The Top 5 New Year's Eve Toasts for Parties

The best 2010 New Year's Toast ideas can be considered personal in nature. However, having been around for 58 years, of which probably 50 or so I can remember New Year's Eve, I do feel I have suitable personal experience to share what I feel are the top five examples of the most favorite toasts with which to ring in the New Year.

• The 'Classic' Toast: First you must decide if your version of 'Classic' toast is made from white or wheat bread. Best results with this style of toast are obtained from medium to medium high settings on your toaster. Timing is critical, as toppings must be added as soon as the toast is removed from the appliance. Open season here, top with whatever you and your guests like for New Year's Eve.

• The Twelve Grain, chock full of little seed thingys Ultra Healthy Toast: Care must be taken in the preparation of this New Year's toast. Having come to the forefront during the past decade of promotion of healthy eating habits, this bread presents a unique challenge. Toaster settings must remain slightly below medium (4.5 if you have a 1 - 10 scale on your toaster) or the seed thingys will burn, and may cause moderate pain to those with loose dentures. Plan on low fat, low calorie, low taste spreads for this dietary satisfaction.

• The Sourdough English Muffin Toast: Ok, I know some of you purists will cry foul with my including Sourdough English Muffins in the "toast" category. Sorry, but you prepare it in a toaster, right? Besides, this is my 2010 New Year's Eve article anyway. The thing to remember with any English muffin is that a successful preparation will require one and one-half cycles in the toaster. There is no joy in the consumption of a very slightly browned, limp muffin. I suggest the ½ cycle first, followed by a full cycle. Recommended toppings: Lots (I mean lots) of butter topped with a dab of crunchy peanut butter.

• Store bought, Thin sliced Cinnamon Swirl Bread Toast: This marvelous bread product will be sure to delight your guests at your New Year's Eve shindig. One word of warning, however. Most of these breads come in an aggravating double bag. The outside bag is normal. There is, though, an inner, clear, thin plastic wrapper that is hard to open with any ease, and will tend to bunch up the more slices you remove from the bag. Anyway, this bread makes wonderful toast with just a dollop of butter, and doubles as a room freshener as well. Ah, that scent of cinnamon!

• French Toast: This masterpiece is perfect for the fanciest of New Year's Eve parties. This New Year's toast is best when made with thick bread. Thick here means at least 1 inch. When preparing the dipping solution, do not use too many eggs, however. Remember you are preparing French Toast, not fried eggs overstuffed with bread! A variety of syrups, cinnamon, and powdered sugar toppings will be the crowning glory for this first scrumptious delicacy of 2010.

Some people like to follow other traditions at New Year's Eve parties. Believe it or not, there are those that like to stand up, usually with an adult beverage in their raised hand, and speak what they think are clever, catchy words, allegedly designed to make everyone feel optimistic about the coming year. Can you imagine such strange behavior? I have heard that this weird ritual is also called a New Year's Eve Toast. Go figure.

Sources:

I have prepared, served to others, and personally enjoyed all of the New Year's Toasts described above. Honest.