From Christmas Dinner to New Year’s Bites...

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Happy last Sunday of 2025,

Christmas looked a little different for us this year. With busy schedules all around, our gatherings were smaller and spread out — but just as meaningful.

The weekend before Christmas, Riley, Alex, Shay, and the boys came into town. We sat down to a cozy family dinner with beef tenderloin that truly melted in your mouth, gravy, mashed potatoes, and Ron’s classic green bean almondine. It’s always a favorite and somehow gets everyone to eat their vegetables — even when they aren’t kids anymore.

On Christmas Eve, Reis, Jordin, Ronnie, and my parents came over to celebrate. We started with charcuterie, then enjoyed grilled prime rib with brown gravy, steamed crab legs (such a treat), baked potatoes, and a grilled peach salad. The food was wonderful, but what I loved most was sitting around the table, talking and laughing with my kids. There’s nothing better than sharing a good meal together.

After dinner, our neighbors stopped by and we played a new game called Sequence. It was easy to learn and so much fun that Reis and Jordin ordered it the next day to play with friends.

As the year comes to a close, I’m already looking ahead to New Year’s — a time that’s perfect for easy appetizers and sharing small bites with people you enjoy. Below, you’ll find a collection of New Year’s appetizer recipes that are great for hosting or keeping things simple at home.