Who needs to go out for New Year's Eve? Celebrate family style, with an easy appetizer party right in your own home!

Many of us are choosing to stay home on New Year's Eve and celebrate as a family, rather than hire a baby-sitter, go out and then worry about others on the road. So check out this casual, fun evening for familes to share--good food, activities and plenty of memories from the past year!

Cut stars from white construction paper for each member of your family. Ask each person to write a New Year's resolution in the center of the star and five special things they are most proud of for the past year near each point. Glue straws or wooden sticks (available at craft stores) to the backs of the stars and decorate around the writing with colored glue and glitter. When dry, place them in a foam block and cover the block with colored shredded crepe paper (available near wrapping paper supplies) to use as a centerpiece. Sponge-paint stars on bright blue or white napkins, using gold or silver paint, for your sparkling celebration.

Make it a yearly tradition to spend New Year's Day filling up a photo album with photos and captions that capture the highlights from the past year.

Prepare MAKE AHEAD ITALIAN MEATBALLS freeze as directed

Prepare MAKE AHEAD SNOWMAN CHEESEBALL; freeze as directed

Prepare REINDEER SNACK.

                   Move cheese balls from freezer to refrigerator.

Finish making Snowman Cheese Ball; store loosely covered in refrigerator.

                   Reheat Italian Meatballs as directed

MAKE AHEAD ITALIAN MEATBALLS

Keep these easy-to-make meatballs on hand for last-minute dinner creations. Tossed with pasta or baked into a casserole, the possibilities are endless!

Prep: 15 min
Start To Finish: 30 min
Makes 30 appetizer meatballs

1 pound lean ground beef

1 medium onion, chopped (1/2 cup)

1/3 cup Progresso® dry bread crumbs (any flavor)

1/4 cup milk

1 egg

1 teaspoon salt

1/8 teaspoon pepper

1 cup chili sauce

1/2 cup cold water

1 jar (12 ounces) tomato pasta sauce (any variety)

1 teaspoon yellow mustard

1. Heat oven to 400ºF.

2. Mix ground beef, onion, bread crumbs, milk, egg, salt and pepper. Shape mixture into thirty 1-inch balls. Place in ungreased rectangular pan, 13x9x2 inches.

3. Bake uncovered about 15 minutes or until no longer pink in center and juice is clear. (To serve immediately, continue as directed in step 5--except decrease simmer time to 15 minutes.) 4. Place meatballs on ungreased cookie sheet. Freeze uncovered about 20 minutes or until firm. Place partially frozen meatballs in heavy plastic bag or freezer container. Seal, label and freeze no longer than 3 months.

5. About 25 minutes before serving, mix chili sauce, water, pasta sauce and mustard in 2-quart saucepan. Add meatballs. Heat to boiling, stirring occasionally; reduce heat. Cover and simmer about 20 minutes or until meatballs are hot.

1 Serving: Calories 65 (Calories from Fat 25 ); Total Fat 3 g (Saturated Fat 1 g); Cholesterol 15 mg; Sodium 270 mg; Total Carbohydrate 6 g (Dietary Fiber 0g); Protein 4 g
% Daily Value: Vitamin A 4 %; Vitamin C 2 %; Calcium 0%; Iron 2 %
Exchanges: 1 Vegetable; 1/2 Medium-Fat Meat

****Success
Partially freezing the meatballs before putting them in a plastic bag ensures that the meatballs won’t stick together and lose their shape when thawed.

****Planned-Overs
These meatballs don’t have to look the same the second time around. Crumble leftovers and stir into chili, pasta sauce or a sloppy joe or taco mix.

Barbecue indoors! Bake tender, juicy ribs brushed with a cranberry barbecue sauce in your oven. They’re delicious!

