Tree-trimming party joy!

Gather your loved ones young and old! “Whether nine months or 99 years, a tree-trimming party gets everyone in the mood for a beautiful holiday,” promises Food Network star Sandra Lee, famous for making fun and festive celebrations extra-easy to pull off. Her secrets to success for this seasonal soiree? Décor is a cinch—just deck your halls as you normally would and have carols ready to cue up as guests arrive. You’ll also want to set up your tree with lights and a topper. “The rest of your ornaments and ornament hooks can simply be left in boxes near the tree,” Sandra says. “You’ll be surprised what a great job guests do hanging them!” And since friends and family are sure to work up an appetite, the icing on the Christmas cake is a shortcut buffet for them to savor and mingle over. Here, Sandra shares some of her favorite timesaving, crowd-pleasing recipes . . .