Keep calm and celebrate

All across the world, nations are adapting to a new norm. One where we don’t have access to the people and places we hold dear, which hasn’t left much room for celebration. Yet babies have still been born and couples have gotten married (with their families watching via webcam). There have been anniversaries, milestone birthdays, holidays with all its traditions, promotions attained – and many, many more reasons to celebrate.

Despite this strange time, none of those milestones should go without celebration. Here’s how to do it up right.

Set the scene: Traditional celebrations usually have a time limit, but now you can make the entire day special. Surround yourself with celebration. Decorate your home with cheerful touches, like an aromatic little herb planter for your kitchen windowsill. Set the table for every meal – a crisp white tablecloth with a dainty place setting makes mealtimes so much more delicious.

Marvel over your newest centrepiece while tucking into these scrumptious celebratory-worthy morning meals:

The perfect eggs Benedict

Banana pancakes with espresso chocolate sauce

Churros French toast stack

Bake: Sure, grab the best-looking cakes at the store next time you go, or really feel like the proverbial belle of the ball with these showstopper bakes. Create a high-tea-esque table Marie Antoinette-style or celebrate with one big cake. No matter the occasion – let them eat cake!

Vertical red velvet cake

Milk tart cheesecake

Caramel peppermint crisp cake

Be your own mixologist: If you were nifty enough to snag some bubbles before the lockdown, then this is the time to pop that cork. If you didn’t, here are a few stellar cocktails that you can give a non-alcoholic twist – that will make your celebration just as festive!

Fresh Don Pedro

Blackberry lime gin and tonic

Feast: Whether it’s a table for one or a feast for a family, plan a menu of your favourite things to eat and prepare it course-by-course – it’ll be more than worth it! Here’s what’s on our menu:

Starters: Smoked salmon trout with lemongrass mayonnaise

Main course: Sweet and sticky pork belly

Dessert: Blueberry and frangipane tartlets with caramel shards diplomat creme and fruit

Food experiences: Interactive cooking has long been a fun way to celebrate an occasion. Partake in that now, too. Get out your fondue pots, waffle maker, cocktail shaker and sushi kit and have some fun with food! Set up Facetime dates with friends so that you can cook together and, who knows, you may usher in a new celebratory tradition.

Cocktails: The grasshopper cocktail