Final Hours to the Next Year: Your Holiday Spread.

When it involves hosting parties, people often split into two quite distinct camps: people that love the process, and people that would rather to do almost anything else. Being ready in advance is essential, and choosing a few scrumptious recipes to kick off the evening will delight your guests while you try to manage everything.

Spicy Almonds with Fennel, Lemon & Paprika

Savory almond snack

These tangy, spicy bites make for a ideal companion for the refreshing pink grapefruit mocktails detailed further down.

Savory Blinis Topped with Salmon and Ricotta

Elegant starter with blinis

A scrumptious festive starter that can readily be altered to offer with a sweet topping for younger guests.

Cardamom-Lime Grapefruit Mocktails

Colorful non-alcoholic drink

These drinks are a invigorating option to spirits, but also serve as a wonderful base for a tequila-based beverage.

Festive Martinis with Juniper & Lemon

Homemade martini cocktail

Home-infused spirit for a special festive cocktail, great for giving as a present or offering at gatherings.

Slow-Cooked Shredded Lamb Shoulder with Red Onion Sumac Salad

Slow-cooked lamb dish

Bask in the glory of this stunning centerpiece – your guests will possibly guess how little effort was needed.

Festive Chocolate Cranberry Tart

Rich chocolate cranberry tart

In this decadent sweet treat, puddles of warmly spiced cranberry compote are cooked into a dark chocolate frangipane for a flavor pairing that uses any abundance of berries to delicious effect.

Ryan Cummings
Ryan Cummings

A seasoned journalist with a passion for uncovering stories that shape Las Vegas, bringing over a decade of experience in local news reporting.