Prep: 15 min
Start To Finish: 1 hr 25 min
Makes 40 appetizers

3 pounds fresh pork riblets

or

1 rack (3 pounds) pork back ribs, cut lengthwise across bones in half

1 cup whole berry cranberry sauce

1/2 cup hoisin sauce

1/2 teaspoon onion powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/8 teaspoon pepper

1. Heat oven to 375ºF. Grease broiler pan rack. Trim fat and remove membranes from pork riblets. (For ribs, cut between bones into serving pieces.)

2. Place pork, meaty sides up, in single layer on rack in broiler pan. Cover with aluminum foil and bake 50 minutes.

3. Mix remaining ingredients. Brush pork with half of the cranberry mixture. Bake uncovered 10 to 20 minutes longer or until pork is tender. (If using Do-Ahead Tip, stop here.)

4. Heat remaining cranberry mixture to boiling in 1-quart saucepan. Serve with pork.

1 Serving: Calories 80 (Calories from Fat 45 ); Total Fat 5 g (Saturated Fat 2 g); Cholesterol 20 mg; Sodium 85 mg; Total Carbohydrate 4 g (Dietary Fiber 0g); Protein 5 g
% Daily Value: Vitamin A 0%; Vitamin C 0%; Calcium 0%; Iron 2 %
Exchanges: 1 Medium-Fat Meat

****Variation
You’ll want to save this recipe. The tangy cranberry glaze also is delicious brushed on chicken wings and drummettes.

****Do-Ahead Tip
Place cooked pork in rectangular baking dish, 13x9x2 inches; cover tightly with aluminum foil. Refrigerate remaining cranberry mixture in tightly covered container. Refrigerate pork and cranberry mixture no longer than 48 hours. About 35 minutes before serving, heat oven to 400ºF. Bake pork in covered dish about 20 minutes or until hot. Heat remaining cranberry mixture to boiling in 1-quart saucepan. Serve with pork.

All holiday appetizers should be this fun! This adorable snowman is made of a delicious spread of seasoned cream and Cheddar cheeses.

Prep: 10 min
Start To Finish: 4 hr 10 min
Makes 7 cups spread

3 packages (8 ounces each) cream cheese, softened

4 cups shredded Cheddar cheese (16 ounces)

2 tablespoons basil pesto

1 tablespoon grated onion

1/4 teaspoon yellow mustard

2 drops red pepper sauce

1 container (4 ounces) whipped cream cheese, softened

Decorations (see Success Hint), if desired

Assorted crackers, if desired

1. Mix 3 packages cream cheese and the Cheddar cheese; divide into 3 equal parts. Combine 2 parts to equal two-thirds of mixture; mix in pesto. Mix onion, mustard and pepper sauce into remaining one-third mixture.

2. Cover each cheese mixture and refrigerate about 4 hours or until firm enough to shape. Shape each cheese mixture into ball. Wrap each ball, label and freeze.

3. About 12 hours before serving, remove balls from freezer. Thaw in wrappers in refrigerator. 4. Arrange balls on serving plate with smaller ball on top for head of snowman. Frost snowman with whipped cream cheese before serving. Decorate as desired. Serve with crackers. Store covered in refrigerator.

1 Serving: Calories 42 (Calories from Fat 35 ); Total Fat 4 g (Saturated Fat 2 g); Cholesterol 10 mg; Sodium 45 mg; Total Carbohydrate 0g (Dietary Fiber 0g); Protein 2 g
% Daily Value: Vitamin A 2 %; Vitamin C 0%; Calcium 2 %; Iron 0%
Exchanges: 1 Fat

****Do-Ahead Tip
You can make this cute little guy up to 1 month ahead!

****How-To
Guests may be a little reluctant to start sampling your delicious creation, so make extra to fill serving bowls to help get them started.

****Success
Use your imagination to decorate this whimsical snowman! You can use fresh rosemary and dried cranberries (crown), chopped olive pieces or raisins (eyes and buttons), pimiento or red bell pepper (mouth), radicchio or carrot ribbon (scarf), and asparagus spears or celery sticks (arms).

