The secret to the easiest New Year’s party spread

By Melissa Clark, The New York Times

Am I allowed to throw a party in my pajamas?

That’s my fantasy every year when the holiday season rolls around. Not my plaid flannels. I picture myself clad in thick silk, the kind of thing I’m sure Katharine Hepburn wore — comfortable, elegant and well-matched to a dry martini.

And what kind of food goes with this vision? Easy snacks and nibbles that are comfortable, elegant and, yes, perfectly matched to a cocktail, martini or otherwise. Dishes that you can set out at the beginning of the night and then not fuss over — so you can do the important party work of chatting, sipping and noshing.

A good formula is to make three festive, high-impact, low-effort recipes and then supplement them with an assortment of colorful things in small bowls: olives; salted nuts or corn nuts; potato chips, crackers or breadsticks; a marinated cheese like mozzarella or feta; sliced salami; cut vegetables.