While the directions may look complicated, this isn’t a difficult recipe. The hardest part was tearing the lettuce so it would make an acceptable wrap. My friend, Elizabeth, suggested I use romaine lettuce since it’s easier to work with, but I didn’t like the flavor of the romaine lettuce with this – it just doesn’t have the same crisp, watery texture of the iceberg lettuce.

What You’ll Need:

Chicken Mixture
• 3 tablespoons oil
• 2 boneless skinless chicken breasts
• 1 cup water chestnuts
• 2/3 cup mushrooms
• 3 tablespoons chopped onions
• 1 teaspoon minced garlic
• 4-5 leaves iceberg lettuce

Special Sauce
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup water
• 2 tablespoons soy sauce
• 2 tablespoons rice wine vinegar
• 2 tablespoons ketchup
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 1/8 teaspoon sesame oil
• 1 tablespoon hot mustard
• 2 teaspoons water
• 1-2 teaspoon garlic and red chile paste

Stir Fry Sauce
• 2 tablespoons soy sauce
• 2 tablespoons brown sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon rice wine vinegar

How to Make It
1. Make the special sauce by dissolving the sugar in water in a small bowl.
2. Add soy sauce, rice wine vinegar, ketchup, lemon juice, and sesame oil.
3. Mix well and refrigerate this sauce until you’re ready to serve.
4. Combine the hot water with the hot mustard, and set this aside as well.
5. Eventually add your desired measurement of mustard and garlic chili sauce to the special sauce mixture to pour over the wraps.
6. Bring oil to high heat in a wok or large frying pan.
7. Saute chicken breasts for 4 to 5 minutes per side or until done.
8. Remove chicken from the pan and cool.
9. Keep oil in the pan – keep hot.
10. As chicken cools, mince water chestnuts and mushrooms to about the size of small peas.
11. Prepare the stir fry sauce by mixing the soy sauce, brown sugar, and rice vinegar together in a small bowl.
12. With the pan still on high heat, add another Tbsp of vegetable oil.
13. Add chicken, garlic, onions, water chestnuts and mushrooms to the pan.
14. Add the stir fry sauce to the pan and saute the mixture for a couple minutes then serve it in the lettuce”cups.”
15. Top with the “special sauce.”

Silver is usually the traditional color of New Year’s. So, start your table decor with a silver tablecloth as a background. The silver tablecloth can match a variety of themes while still maintaining the feeling of New Year’s. Silver also has a tendency to make other colors on your table pop in comparison.

Add a bit of pizazz to your table by reusing your Christmas lights. Tape the string of either white or colored lights around the table. Tape the plug-in to the back of the table legs, and ensure all cords are tapped down to prevent your guests from tripping. Make sure to use the cool light strands. If you don’t have plug-ins available, go with battery powered lights, and hide the box under the table.

Spread around confetti (such as silver stars) to further decorate the tablecloth. These type of confetti items can easily be found for half-price after Christmas – or use candles.

For finger foods, choose crystal pieces that show the food rather than plates. Of course, your choice of plates should be cohesive with the theme of your New Year’s party. This also might be a good time to bring out those impressive plates that are used only once a year.

For the centerpiece, consider adding an interactive resolution tree. A resolution tree is where people can write out their resolutions and attach them. Provide colorful pins and a shiny silver star for a very unique look.

You can also use leftover Christmas items, such as a silver tree or a classic object that goes with your party theme. You don’t have to spend a lot to get a unique centerpiece.

Your New Year’s table decor can be as imaginative as your party theme. Take these ideas into consideration for your next New Year’s party.

Consider picking a year that most of your party guests can relate to, such as the 1970s, 1980s or 1990s. One reason is that your guests likely already have outfits they can use, and finding decorations is relatively easy for these particular time periods. You can go further back into the past, but if you do this, consider picking a very common era that your guests can easily research. Remember, the further back into the past you go, the harder it can be to recreate.

You can mix in the anticipation for the New Year by having games that are relevant to the period you have chosen. Consider short trivia games that focus on the movies, music, or things that were wildly popular during that time. The key here is to keep the games simple and short. Don’t forget to hand out prizes.

Keep the food more modern though. Not all of the details have to be period perfect. Make sure you check with guests to see if there are any specific food allergies that you should be aware of when planning your party.

Bring in a table where guests can create time capsules filled with resolutions for themselves. Provide plenty of crafty material where they can write, draw, or take pictures of the things they want to achieve during the New Year. This fun little craft project can be utilized for kids as well.

