Throwing a Fabulous Last-Minute Holiday Party: Do’s and Don’ts

You’ll want to create some delicious and artful appetizers for your guests. During the holidays, create an emergency kit for last-minute gatherings, made up of supplies you can keep in the pantry. Below is a list of great foods that can be quickly arranged on a platter to create a wonderful spread for your guests. I can’t keep my guests out of the kitchen, so I put them to work, and we enjoy creating dishes and serving foods together.

•    Cheeses
•    Tapanade
•    Olives
•    Crackers
•    brie cheese
•    strawberry jam (warm the brie and pour the jam on top before you serve)
•    walnuts and pecans
•    salami
•    artichoke hearts

Buy a few extra bottles of wine and some sparkling cider. Keep them in the back of the fridge for surprise guests. And remember: your guests and family won’t necessarily remember what food you served or what music you played, but they will remember how you made them feel.