Nibbling Around The Christmas Tree

 One for the most fun parties of the season is the tree trimming one. friends and family come over for good food and good stories. Unlike other holiday get togethers this is an informal one. dress can be pajama pants or a goofy tee shirt. The food should be as casual too.

You can never go wrong with a charcuterie board. Try a Christmas one in the shape of a tree or wreath. They both have the same ingredients as a regular charcuterie board  - well except there may be more red and green. Serve cold cuts that are perfect with French or Italian bread rounds along with crackers. Salami is perfect here along with pepperoni and folded over mortadella and prosciutto. Cheese is important too. Try a mix of hard and soft ones. Brie is excellent here  but you can also have Camenbert too. As for the had cheeses Swiss and Gruyere are great options and perfect just on their own. You could create a flavored cream cheese, perfect with crackers or pita chips. Make a chive and onion one or Boursin style with garlic and herbs. For zing add jalapeno along with cheese for a take on those fun jalapeno poppers.A tablespoon or two of presto stirred in creates a Northern Italian flavor, perfect on plain focaccia. What about adding red and green? Cherry and grape tomatoes are festive along with being refreshing. Add some broccoli , another fresh flavor for tree or wreath greenery.

A tree trimming party can also have hot food too. Keep it fun with a choice of chilis. You could serve the traditional red , made with beans and chopped beef. or white , usually made chicken and green chilis. Serve both with fresh made or bought (try Acme's) cornbread or even rice. Another hot dish that's both filling and fun is the classic bricklayer nachos. These are layers of tortilla chips filled with beef, bacon and chorizo along with queso, creamy avocado and crunchy scallions  , add fire roasted tomatoes (try Lidl) for this , giving the nacho a sweet , earthy flavor.Hot nibbles are a must too. Think pigs in blankets and a variety of dipping sauces  like barbecue and hot mustard, to add to them. Chicken wings, both hot and mild are fun. Although with these have plenty of wet napes around so that ornaments aren't ruined by grease marks. What about drinks? Egg nogs and hot toddies work afterwards as a kind of dessert. Cranberry cocktails and mock tails are perfect for these. A fun cranberry punch has the juice or a cranberry-fruit mix, flavored seltzer and chunks of orange and lemon. Add plenty of ice for a cooling sip.

A tree trimming party is a fun one. Have  fun foods and a tasty punch t make guest feel festive. They'll have a great time , creating more holiday memories.

A Vegetarian Grilled Feast

 Summer has two very good things - the grill and fresh veggies. Now imagine combining the two to create a feast of tasty fresh dishes. They're better than all those barbecued dogs and burgers. There's a delicious freshness to them,perfect for any dinner.

Regular contributor Ali Slagle wrote about this vegan feast in yesterday's New York Times Wednesday Food section. There are also five recipes , perfect for any warm weather main course. Cooking veggies on the grill transforms them.It sizzles out moisture and creates a soft  caramelized inside that rich in flavor. There is a soba salad with grilled mushrooms and tofu.These two bring out the soba's nutty quality.Snap peas,  serrano chile and herbs add flavor as well.Lime juice, miso and maple syrup serve both as a marinade and a dressing as it enables the tofu to char instantly as soon as it hits the grill. Cook the noodles in the kitchen and mix in. This is a perfect dinner for a Sunday night. Another good dish is the barbecue vegetable salad.There's a kick of sweetness from the grilled peaches added along with a tangy barbecue sauce.Use the more flavorful Romaine as the base and cut the barbecue sauce with lime juice to make it more manageable. Crushed cron chips add crunch but croutons also work here too.

Taco lovers will also like bricia's Lopez taco encuarado or naked taco. She stuffs mild chiles with cheese and grills them until they're sweet, spicy and gooey. wrap them in tortilla and they become dinner. The cheese used is queso Oaxaca which you can get at any Mexican grocery.If not salted mozzarella will do just fine.The recipe calls for the Mexican herb epazote which has a fresh citrus-y flavor but you can use cilantro instead. FLatbread or focaccio along with naan, pita or roti can also be used. For those who love the Neopolitan panzanella salad there's a variation that has grilled corn and cucumbers. Yet' it's the homemade croutons that make this salad shine. There's a drizzle of vinaigrette along with a squeeze of lemon or lime for freshness. YOu could also add stone fruits like plums or cherries to this as well.A comforting summer meal is grits with charred peppers and broccoli. You can even cook the grits on the grill instead of running back to the kitchen to cook them on the stovetop. Just put them on the back section. Use a cast iron grill to cook the grits. As for sauces you can try barbecue, buffalo, tamarind or teriyaki. Butter also could work here as well.

These are the perfect veggie dishes for a summer's night. Try them instead of a meat laden barbecue. They're healthier and tastier.