Simplify Your Holiday Spread with These Tips

The holiday season is the best time to bring people together – a time to gather, show love and gratitude, and – of course - eat! Since this festive time can also be a busy one, I like to find ways to make things a bit more efficient and easy in the kitchen. That’s why a big spread of food accompanied by some fun, sparkling beverages is our favorite way to entertain. I always make sure that we have a variety of items to please everyone who’ll be coming by, as well as some fun alternatives stashed away in the fridge. For my most recent gathering, I put together the spread below using lots of my favorite Applegate products. Take a look:

• Pull out a big wood cutting board and load it up with your favorite charcuterie: you can pile it on high with Applegate Sliced Soppressata , Applegate Prosciutto and your favorite cheeses like aged Parmesan, Gouda, Havarti and Cheddar. Accompany it with slices of toasted baguette and mixed nuts and your meat & cheese-loving guests will thank you! 
• Pizza is always a crowd-pleaser but you can up the ante a bit when it comes to the holidays. Roll out your favorite dough (you can pick up pre-made dough from your local grocery store or pizzeria) and top it with caramelized onions, freshly grated Parmesan cheese, chunks of fresh mozzarella, and Applegate Prosciutto . Bake it at 500 degrees until crispy and top it off with a sprinkling of truffle salt. 
• Everyone loves bruschetta! After slicing and toasting a baguette, top with toasted tahini spread, fresh ricotta, and a drizzle of honey. Season with salt and pepper to get the sweet and salty combination that your guests will crave. 
• You definitely want to tack on a big salad to your menu and one that feels a bit more wintry. For this one, you can mix up arugula, endive and chopped dates, and top it with crumbled Applegate Sunday Bacon and your favorite vinaigrette. 
• For drinks, you can set out bottles of sparkling mineral water and Prosecco accompanied with slices of ruby red grapefruit, pears, and oranges for a twist. Accompany this with a crockpot full of warm mulled cider to keep things cozy.