By Jennie Willis

The party of the year is right around the corner and if we have learned anything over our past holiday experiences, avoiding the exuberant cost and chaos of restaurants and night clubs is an absolute. This only means however the party has shifted to the home and why not? With the right planning you can easily pull off the biggest party of the year without a sweat!

1. Invitations

A successful party begins with a proper invitation. The invitation process may take more time and possibly inflict a little more cost but it is a sure way to know the exact number of attending guests. Invitations also eliminate the party crashing folk that would otherwise be sure to arrive! You will also be much better prepared for food, drink, and transportation this way.

An invitation can be your best friend during these stressful occasions and they are not limited to paper. Who needs stamps when you can use your computer! Create your invitation on-line. There are several websites that will do all of the work for you. Simply create your invitation and e-mail it to all of your guests. It is wise to personally call your invitees to be sure they received the e-mail invite.

2. The Menu

When planning a cocktail party you absolutely have to have great food. This does not mean however that it all has to be prepared by you! Search for recipes in your favorite magazines or on-line and find the perfect hors d’oeuvres and petit fours for your party. Then all you have to do is attach these recipes to your invitations!! It's a brilliant idea to help take all of the pressure off of you the host.

When your guests prepare the food at home you have so much more time to focus on everything else. This idea works better than potluck because you are still in control of the party. You know what food will be attending so you can better prepare for it with appropriate serving utensils, toothpicks, napkins, and trays.

It is wise to take your plan even further by estimating the service time for your cold and hot dishes. Remember you may only have one refrigerator for you party so beware of the dishes that you choose to serve!

3. The Bar

Again another great way to take this party to another level is to specify in your invitations which alcohol or non-alcoholic beverages to bring. Martinis are the drink of choice these days so why not ask your guests to bring a bottle that will contribute to your cocktail recipes?!

Champagne or sparkling wine is an absolute must for New Years Eve party's so be sure to provide plenty of bubbles for the evening. Although bubble is fantastic on its own, spice it up with a splash of flavored liquor for a new experience. Such cocktails as Champagne cocktail, and Kir Royals make a perfectly festive treat for your guests.

Don't forget to have plenty of glassware and of course lots of prepared garnish for your New Years Eve cocktails!

Here are a few martini recipes to help get you started!

Cosmopolitan Martini

11/2oz Vodka
1/2 oz Triple sec
2 oz Cranberry juice
1 oz Lime juice or 2 fresh squeezed lime wedges

Pour into a martini Shaker over ice, Shake vigorously. Strain, Pour into a chilled martini glass, Shake to add ice chips No Ice (Up) Preferred* or over Ice (Rocks)

Garnish with lime or cranberries or both.

Lemon Drop Martini

2oz Lemon Vodka
1/2 oz Triple sec
4 - 8 squeezed lemons (Add used Lemons to tumbler)

Pour into a martini Shaker over ice, Shake vigorously Rim Martini Glass with Sugar
Strain, Pour into a chilled martini glass No Ice (Up) Preferred* or over Ice (Rocks)

Garnish with lemon twist.

Chocolate Martini

1 oz Vodka
1 oz Creme de cacao
Pour into a martini Shaker over ice, Shake vigorously. Strain, Pour into a chilled martini glass - No Ice (Up) Preferred* or over Ice (Rocks)

Garnish with cherries, cranberries or chocolate sprinkles.

Espresso Martini

1 oz Vodka
1 oz Kahlua or Coffee Liquor
1 Shot of Espresso
Pour into a martini Shaker over ice, Shake vigorously. Strain, Pour into a chilled martini glass - No Ice (Up) Preferred* or over Ice (Rocks)

Garnish with 3 Espresso beans.

Champagne Cocktail

3/4 oz Brandy
1 sugar cube
Fill remainder of glass with Champagne or Sparkling Wine

Garnish with lemon twist

Kir Royal
3/4 oz Cassis Liquor
Fill remainder of glass with Champagne or Sparkling Wine
Garnish with lemon twist

When you include your guests in the party planning process you can be sure to have all the time and the energy to pull off all the stops. For more helpful tips and recipes visit our site!