The Provisions
No need for an elaborate dinner party. All the ingredients for a relaxed but festive celebration are below.
Snacks: Let guests nibble on hearty little bites (see recipes), as well as tidbits from gourmet markets, such as Bella Cucina Artichoke Lemon Pesto ($8.50 for a six-ounce jar), Food Should Taste Good Olive Tortilla Chips ($3 for a six-ounce bag), Sahale Soledad Almonds ($5 for a five-ounce package), and Tillen Farms Pickled Crispy Carrots ($7 for a 12-ounce jar).Drinks: For a refreshing alternative to Champagne, try Prosecco (Nino Franco Rustico Prosecco, $15, Beekman Liquors, 212-759-5857) or nonalcoholic Twelve, a fizzy blend of fruit and herbal tea ($14 for two bottles, www.hellodelicious.com).Dessert: Chocolate fondue (for recipe, go to www.realsimple.com/chocolatefondue), with fruit and pound cake for dipping, in a fondue pot (All-Clad pot, $150, Williams-Sonoma, 877-812-6235).Game: Cards (for printable cards, go to www.realsimple.com/gamecards printed with these fill-in-the-blanks: “The bad habit I want to kick this year is ———.” “The good deed I want to do this year is ———.” “The person I want to be more like this year is ———.” “The skill I want to learn this year is ———.”Favors: Give guests parting gifts of good fortune. (See the tip on the following page for more details.)
