Once upon a time we were young and would go out and party on New Year’s Even. As we got older this got harder and less pleasant until one year we simply gave up on it. The year had been long, and the holiday season had been exhausting so we crafted our own NYE tradition.

Before the event we go to places like Trader Joe’s and Wegman’s and we buy whatever decadent appetizers and indulgent desserts that catch our eye. Then we throw a bottle of Prosecco into the cart and call it a job well done. It’s the one time a year that I will buy a little overpriced wedge of cheese because it’s my favorite. If at all possible I will also bring home a container of cannoli filling and gluten-free pizzelles to spread it on.

Then on the big night we chow down on all the goodies and do whatever we want until about 30 minutes before midnight before tuning in to one of the ball drop TV shows. This year we binge watched Spy x Family season 2 – highly recommended.

The feast was awesome with all the usual suspects plus the addition of a new appetizer from Trader Joe’s that’s a sort of fried taco filled with mashed potatoes and poblano chilis. There are six to a box and we had a different hot sauce on each one because I have a hot sauce problem and have at least 8 of them open at any given time. I would definitely buy them again.

Since there are only two of us and a whole bottle of Prosecco we started drinking with dinner and went slow enough to be able to have full glasses at midnight. We wore silly hats, popped little explosive streamer bombs, toasted the new year, then went to bed. What party could be better?