Holiday Open House Menu

My solution is not to back away from the chaos, but to throw a party.

I designed this open house menu for versatility: a dress-up evening or a casual day, a low-key Sunday afternoon drop-around or an elegant Saturday night, even a New Year's Eve. The dishes are small, full of flavor, suitable for adults or kids, and can be dressed up or dressed down. There's a lively mix of flavors and textures, from crunchy phyllo-wrapped asparagus to a creamy caramelized onion topping for crostini. Most are pick-up bites, both savory and sweet (including chocolate and peanut butter--coated pretzels that are completely addictive), with a heavier "anchor" pairing of pork tenderloin in herbed biscuits alongside a colorful roasted root vegetable salad.

The best part? This beautiful party menu, including drinks, comes in under $10 per guest. Now, that's reason to celebrate!

• Send invitations at least four to five weeks in advance.
• Festive-up the house
• Don't forget about music! It absolutely sets the tone for the party.
• Choose suitable dishes that work with the feel of the gathering.
• Take time to study a food plan.
• Keep the kids happy with kid-friendly bites and special area where the little ones can play.
• Be prepared for gifts especially food and have a few vases ready for flowers.
• Welcome guests with refreshments. Set up a drink station close to the entryway.
• Hire a presentable neighborhood teenager and put her or him in charge of refreshing the food.
• Enjoy!

Look for fresh orange juice in the refrigerated part of the produce department.

Make-ahead tip: Combine all ingredients except club soda up to two days ahead; gently stir in club soda shortly before serving.

For a nonalcoholic version, simply omit the rum; to make it sweeter, replace the rum with apple juice.

Make-ahead tip: Steep juice mixture up to a week ahead; cool to room temperature, and refrigerate. Warm over medium-low heat, and add rum and lime juice shortly before serving.

Serve with Basic Crostini, or try toasted walnut bread.

Serve with Basic Crostini, or melba toast. For an upscale version, thinly slice onions, and caramelize as directed. Then combine cream cheese, mayo, pepper, and salt; spread over crostini, and top with onions and chives.

You can also chop the prosciutto and sprinkle it on the phyllo.

Make-ahead tip: Arrange assembled rolls on a baking sheet, coat with cooking spray, and cover; store in the fridge for up to four hours. Bake an hour or two before the party.

Make-ahead tips: Freeze uncooked biscuits for a couple of weeks; cut out dough rounds, and freeze flat on a baking sheet. Once frozen, transfer to a zip-top freezer bag. Arrange frozen dough on a baking sheet, and allow to thaw slightly as oven preheats. Bake an extra two or three minutes or until browned. You can also assemble the sandwiches about an hour or two before the party; wrap and keep warm at 150°. And just know that these are delicious at room temperature—they don't have to be piping hot.

Make-ahead tip: Roast the veggies several hours ahead; toss with vinaigrette about an hour before the party. Serve at room temperature.

Tropical coconut flakes and warm, cozy cardamom pair up for the ultimate holiday dessert or cold weather treat.

Make-ahead tip: Bake cookies, and cool completely on a wire rack; store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week.

Make-ahead tip: Cool the brittle completely, break into chunks, and store them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one week.

Make-ahead tip: Dip the pretzels, and store in the fridge on a parchment-lined tray up to five days ahead. Set out shortly before serving, but not too far ahead, as the chocolate may melt.