Tea Time: Dessert Ideas for Celebrating the New Year

Pleasant morning Cool Pinks,

The new year is almost here! That means making resolutions that we can realistically keep this time, along with a few more parties before 2011 comes to a close. If you're hosting a soiree and want to impress your guests with your overwhelming sophistication and keen dessert selection sensibilities, here are a few simple desserts you can offer at your New Year's tea party or afternoon Sweet Treat celebration (which, by the way, is much easier than planning an evening party). Here are some cool ideas to try: more recipes will follow tomorrow:)

-Purchase a white or yellow cake mix and add champagne to the batter to give the treats a kick that is indicative of toasting to the New Year. One of my best girlfriends, Melanie LeDay-Alborado, can talk you through the recipe here: http://www.ktbs.com/video/30080007/index.html. Her batter is homemade, but you can grab cake mix if you're in a pinch:)

-Make a basic cookie dough--and add something other than chocolate chips to it. I usually use the basic Toll House recipe for cookie dough, found here: http://www.verybestbaking.com/recipes/18476/Original-NESTL%C3%89-TOLL-HOUSE-Chocolate-Chip-Cookies/detail.aspx. Instead of simply adding chocolate chips, I use white chocolate chips and pistachios, butterscotch chips and candies pecans or almonds, or dried fruits like cherries or bananas. Dust these treats with some powdered sugar when they come out of the oven to make it look like you've been slaving away in the kitchen all day;)

-Roast some winter fruit, then add a spice and some type of cream. For instance, roasted apples with heavy whipping cream and allspice is fragrant and impressive. Or, roast some pumpkin slices sprinkled with brown sugar, and add organic whipped cream and ginger to them once they come out of the oven. Serve the fruit with shortbread. Trust me, everyone will love this. Additional prep instructions can be found here: http://www.sophistimom.com/roasted-pumpkin-slices/

Now, go be fabulous! The world is waiting to taste your exquisite culinary works--and to admire your party outfit and makeup:) Stay cool--and pink;)