If you’re a New Year’s homebody, it doesn’t mean you can’t create something special in the way of a meal or appetizers at home with family and friends, whether it’s New Year’s Eve or perhaps New Year’s Day.

Karen Krasne, who has owned Extraordinary Desserts for more than 30 years and is known for her extravagant, flower-petaled creations, has provided us with a few special dessert recipes to share that can be all shimmery and champagne-ready or a tad more down to earth, depending on whether you want to keep things simple or zhuzh ’emup. Get the recipes in my latest story for The San Diego Union-Tribune’s Food section! And many thanks to Nel Cepeda for the gorgeous photos! Happy New Year!