Countdown to the Next Year: Your Holiday Feast.

When it involves throwing parties, guests often split into a pair of rather separate groups: people that enjoy doing it, and the ones that would rather to do practically anything else. Getting prepared in advance is essential, and finding a few tasty recipes to begin the evening will delight your visitors while you aim to manage everything.

Fennel, Lemon and Smoked Paprika Almonds

Spicy almond snack

These citrusy, flavorful bites are a ideal pairing for the bright pink grapefruit mocktails featured next.

Savory Blinis Topped with Salmon and Ricotta

Elegant starter with blinis

A delicious celebration first course that can readily be adapted to serve with a different topping for the kids.

Cardamom-Lime Grapefruit Mocktails

Citrusy non-alcoholic drink

These beverages are a invigorating substitute to spirits, but also create a wonderful mixer for a tequila-based beverage.

Juniper and Lemon Martinis

Sophisticated martini cocktail

Handcrafted gin for a unique holiday cocktail, great for sharing or serving at events.

Shredded Lamb Shoulder with Sumac Onion Salad

Tender lamb dish

Bask in the praise of this show-stopping spread – your guests will ever guess how minimal effort was required.

Chocolate Tart with Spiced Cranberry

Festive chocolate cranberry tart

In this rich finale, pockets of spiced cranberry compote are baked into a chocolate filling for a combination that makes any abundance of cranberries to good effect.

Linda Davis
Linda Davis

A tech enthusiast and digital strategist with over a decade of experience in analyzing emerging technologies and their impact on daily life.