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With a winter storm coming down on the East Coast and plenty of winter happening everywhere else, I’m thinking that this is a weekend to hunker down and cook some good food. A batch of our sticky cinnamon rolls with cream cheese frosting on Saturday morning are definitely in order. Then take your pick of a creamy sweet potato soup or bigos stew with sausage and mushrooms — both are sure to stick to your ribs. Cap off the weekend with a cup of bourbon eggnog and you’re ready for whatever weather comes your way.

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Setting up a buffet table like the one for our Cozy Holiday Potluck might not seem like a part of the gathering that needs a lot of attention. Cover a table with a tablecloth and let guests drop off dishes as they arrive, right?! Even so, I think putting just five minutes of thought into the buffet table will make your life easier and help the whole evening go off without a hitch.

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Something about cold weather makes me want a cocktail. Though I generally drink wine or a little vodka, winter calls for something brown. Not too sweet, but just sweet enough, chilled, but not too chilled, spicy, but not venturing into the — I am so sorry for this, but I just don’t like it — vile territory of pumpkin spice. A Manhattan, made the traditional way, with rye, is just perfect.

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Every family celebrates Christmas differently. Some hold a big Christmas Eve dinner, others do a brunch with family on Christmas Day, and some (enviably) order Chinese food. Historically, my family has fallen in the first camp, with a more intimate dinner as we hang around the tree and open small presents. Last year, however we tried something different: small plates.

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Q: The family is converging on my house for Christmas dinner. We have one vegan and one gluten-free eater. The other six of us are omnivores. Making things more difficult: the vegan doesn’t eat mushrooms or peppers, and the gluten-free eater also doesn’t like mushrooms. Help!

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One of my favorite moments from my Holiday Potluck Party was getting to share a taste of Utopias from Sam Adams. I am the resident beer geek among my friends, and after I first tasted this beer over the summer, they cheerfully tolerated my effusive gibbering. Here, finally, was my chance to show them what all the fuss was about. I can really think of no better context for this beer: a midwinter night, good friends, a cozy moment by the fire.

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If you’d told me ten years ago that sticky toffee pudding was made with dates of all things, I would have told you I didn’t like sticky toffee pudding, take it away. It took a few more years to figure out that toffee pudding doesn’t actually taste like dates and even if it did, that dates are, in fact, quite amazing. Thank goodness my eyes (and stomach) saw the light: now the over-the-top English dessert remains at the top of my hedonistic hall of fame.

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So far this week, I’ve talked about the plan for my holiday potluck, shared the recipe for the incredible slow-cooked bigos stew that I made as my own dish, and showed you how to set a beautiful, easy holiday table with evergreens. Now it’s time talk about the party itself! Here’s how it all came together, from the mulled wine that we sipped as dishes were warmed to the dinner itself and the walnut cake we had for dessert. The whole evening came together with sparkle and light and ample amounts of good cheer.

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In this harried, indulgent time of year what I actually crave most is food that’s simple and nourishing, something that doesn’t take a lot of time or fuss to eat but provides warmth and balance. In other words, a big pot of soup. This sweet potato lima bean soup is thick, buttery, and comforting (and also completely vegan). I dare say it might even convert the lima beans haters into lovers.

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