Your Party Your Way

Sometimes you just want to be alone despite eit being New Year's Eve. That's OK.  You can have your own party for one. It's a good time to just to treat yourself.

Most go for takeout. Chinese is bif and you cna easily get a small meal. Go for somethign that's idulgent like shrimp in lobster sauce or fried pork or chicken dumplings. These are good also as leftovers on New Year's day.If you're just having one or two friends over. Some pizzerias can make a pie for one.If not treat yourself to some garlic knots and a good scratch made stratichella soup. You could also eat out too. There are restuarants who can squeeze a solo diner . if that's the case, treat yourself to an indulgent meal. Try a French restaurant where you can indulge in a rich bouef bourgignon or even a French onion soup. If you don't want to deal with a crowd , ordrr ahead and just take out. You still get restaurant quality food and enjoy it in the privacy of your home. Of course if you're craving a burger than stop at your local Wendy's or McDonalds. Go all out for a bacon cheeseburger and fries. Order a shake if you want too.

Home cooking can also work for a party of one. Stores such as Aldi,Lidl and Acme have exclllent choices for appetizers and hors douevres. Aldi has an excllet array of frozen snacks like corn dogs and creamy mini quiches. Serve upa plate of their Mac and cheese bites.Try Lidl;s veggie egg rols that can be easily air fried toa crispy, golden brown. They even come with their own little packets of duck sauce. They also have the richly indulgence escargot or snail puffs from France,They also offer vegetables au gratin,. small cups that are filled with carrots, zucchini and eggplants. Treat yourself to their chicken fries or chicken wings that can be air fried or oven baked. Acme along with many other grocery stores offer good cold cuts and cheeses. Arrange a mini charcuterie plate fro yourself with yoru favorite cold cuts like prosciutto cotto or salame along with Brie and Edam. Slice up a small Portuguese roll instead of buying a whole French ro Italian bread .Add olives and artichoke hearts if you like them. Since it's only you also buy a good bottle of champagne to drink as well. Save some for the next day for indulgent mimosas at your New Year's Day breakfast.

There's nothing wrong with celebrating on your own. Indulge yourself. Enjoy a dinner out or a dinner in. I'ts your party.

Food Unifies Us

It cannot be said often enough about how food is a great uniter. Breaking bread allows us to see each other in a different, less confrontational light. We need to have more  socially distanced community dinners and picnics. Coming together over a plate of something is better than having that plate thrown at us.

Of course there should be more discourse however for now we should think of having town or block funded barbecues where law enforcement is invited.If cops  got to see how neighborhoods are , maybe there wouldn't be so much fear - yes fear - and prejudice on their part. Inviting them over for burgers and dogs isn't such a bad idea. They can get ideas about how to patrol and what they're looking at if they know the people. This is also a good concept for churches to follow too. Now that the weather is warmer , gatherings can be held outside to allow for social distancing. Imagine it like a big pot luck where people bring main dishes and sides along with desserts. Other congregations can also be invited. They too can bring different foods, reflecting religious and ethnic backgrounds. Not only is it a chance to come together but try recipes that are out of their comfort zone. Baked mac can be served alongside kugel and falafel. Kids can snack on cotton candy or baklava.  Individual barbecues can be set up for s'mores and toasted marshmallows.

Since cops are also our first responders, we need to remember the efforts and sacrifices they make during this ongoing pandemic. It's nothing to whip up a batch of cupcakes and homemade icing for your town's finest. Make an ice box cake if the weather is too hot. Another idea is sending pizza and prepared meals from your local pizzerias and restaurants. You'll be helping eateries in the area as well as providing a hot lunch or dinner for the force. If you have a neighbor who works on the force, treat them and their families to something, whether a cake or extra spaghetti and sauce.  They'll appreciate the gesture and the fact that you're behind them. As social gathering restrictions get lifted invite them over for a backyard meal. It's a great time to talk and find out about who they are and what's going on in your area. It's also the perfect time to suggest starting mentoring multiracial youth groups and having a police backed baseball or football team. Also tell them what you've seen in town and if there is a need for improvement.

Food will always unite us. If we start a dialogue, then it needs to be over a hamburger or a slice of cake. Eating brings us together - which is what we need right now.