Oh, the holidays! Whether it’s Christmas or Thanksgiving, one flashes back to hours, if not days, slaving over a hot stove and an oven that never seems to finish the turkey on time. Every year, we rush to the grocery store with a list the size of Mount Everest only to return later for a few more cloves of garlic or a forgotten potato. Finally, when dinner is served, we are too exhausted to enjoy our meal and family conversation. No wonder the holidays are considered the most stressful time of year. Below are five holiday appetizers that are actually easy and beautiful, so that we have more time to spend with our loved ones.

The holidays are truly a time for celebration. Easy recipes create a way for us to bring tradition seamlessly into modernity with a touch of sophisticated elegance.