If you’re like us, you can’t believe we have come to the close of another year. The older we get, the faster time flies.

For many of us, this year has presented itself with challenges – some health, family or financial challenges and you are so ready for a new year. For others, you may have been blessed with more members in your family, especially the cute and cuddly kind (grandkids), good health and love. Whatever 2022 has been for you, we wish you only joy, love and much happiness in 2023!

No matter how you choose to ring in the New Year – whether it’s hosting a party or lying low with your loved ones watching football on New Year’s Day, we have some tried and true easy recipes that you can make without a lot of fuss. After all, we just had two big holidays in a row and who couldn’t use a fuss-free day!

Baked Brie

1 sheet of puff pastry, defrosted

A wheel of Brie (7 oz.)

1/4 cup of raspberry jam

Egg Wash

Your favorite crackers

Heat oven to 425°. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and cut puff pastry into an 8″ square. Place brie in the center and top with jam. Fold corners of dough up and around the cheese, sealing it at the top. Brush with egg wash and bake for 20–25 minutes, or until pastry is golden and cheese has melted. Serve with crackers.

Sausage and Chesse Balls

6 cups Bisquick baking mix

2 pounds shredded extra-sharp Cheddar cheese

1 pound sage-flavored Jimmy Dean pork sausage at room temperature

1 pound hot Jimmy Dean pork sausage, at room temperature

Preheat the oven to 300 degrees and grease baking sheets. You can also use silmats. Mix bisqick, cheddar cheese, sage and hot flavored pork sausage together in a large mixing bowl. I use a dough hook to mix it all together. Form sausage mixture into 1 1/2″ balls and arrange on the prepared baking sheets.

Bake in the oven until browned on the outside and no longer pink in the center – around 25-30 minutes. Time Saver: these can be made ahead of time, put into freezer bags and reheated either in the microwave or the oven – delicious!

Easy To Make Meatballs

3 -5 lbs frozen cooked small meatballs or 3 -5 lbs Little Smokies sausages

1(32 ounce) jar grape jelly

2(12 ounce jars Heinz Chili Sauce

1 pinch cayenne pepper (optional)

In a pot, combine the grape jelly with the chili sauce; add in the meatballs and simmer for about 45 minutes uncovered or until the sauce has thickened.

If you’re having a New Year’s party with family or friends and kids are invited, we found this great idea from messylittlemonster.com on how to make countdown bags for the kids. If your kids are really young and are worried for them to stay up until midnight – no worries. You could always start and end early for the young kids that can’t tell time and won’t know the difference. Honestly, if you decide to do something on New Year’s Day while watching football or visiting, these can be used then as well to keep the little ones entertained.

Here are some ideas to put into the bags for the kids:

A few yummy treats

Party blowers

New Year party hats

Sparklers 

Party poppers

Glow sticks (to have a glow disco!)

Party streamers

Coloring books and crayons

Paper to write wishes/ dreams for the New Year. You could even video the kids on your phone their wishes and dreams for the New Year. Better yet, for the older kids, you could ask them to video each adults on their wishes and dreams as well.

May the closeness of your loved ones, family, and friends fill your heart with joy. Happy New Year and all the best in 2023!

Gigi Ladies

Originally Published on https://www.gigiconnection.com/

Gigi Connection Grandparenting

With decades of friendship between us, we aim to empower and encourage women of all ages as we share, from our hearts, topics relating to health, beauty, fashion, reading, cooking, faith in God, travel and the joys of aging gracefully as we live life with our friends, family and adoring grandchildren.

Our greatest hope is that with almost 200 collective years of marriage wisdom, 20 grandchildren between us (newborn-12 years of age) and friendships lasting since 1989, our blog encourages you in some way in your friendships, your relationships, your faith, your self and in this wonderful journey called grandparenting.

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