Celebrating New Year’s Eve

Champagne 101, tips on assembling your charcuterie board, and more! [START FREE TRIAL]( or [LOG IN]( [America's Test Kitchen: Notes from the Test Kitchen]( [America's Test Kitchen: Notes from the Test Kitchen]( [FIND RECIPES ›]( December 31, 2021 [Images of recipes]( [Images of recipes]( What’s New at ATK [Making Cocktails]( Festive New Year’s Eve Cocktails Watch the ball drop with an excellent drink in your hand.[Get five great cocktails for New Year’s Eve. →]( An Unexpected Tip for Buying Soft Cheeses The same cheese can be firm and dense or ooey gooey.[Here’s what you need to know about when to buy soft cheeses. →]( A Note From Our Test Cooks [Champagne Cocktail (Lisa McManus)]( Celebrating New Year’s Eve FROM Lisa McManus, Executive Editor of ATK Reviews Happy New Year! Beginnings and endings are milestones worth marking. New Year’s Eve is no exception. One time-honored way to celebrate the end of an old year and the onset of a new one is with cocktails and appetizers. Here are some ideas to spark your imagination. For the drink of the evening, keep it classic: a tall, cool [Champagne Cocktail](. Use the best Champagne you can, and be sure to stock plenty of bottles of good nonalcoholic sparkling wine for those who prefer alcohol-free beverages. Break out the tall, slim flutes for this gorgeous drink; we [tested the experience]( drinking from them versus retro-looking low, wide coupes and found that the tall, narrow flutes kept Champagne fizzier, more flavorful, and fresher-tasting longer than flat coupes. For the appetizers, let’s talk quantities first: For a cocktails-only gathering, serve five to six appetizers, and figure on 10 to 12 pieces per person. Choose recipes that aren’t all last-minute and labor-intensive. It’s only once a year, so why not splurge on a tiny, delicious tin of caviar? We’ve [researched what you need to know]( and where to order. The best way to serve it? [We’ve got that, too](. I love the idea of just scooping some onto a good, plain potato chip. (Seek out unsalted chips, or the briny caviar and salty chip may become too salty together). Or serve it on toasted, buttered rounds of brioche for gently contrasting sweetness. [Gougères]( are having a moment and for good reason. Crispy, light, airy, and elegant, these French-style cheese puffs appeal to everyone. For very hungry guests, it’s nice to have at least one hearty appetizer: [Slow-Cooker Glazed Cocktail Meatballs]( or [Swedish Cocktail Meatballs]( are delicious, filling, and worth keeping simmering on a sideboard so that guests can help themselves. You can round this out with easy, appealing charcuterie, olives, berries, cheeses, and crackers. You could even make your own dramatic-looking [Whole-Wheat Seeded Crackers](. Finish off the evening by passing around an unexpected dessert: [S’mores Brownies]( cut bite-size. Their tops are like little snowy mountains, making them a perfect dessert for midwinter and a sweet start for the New Year. The recipes in this newsletter are free for two days Want access to every recipe, review, and video? [Start your 2-week free trial](. Champagne 101 [Get the recipe for Champagne Cocktail →]( [Read Bursting the Bubble on Champagne Stemware →]( [Get the review of Champagne Savers →]( [Buy the winner →]( Assembling the Charcuterie Board [Get the recipe for Marinated Feta Cheese with Orange, Green Olives, and Garlic →]( [Read the article The Right Way to Slice and Serve Cheese →]( [Get the recipe for Whole-Wheat Seeded Crackers →]( More to Munch On [Get the recipe for Slow-Cooker Glazed Cocktail Meatballs →]( [Get the recipe for Gougères →]( [Get the recipe for S’mores Brownies →]( Savor autumn and winter with 500+ recipes for weeknight meals, special celebrations, seasonal sweet treats, and everything in between. [The Complete Autumn and Winter Cookbook. Save 43%. Your Price: $19.99. Cover Price: $34.99. Order Now.]( [Cutting Pita Chips]( FROM OUR ONLINE COOKING SCHOOL How to Make Pita Chips and Hummus Pita chips and hummus are an easy party appetizer, and they taste so much better when they’re homemade. Learn how to make them. [view course]( Try Another Newsletter [Quick Pulled Chicken Sandwiches with Red Cabbage Slaw]( [Sign up for Dinner Tonight →]( We share quicker, easier, fresher weeknight recipes, all with 10 or fewer ingredients and 30 to 45 minutes of prep time. [One-Pan Shrimp Pad Thai]( [Sign up for Shortcuts to Dinner →]( Get out of that cooking rut with six weeks of Shortcuts to Dinner in your inbox. A Word from the Sponsors of our Public Television Show, Cook’s Country from America’s Test Kitchen [The Bold Look of Kohler]( Since 1873, [Kohler Co.]( has been dedicated to creating kitchen and bathroom products that delight customers with their quality artistry and craftsmanship. Never a follower of existing trends and styles of the times, Kohler Co. continuously strives to lead the way and set new standards for gracious living by creating products that will deliver years of performance and add beauty and value to people’s homes. [Wolf, Sub-Zero, and Cove]( Your kitchen is where life happens. Where you share food, conversations, and confessions with family and friends. Sub-Zero, Wolf, and Cove are designed to help you get the most out of every moment gathered around home-cooked meals. Learn more at [subzero-wolf.com](. [Valley Fig Growers Orchard Choice]( Fresh ideas for a New Year with Orchard Choice and Sun-Maid Figs Trying to eat more vegetables? Braise [Brussels sprouts with figs]( on the stovetop. [Slow-cook carrots with fig olive relish](. Roast [cauliflower with figs in chermoula sauce](. Find more fresh ideas for veggie side dishes, plant-based mains, and get your premium Orchard Choice and Sun-Maid Figs at [valleyfig.com]( [Acorn TV]( Acorn TV offers mysteries, dramas, comedies, and documentaries from Britain, Ireland, Australia, and beyond on all your streaming devices. Watch fan favorites like Doc Martin, Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries, A Place to Call Home, and Midsomer Murders, as well as Acorn TV Originals including Agatha Raisin, Manhunt, and Mystery Road. Instant access and always commercial-free. New series and episodes added weekly, so there’s always something to watch. Find more at [acorn.tv](. 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