A no-cook New Year’s Eve party

The Christmas holiday has come and gone, and the hours (or days, in my case) spent in the kitchen hopefully were multiplied in joy of having family gather around the table to celebrate.

My husband, Randy, and I hosted 40 happy family members on Christmas Day, so as one might imagine, we’re a little tuckered out. The celebrating must continue, however, because it is “the holiday season.” We love to host parties and have people to our home, but after such a big Christmas cooking production, I’m not quite up for spending more time in the kitchen.

So what to do when you want to spend some time with friends and toast the season but you’re not up for going out and spending lots of money? Host a no-cook party. While it sounds too good to be true, I assure you, it is not.

At the grocery store, Douglas Avenue Chop Shop or Costco, you can purchase many delicious bites, then set them out, fancy up the presentation with some fresh rosemary, arugula and pomegranate arils, and impress your guests.

What to purchase:

▪  Cheeses of several varieties: Think variety when it comes to texture — a soft, gooey cheese like brie or Camembert, a semi-firm cheese like feta or gouda, and a firm cheese like pecorino. I think it’s fun to add a dessert cheese sometimes, too, like cranberry-covered goat cheese or one with ginger in it.

▪  Olives: My absolute favorite are castelvetrano. The vibrant green color and mild but salty flavor cannot be beat, in my opinion. I’ve converted people into olive lovers with this seductive little green olive. I suggest buying them with the pit for integrity of flavor. Olive options are as endless as what you can find, and we have some great options on the various olive bars at our local grocers. I prefer to buy at the bar because you can purchase whatever amount you want and because real estate in my two refrigerators is quite precious.

▪  Pickled things: All shapes and sizes are welcome – okra, cauliflower, green beans, beets, artichoke hearts, peppers, etc.

▪  Fruit: Dried or fresh is a lovely addition. If you’re lucky enough to hit fig season, which is quite short two times a year (early June and August through October), then please do yourself a favor and add them. Grapes work beautifully, as do dried cherries.

▪  Charcuterie: Proscuitto, salami, bresaola, pancetta (although that one requires cooking), pepperoni – the list goes on. You can find them prepackaged or at the deli for slicing. If you can get your hands on some La Quercia brand charcuterie, you will pay a pretty penny, but you’ll thank me later (or perhaps curse me because it’s pricey).

If you’re feeling like whipping up just one thing for your no-cook party, make a platter of hummus. It’s garlicky, lemony, smooth and satisfying.

Now that you’ve seen my mug shot, you’ve seen my bright red hair, and unless you know me, you would never guess I’m Lebanese. To be fair, I’m just ¼ Lebanese; however, I grew up immersed in the culture – surrounded by a huge extended Lebanese family, attending St. George Cathedral, and I even co-chaired the annual Lebanese dinner for three years. It hardly gets more Lebanese than that.

Hummus is wonderful dip made from garbanzo beans, tahini, lemon juice, garlic and salt. There are probably thousands of versions of the recipe, and there’s debate as to which Arabic country invented the recipe. I think it was the Lebs, but what do I know?

Last but certainly not least, let’s chat libations. Serve some wines, and if you’re up for it, having a signature cocktail adds a fun flair to your gathering. My adorable cousin Katie and her family came to visit from El Paso for the holiday season. Along with her came her portable Moscow Mule bar. She made it to the top-of-the-houseguest list with that, along with countless other kind things she and her sister, Paige, did this week to help. They cleaned out not one, but two of my fridges. Have you ever heard of such a kind, helpful, selfless act? Me, neither. I asked if they could just stay here forever.

This story was originally published December 27, 2016 at 2:31 PM with the headline "A no-cook New Year’s Eve party."