New Year’s Eve is a time of celebration. A glimpse of the past is a great way to look back on the old and celebrate the New Year that is coming.

1. Calendars – Of course, it is totally obvious, but what is better for New Years than a new calendar? And you can really play around with this idea. If you have no time, run out and buy some cute calenders at your local Hallmark store. If you have a few days to prepare, head out to the craft store and make your own. I like using multicolored paper and printing out monthly calenders. Then I string them together with hemp rope. Looks a little arty, but still often good enough quality to use.
2. Champagne – Everyone loves a little champagne. Last year I bought a collection of small two glass bottles of champagne and let everyone take one home. I also included two cute plastic champagne glasses so they could toast together. I got a lot of big thank yous for this; it may seem simple, but people do use it!
3. A Taxi Ride Home – OK, totally geeky, I know, but drinking and driving is a huge issue on New Year’s Eve. In the past, I have foregone party favors and gifted all of my party guests a free ride home. You can either be the designated driver yourself, or call your local taxi service and book a few taxis. Make sure to do this early, as it can get pricey or difficult too close to the holiday season. But really, it is a great way to kick the party up a notch, and still behave responsibly.
4. After Party Recovery Kit – If you know your guests are going to be enjoying the party, why not give them a parting gift of recovery stuff? A few bathtub oils, some rejuvenating tea, hand and face creams, an eye mask, and a bottle of mineral water.

Sure New Year’s Eve usually means glitter, noise makers, and ugly glasses, but do you really need to spend money on them? Does anyone actually like these things? Why not spend your money on favors people might actually enjoy and use. Start off the New Year right, and everyone will appreciate it.

Decor and Music

You can think of a theme or go with a general New Year’s theme. Hang curled ribbons everywhere, on the ceilings, windows, staircases, tables, chairs, everywhere you can think of. You can choose to use the same colored ribbons, different colored ones or different colored ones mixed together. Stick Happy New Year! posters everywhere and look for Happy New Year toothpicks to decorate the food.

Food

There’s not going to be a lot of people sitting down so make sure the food will be easy to carry and eat. Finger foods are key. Lots of nuts, trail mixes, chips, cocktail sandwiches, crackers. Basically, anything that can be picked up by one finger and eaten in one bite.

Be sure to have a lot alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. Stock up on wine, beer, spirits, juice, soda and water. If you can have your local grocery or liquor store to sponsor you, the better. If not, you can always aks your guests to to do it for you. Charge them admission to the party but instead of paying, all they need to do is bring a bottle or two of wine or spirits or a six-pack.

Activities

You can have games, music or just plain hanging out. If your place can accommodate it, set up different stations for each activity. You could set up a karaoke station on one area, by the TV, perhaps. Then you can set up a dance floor in another room. And there could be another room for just hanging out. Totally up to you.

Dress Code

You can have one, definitely. You could also have a costume party and require everyone to wear costumes, but be prepared for people who won’t follow instructions. There are still people like that. Don’t let it ruin your fun though. It’s not worth stressing over. Just pretend it’s their version of your dress code.

Remember to have fun in your party. If you’re worried about people breaking your stuff, hide and secure them beforehand. Or better yet, host it somewhere else other than your home. Just always remember, rule number one: have lots of fun!

Period Party

Decide on a decade or a particular period in history. You can choose the 60s, the 20s, the 18th Century or even futuristic. If you decide to go with decades from the past, be sure to do lots of research to have the right decorations, food and refreshments. Make it a costume party, too, so people do get involved. And if they don’t dress up, tell them they have to sing or take off their clothes that don’t match the theme.

Color Party

Decide on a color theme, and use it for your entire party. Decorate the place using only the colors. Serve food and drinks that use only these colors. Invitations and party favors also should use the colors selected. Have the guests come wearing only these colors. It is best to select only two colors to make it stand out more.

Mardi Gras

The ultimate party experience, your guests will be transported to another world. Provide masks, beads and spicy Cajun cuisine. Use Mardi Gras to decorate invitations and include their masks when sending them. Hang feather boas and beads all over the place. Add swirls and garlands on the ceiling. Have costume contests to encourage everyone to wear a costume.

Fiesta

Add chili pepper lights and fiesta garlands everywhere in the place as decorations. Add inflatable cactus plants and tropical plants in corners all over. Serve Mexican finger food and drinks. Play only Mexican fiesta music. Give out maracas or noisemakers for party favors. Don’t forget to add a pinata in the middle of the room.

There’s still a lot of ideas out there. But no matter what you decide, be sure to do your research to make it very authentic.