As much as I love a big holiday meal with all the trimmings, it’s stressful pulling it all together. I do ask people to bring dishes, but I still have some high anxiety (give me a whole house to decorate and I’m fine, but cook for a crowd, I stress out). So anytime I can cut some corners and still have a delicious outcome, I’ll gladly capitulate.

I love having people over, and many come hours before we sit down to eat. I think it’s all those wonderful smelling, “twice -a-year-it- must-be-a- holiday” aromas permeating from the kitchen (a good sign… then you know you’ve turned the oven on) that draw people in. But, those smells make you more and more hungry. So, I always like to have some easy but delicious appetizers to tide over those who “saved up” all day for the big meal.

Like I said, if you’re looking for gourmet grub, click off now. But, if easy, yummy and cheap are music to your ears then read on.

First of all I must extoll the many virtues of cream cheese. This little foil-wrapped dairy delight can save many a harried hosts sanity.  So, these appetizers are so easy you can put your husband in charge…on second thought… here’s all YOU do…

Start with a block of cream cheese, either an 8 oz. block, or 3-3oz. blocks (for 3 different kinds).

To serve, place the block (s) of room temperature cream cheese on the fanciest dish(s)  you have  (then it looks a lot classier than it really is,   shhhh). Top each block with one of the following…

• Red or green pepper jelly (a favorite)
• Chutney sauce
• Cocktail sauce with crabmeat or tiny shrimp (yummy)
• Drained salsa and chopped cilantro (viva la salsa)
• Apple pie jelly
• Apricot, raspberry, or blueberry perserves (fruity)
• Smoked oysters in sesame oil and seeds
• Chopped olive-bar olives
• Chopped sun-dried tomatoes, basil, and garlic (maginifico)
• Strawberry or cherry pie filling and crushed graham crackers on top (cheesecake)

Serve these with crackers like Triskets, Wheat Thins, hard bread sticks, party rye, tortilla chips etc. Garnish with parsley, mint, cilantro, or basil leaves to add some color and flavor.

So that’s a favorite go-to-in-a-pinch appetizer of mine. I’m sure there are a million of other toppers you can add to cream cheese (what’s not to love). If you have others, please comment below. Also, we would love to know any other easy but delicious appetizers or dishes you have stashed away in your family recipe book. Please share if your grandma won’t mind.

Enjoy those wonderful holiday meals no matter how stressful. The happy memories made with family and friends are worth all the overcooked turkey, undercooked rolls, and lumpy gravy. No one cares in the end.

Just smile and say CHEESE, (cream cheese)!