Countdown to the New Year: Your Holiday Spread.

When it involves organizing celebrations, guests usually divide into two rather distinct groups: people that love doing it, and those who would choose to do almost another thing. Being ready early is crucial, and choosing a few tasty dishes to start the proceedings will amuse your visitors while you aim to hold everything together.

Fennel, Lemon and Smoked Paprika Almonds

Zesty almond snack

These tangy, spiced bites are a perfect pairing for the refreshing pink grapefruit mocktails featured below.

Savory Blinis Topped with Salmon and Ricotta

Elegant starter with blinis

A delectable holiday starter that can conveniently be modified to present with a different spread for children.

Pink Grapefruit, Cardamom and Lime Mocktails

Citrusy non-alcoholic drink

These drinks are a zesty substitute to alcohol, but also create a wonderful mixer for a tequila-based beverage.

Festive Martinis with Juniper & Lemon

Classic martini cocktail

Handcrafted gin for a unique holiday drink, great for giving as a present or pouring at parties.

Shredded Lamb Shoulder with Sumac Onion Salad

Tender lamb dish

Enjoy the admiration of this stunning spread – no one will possibly realize how modest work was involved.

Chocolate Tart with Spiced Cranberry

Festive chocolate cranberry tart

In this decadent sweet treat, swirls of aromatic cranberry sauce are cooked into a chocolate frangipane for a duo that uses any surfeit of cranberries to delicious purpose.

Zachary Wilson
Zachary Wilson

Elena Voss is a freelance journalist and editor with a passion for covering innovative tech and human-interest stories.