No-Cook Holiday Get-Together

Peggy Lampman | Contributor

Question: What do you get when you cross close friends, crazy busy schedules and the desire to get together for holiday cheer?

Answer: Take-out food.

I've known these women close to 30 years, and we've always managed to get together during the holidays. Past venues have included The Earle or Gandy Dancer. This year we cobbled together a mini pot-luck with take-out food from local markets convenient to each of our daily "race tracks."

Marty purchased a grain salad, ginger-garlic tofu and romaine spears from Arbor Farms. We stuffed the salad and tofu into the romaine for a wonderful finger-food salad. Terry and Susan purchased cooked shrimp and dipping sauce; Susan purchased her shrimp from Monahan's in Kerrytown, Terry from Plum Market.

I rushed out to Trader Joe's for edamame hommus and spanikopita. ( I mentioned this was an eclectic menu, right?) Marty introduced me to this spanikopita a while back, and I've never fussed with making it from scratch, since. If you haven't tried it, you'll find it in the frozen food section — a last-minute entertainer's "rabbit in the hat."

There are many local treats one could throw together to create an impromptu party. Decorated cupcakes from one of the many cupcake stores around town, and yummy cheese spreads from Whole Food's and Busch's come to mind.  I'd be remiss not to mention The Produce Station (great local cheese), Tracklement's, Zingerman's and (a personal favorite), the Back Alley Gourmet, for last minute goodies.

My, oh my; this town wasn't designated Bon Appetit's magazine's second best (small) food town in America for no reason. Don't forget the sushi...

Ho Ho Ho! No recipe today!