I like to keep several food items on hand for a quick-to-fix buffet on busy holiday evenings. Ready-to-serve items make it easy to pull together a festive buffet without much trouble at all. Group similar foods together on trays, set out a stack of Christmas paper plates, and let everyone help themselves. Here are some items I include:

• Fully cooked meats such as deli ham, roast beef, turkey and summer sausage
• Assorted sliced brick cheeses (sharp Cheddar, Swiss, Colby Jack and Provolone)
• Brie or Camembert
• Variety of crackers and bakery breads or rolls
• Olives, peeled baby carrots, celery stalks, sliced cucumber and prepared dip
• Whole fruits such as seedless mandarin oranges, bananas, apples and grapes
• Roasted nuts
• Dessert plate with Christmas cookies, fudge, peppermint bark and purchased chocolates

This post first appeared on Mentoring Moments for Christian Women