Slow Cooker Treats

• Get a head start on the party with a slow cooker. Several hours before the serving time, place cocktail wieners or miniature meatballs in the pot. Cover with barbecue sauce. Simmer for at least two hours. Serve with toothpicks from a bread bowl.

  Prepare miniature meatballs with purchased spaghetti sauce. Just before serving, arrange on a flat serving plate. Sprinkle grated Parmesan cheese over the meatballs, and stick a toothpick in each. Garnish with sprigs of parsley or rings of green pepper for a Christmas look.

Vegetable Pizza

• Let a prepared pizza crust simplify the job. Put cream cheese in a bowl. Add salt, pepper, parsley, onion powder and garlic powder to taste. Spread the mixture on the baked crust. Top with diced raw vegetables: broccoli, red and green bell pepper, and baby carrots make a cheerful holiday display. Cover with clear plastic wrap and refrigerate until serving time. Cut into bite-sized squares to serve.

Fruit Finger Bites

• Combine softened cream cheese with sugar and vanilla extract to taste. Spread on sections of graham cracker. Top with sliced kiwi fruit and cherries or strawberries. Cover with clear plastic wrap and refrigerate until guests arrive.

Pico de Gallo "Bruschetta"

• Drain excess liquid from prepared pico de gallo. Line a clear container with lettuce leaves and place the pico de gallo in the container. Refrigerate until ready to serve. Serve on a tray, surrounded by small crackers topped with thinly sliced mozzarella or provolone cheese.

Tortilla Roll-Ups

• Spread large spinach tortillas with a mixture of sour cream and shredded cheddar or Colby cheese. Add a layer of cherry tomatoes, finely diced and drained. Roll into a log shape. Wrap and refrigerate for several hours. Just before serving, slice the logs diagonally into roll-ups.

Backup Plan

• Have a container of assorted bite-sized cheese cubes in the refrigerator to add to the table if needed. Several boxes of snack crackers will help to fill in gaps, as will chips or pretzels. A bag or two of carrot sticks and celery sticks offer a healthy alternative. Add a colorful dip to keep the party going.