The entertaining season is here, time to plan spreads full of holiday cheer. Here are some suggestions for feeding a crowd, whether office colleagues, family, friends, or all the above. Make it easy with a potluck party or simple finger foods, enjoy these festive holiday events.

• Potluck party: Invite a group of friends to celebrate at your place and ask each to bring their favorite dish. A simple and easy option is a tasty tart. Line a tart tin with pastry shell and bake for 10 minutes. Peel and slice 6 tomatoes and 3 onions very finely. Fry onions in a saucepan until transparent. Spread a thin layer of Dijon mustard over the base of tart. Cover with a layer of tomatoes, then a layer of onion and sprinkle with 1½ cups of grated Swiss cheese. Season with salt and pepper, bake for an additional 30 minutes and serve warm.

• Warm welcome: Greet guests with a finger food to start. Prepare succulent jumbo shrimp with a delicious honey-mustard dip. Combine 3 cups of water, 3 peppercorns, 1 lemon slice and 1 bay leaf; bring to boil. Add shrimp; boil until they turn pink. Drain shrimp; add ice to stop the cooking process. In a small saucepan, combine 2 teaspoons scallions, 1 teaspoon lemon juice, 2 teaspoons honey Dijon mustard; stir with fork until warm. Transfer to a bowl; arrange shrimp over the edge of bowl and serve.

• Dazzling dip: Impress the company with a creamy, delectable dip for crackers or chips. Mix a 6½-ounce jar of liquid from marinated artichoke hearts, 8-ounce package of cream cheese and a ¼ cup of Dijon mustard. Add sliced artichokes from jar. Blend until smooth and chill.

-Seasonal gravy: Spice up traditional gravy by adding a seasonal fruit flavor. Combine 1/2 cup fresh cranberry sauce, 2 tablespoons whole-grain mustard, and 1 tablespoon orange rind with gravy powder. Blend with water; simmer over low heat until thickened. Serve over turkey, mash potatoes or fresh vegetables. (Also bring fruit into the festivity by using it as decorations around the mantel and the dinner table.)

-Holiday ham: A fine asset at the holiday feast is a honey-baked ham. One version calls for 1 egg yolk mixed with 3 tablespoons honey Dijon mustard. Spread mixture over ham and sprinkle with 2 or 3 tablespoons of bread crumbs. Bake until it turns a golden brown color. Slice and serve.

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Wines for festive meals

Picking the perfect wine to complement your holiday dinner and please your guests palates can be a puzzle. Master sommelier and Target Stores wine consultant Andrea Immer has several wine suggestions to guide your choice:

-In many homes, ham is a Christmas favorite for guests of all ages. This holiday tradition is best paired with tangy, racy white wines from the Riesling grape.

-Prime rib, or another fine cut of beef, is a hearty way to celebrate the season of giving. A rich Australian shiraz pairs beautifully with red meat.

-Try pairing tasty gingerbread men and other Christmas cookies with demi-sec (slightly sweet) Champagne or sparkling wine to complete your Christmas meal.

-Shrimp is the perfect finger food for a New Years cocktail party. Paired with pinot grigio these tender morsels taste sweet and succulent.

-Vegetables and dip are a delectable snack. The raw vegetable flavor of crudites is enhanced with a racy, herbaceous sauvignon blanc.

-Chocolate-covered fruits are a treat to tempt chocolate-lovers. Guests will savor the taste of demi-sec (slightly sweet) Champagne or sparkling wine while enjoying their chocolate-dipped bites.

(Source: Andrea Immer, for Target Stores)

AP-ES-12-10-04 1205EST