This colorful appetzer adds flavor and crunch to any buffet table. Served with a creamy butterrmilk dressing, these veggies won't last long!

Prep: 25 min
Start To Finish: 2 hr 25 min
Makes 6 servings

Buttermilk Dressing (See Below)

1 1/2 cups small broccoli flowerets

1 1/2 cups small cauliflowerets

1 medium red bell pepper, cut into strips

1 medium yellow bell pepper, cut into strips

1 small zucchini, sliced diagonally

3 medium carrots, sliced diagonally

1. Prepare Buttermilk Dressing.

2. Arrange vegetables in separate sections on serving platter. Serve with Buttermilk Dressing.

Buttermilk Dressing1/2 cup mayonnaise or salad dressing

1/3 cup buttermilk

1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley

1/2 teaspoon instant minced onion

1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper

1/8 teaspoon salt1garlic clove, crushed

Shake all ingredients in tightly covered container. Refrigerate at least 2 hours. Shake before serving. About 3/4 cup dressing.

1 Serving: Calories 175 (Calories from Fat 135 ); Total Fat 15 g (Saturated Fat 2 g); Cholesterol 10 mg; Sodium 140 mg; Total Carbohydrate 10 g (Dietary Fiber 3 g); Protein 3 g
% Daily Value: Vitamin A 100 %; Vitamin C 100 %; Calcium 4 %; Iron 4 %
Exchanges: 2 Vegetable; 3 Fat

****Purchasing
Make this appetizer even simpler by buying the veggies already cut up from your supermarket's salad bar section.

****Time Saver
No time to make the dressing? Any store-bought buttermilk dressing will do.

This delightful mixture of favorite snack foods has a spicy chili powder kick.

Prep: 10 min
Start To Finish: 25 min
Makes 18 servings (1/2 cup each)

3cups popped popcorn

3cups Bugles® nacho cheese flavor corn snacks

2cups pretzel sticks1cup Cheerios® cereal

1/3cup butter or margarine, melted

1/2teaspoon chili powder

1garlic clove, very finely chopped

or

1/4 teaspoon garlic powder

1. Heat oven to 300ºF.

2. Mix popcorn, snacks, pretzels and cereal in large bowl. Mix remaining ingredients; drizzle over popcorn mixture, tossing until evenly coated. Spread in ungreased jelly roll pan, 15 1/2x10 1/2X1 inch.

3. Bake uncovered 15 minutes, stirring twice; cool. Store loosely covered at room temperature up to 2 weeks. Microwave Directions: Place butter, chili powder and garlic in 3-quart microwavable casserole or bowl. Microwave uncovered on High about 1 minute or until butter is melted; stir. Stir in popcorn, snacks, pretzels and cereal. Toss until well coated. Microwave uncovered 6 to 8 minutes, stirring every 2 minutes, until toasted; cool.

1 Serving: Calories 85 (Calories from Fat 55 ); Total Fat 6 g (Saturated Fat 2 g); Cholesterol 0mg; Sodium 180 mg; Total Carbohydrate 8 g (Dietary Fiber 1 g); Protein 1 g
% Daily Value: Vitamin A 4 %; Vitamin C 0%; Calcium 0%; Iron 4 %
Exchanges: 1 Starch

****Special Touch
Make party favors out of this addictive snack mix. Wrap 1-cup portions in holiday-themed plastic wrap, and tie with green and red ribbon. Personalize packages by attaching a small gift tag with a guest’s name written on each.

****Variation
Make Sweet Reindeer Snack when you use original Bugles®, replace chili powder with cinnamon, omit garlic and add 2 cups of red and green candy-coated chocolate candies.

****SPECIAL TOUCH
Make party favors out of this addictive snack mix. Wrap 1-cup portions in holiday-themed plastic wrap, and tie with green and red ribbon. Personalize packages by attaching a small gift tag with a guest’s name written on each