a nice way to start a new year.

Also, I highly recommend to dress up, put makeup on, perfume, do your hair, the whole deal. Even if you are at home, celebrating with a handful of people. Do it for yourself so you feel good entering the new year.

Now, the menu. This is exactly what I will be making tomorrow. It is only my husband and I, and I am hoping that my toddler will be sleeping but because of the toddler it has to be low maintenance menu easy to make.

Hot dishes:

1. Warm (cold one also tastes nice but you need to bake/fry ingredients) salad with chicken, mushrooms, onions and small tomatoes.
   • That, with salt/pepper and mayonnaise makes amazing combination. Just fry 1 onion and 1 pd/200g of white or brown mushrooms, and in a separate frying pan fry 1 chicken breast and then bake the chicken at 400 about 20 mins or until it measures 165F
   • Cut up chicken in small pieces, add small tomatoes cut in half, mushrooms and onions, mayo, salt, pepper and it is done! The whole thing takes about 30 min to make and can be made ahead, just add mayo before serving
2. Artichoke cheese dip.
   • I am using marinated artichoke hearts that i will fry with onion, add a blend of cheeses (original recipe calls for fontana and gruyere, I am using gruyere, mozzarella and cheddar), adding 1-2 cups of sour cream and mayo or heavy cream, mixing it up and then baking for 30 min at 375F. For original recipe check out this site: https://whatsgabycooking.com/cheesy-artichoke-dip/
3. For cold appetizers, this is my spread:
   • Pita chips
   • Smoked salmon
   • Guacamole
   • Black caviar
   • Olives
   • Italian antipasto (pickled mushrooms from a jar)
4. For drinks I am making these fuzzy cocktails: mix cranberry juice, ginger ale and champagne /sparkling wine.
5. For dessert, I am making chocolate mousse. Again, because unlike Megan Markle I am lazy I am just going to use chocolate mousse from a bag and mix it with milk, blend it and put it in the fridge. And that’s it!

I want to take this moment to wish anyone reading it a very happy new year. 2025 was challenging for me and I am ready to face 2026. May all our dreams come true! Happy New Year!