Appetizers are perfect for those get-togethers that include guests coming and going at different times — like New Year’s Eve or Day.

Tapas are the Spanish equivalent of appetizers, and are a perfect way to keep everyone — vegetarians and meat-eaters alike — happy with their food choices. They can be cold, room temperature or hot. They can be simple, such as olives, or elaborate, such as snails prepared in a spicy sauce. Tapas are appetizers that usually accompany apertif or cocktails.

In Spanish, the word tapa means “cover.” Some say the word came to be associated with food because the tapa was originally used on top of a drink to protect it from pesky flies. Sooner or later, someone with a bit of an appetite started using the cover as a small platform for food.

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It's probably the last thing you want to think of on Christmas day: the family breakfast. But it's also too good an opportunity to pass up; when's the last time you had everybody together for breakfast, after all?

If you have a big crowd, you can make it easy by planning ahead, using some convenience products, and assembling the main dish the night before. Forget about making omelets, eggs or pancakes to order. Instead, simplify and use recipes that can be stuck in the oven Christmas morning and left on their own for awhile. Here are some suggestions.

Baked French toast

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