Countdown to the Next Year: Your Festive Menu.

When it comes to hosting parties, guests usually divide into a pair of rather separate categories: those who adore doing it, and the ones that would prefer to do practically another thing. Getting prepared early is crucial, and selecting a few tasty dishes to start the evening will entertain your visitors while you aim to hold everything together.

Spicy Almonds with Fennel, Lemon & Paprika

Spicy almond snack

These tangy, flavorful snacks make for a perfect pairing for the bright pink grapefruit mocktails detailed next.

Savory Blinis Topped with Salmon and Ricotta

Delicious starter with blinis

A delectable holiday first course that can readily be modified to offer with a sweet topping for younger guests.

Refreshing Grapefruit Mocktails with Cardamom & Lime

Citrusy non-alcoholic drink

These beverages are a refreshing substitute to alcohol, but additionally serve as a tasty ingredient for a tequila-based beverage.

Festive Martinis with Juniper & Lemon

Homemade martini cocktail

Homemade spirit for a special celebration martini, ideal for sharing or serving at events.

Slow-Cooked Shredded Lamb Shoulder with Red Onion Sumac Salad

Slow-cooked lamb dish

Revel in the glory of this stunning centerpiece – no one will for a moment suspect how little effort was involved.

Festive Chocolate Cranberry Tart

Festive chocolate cranberry tart

In this rich finale, pockets of spiced cranberry compote are cooked into a chocolaty filling for a flavor pairing that puts any extra of holiday fruit to good purpose.

Christina Olson
Christina Olson

A mindfulness coach and productivity expert who shares evidence-based strategies for achieving focus in a distracted world.