Holiday Foodie Tips: The Final Two

If I'm seeing you here, . Here are my final two tips, including a recipe from my kitchen to yours.

9. Be cheesy

If you're hosting a holiday party or attending a potluck this week, stop stressing out over what to make. Keep things simple with a cheese plate and some cocktails. You can pair lots of things with cheeses and have very little prep time (read: no cooking!) if you stick to the cheesy basics. Serve up your cheese platter with honeys, fig jams, pepper jellies, grapes, slices, , slices and almonds.

• Tip: Quarks can be used for dips on their own (like lemon, vanilla and garlic) or you can use plain quark to make your own personalized dip, like French onion.

10. Make Christmas morning smell and taste delicious

Sticky buns are a tradition in my family's household on Christmas morning. When I smell the sweet, sugary familiar aroma, I have no problem getting out of bed. Our family recipe is a secret, but in recent years I stumbled across this recipe from Ina Garten that's ridiculously easy (no dough-making required!) and absolutely sinful.

Tip: For the butter that's called for in the recipe, I highly suggest using organic butter. You'll notice the difference in taste and quality and they'll make the sticky buns that much more sumptious. Also, try using some almonds in place of the pecans.

That's all I've got! I hope some of these recipes and tips have been helpful and will make you breathe a bit easier in the kitchen during this busy time.

What holiday tips can you share?

Psst...for more foodie fun, visit my blog over at For the Love of Food.