Welcoming the New Year under restrictions |31 December 2020

So, this probably isn’t going to be the best New Year’s eve we’ve ever experienced, but, there are still some ways to make it fun. Yes, most of us will be spending December 31 at home, but it’s still possible to ring in 2021 in an exciting, enjoyable way with those you live with.

Here are some tips on how to ring in the new year at home.

Dress up!

Who said you can't dress up just to sit on the couch? If you typically pull out your best outfit for New Year’s there's no need to change that tradition this year. Plus, you can get great photo opportunities at home, too. Dressing fancy calls for some fancy hors d'oeuvres to match the vibe, don't you think?

Decorate around the home

If you’re a party person, spruce up your home with some extra fun decorations. You may still have your Christmas decorations up, so utilise what you already have. Alternatively, try adding some glitzy gold streamers or some sparkle-filled party poppers to your interiors.

Make a festive cocktail

Your New Year celebration is only as good as the drink you choose to toast with at midnight, so it's only right you make something really special for the occasion.

Loved ones

Zoom calls and Google Meet have become a staple for holiday celebrations this year, and they're a great way to gather all of your loved ones virtually to ring in the New Year.

Watch movies all night long

Maybe extravagant holiday celebrations aren't your thing, and that's totally okay. Staying up all night watching movies is a great way to welcome in 2021, so make sure that streaming queue is on point!

Think up some classic resolutions ‒ or some bucket list items

New Year's eve is the time to reflect on yourself and the things you want for the future. Love them or hate them, New Year's resolutions do serve some purpose ‒ they allow you to be intentional with your goals, holding yourself accountable for the changes you hope to see. But if resolutions feel like an unnecessary source of pressure, try creating a bucket list instead. Write down a list of things you plan to do in a world that resembles ‘normal’, whether it has to do with travel, career or interacting with strangers from a distance of less than six feet.

Make a charcuterie board

Besides sourdough and banana bread, charcuterie boards have become insanely popular this year. Try your hand at the trend for New Year's eve and make it your excuse to buy all of those fancy cheeses at the grocery store that you've always been curious about.

Pop confetti at midnight

When the clock strikes twelve, you might as well make the most of it! Even if your celebration is more low-key than usual you can still absolutely use all the noisemakers, confetti poppers, or sparklers you want.

Make a decadent dessert

End the night just as you would any other: with a killer dessert ‒ or a couple of them. Might as well have a sweet ending to the craziest year ever and we at Seychelles NATION suggest a nice slice of brown butter apple tart.

Ingredients:

Crust

       Non-stick vegetable oil spray

       1 cup (2 sticks) plus 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, room temperature

       1 cup sugar

       ¼ teaspoon kosher salt

       1 large egg, beaten to blend

       2 tablespoons heavy cream

       2 teaspoons vanilla extract

       3 ½ cups unbleached all-purpose flour

             Filling and Assembly

       4 large eggs

       1 cup sugar

       1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter

       1 vanilla bean, split lengthwise

       ½ cup all-purpose flour

       ½ teaspoon kosher salt

       3 apples peeled, cored, cut crosswise into ¼ -inch-thick rings

       Whipped cream

Equipment

An 11-inch-diameter or 11x8x1-inch tart pan with removable bottom

Preparation for Crust

Step 1: Coat tart pan with non-stick spray. Using an electric mixer or stand mixer fitted with a paddle, mix butter, sugar, and salt until pale and creamy, about 2 minutes.

Step 2: Add egg, cream, and vanilla. Mix until smooth. Add flour all at once and beat until dough almost comes together. Turn dough out onto a work surface. Knead until dough just comes together, 4-5 times. Divide dough in half; form each half into a smooth ball. Flatten into disks and wrap each disk tightly in plastic. Chill 1 disk overnight; freeze second disk for another use.

Step 3: Roll out chilled dough disk between two sheets of plastic wrap, lifting and adjusting plastic as needed, until 1/8-inch thick and 2-inch wider than tart pan. Transfer dough in plastic wrap to a baking sheet and refrigerate until firm enough to handle, about 30 minutes.

Step 4: Remove top piece of plastic from dough. Invert dough into tart pan; press onto bottom and up sides. If dough is soft, chill until firm enough for remaining sheet of plastic to be removed. Trim edges of dough (patch up any holes or tears with extra dough). Chill until firm, about 1 hour.

Step 5: Pre-heat oven to 350°. Line dough with parchment paper or heavy-duty foil, leaving a 1-inch-2-inch overhang. Fill paper with dried beans or pie weights. Bake tart shell just until dough has dried and does not look wet in any spots, about 20 minutes. (If centre still looks wet, bake crust without weights until dried and opaque, a few minutes longer.)

                            FILLING AND ASSEMBLY

Step 6: Whisk eggs and sugar in a medium bowl just to blend. Place butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Scrape in seeds from vanilla bean; add bean. Cook, stirring often, until butter foams, then browns (do not burn), about 5 minutes. Let cool for 10 minutes; remove bean. Slowly whisk brown butter into egg mixture; whisk in flour and salt.

Step 7: Line tart shell with apples. Pour filling over (if using rectangular pan, you may have 1/2 cup excess filling). Bake until apples are deep golden brown and filling is puffed, cracked, and set in centre, 70-80 minutes.

Step 8: Let tart cool in pan on a wire rack, about 2 hours. Remove pan sides. Serve warm or at room temperature with whipped cream.

Compiled by Christophe Zialor