Check out Rachael's guide for a no-stress holiday buffet. Don't let the ritzy food shock you, it's surprisingly affordable and can be adjusted to fit any size party.

Shopping tip: Shop for your party at the large shopping clubs where everything's sold practically wholesale!

Party Cheese

Choose a cheese that's gooey and sticky like a Stilton, Gorgonzola or any blue. If you're having only a few people, buy a quarter of a wheel instead of a whole one.

Creamy Cremini Mushroom Dip

A great vegetarian offering.

Smoked Salmon & Sheila's Sauce

The sauce can also be served with a whole side of poached salmon.

Roasted Beef Tenderloin

At the shopping clubs, you'll find tenderloins in big, vacuum-sealed packages. They won't be trimmed like they would be in a butcher shop, so be prepared. The meat will have a silvery skin all over it. Use a very sharp knife to just peel the skin away.

For this recipe, it looks nicer to have the meat be in similar sizes and shapes so take off the "tail" end and the thinner flap so you're left with just a uniform center cut. Save the pieces and cut them up into individual steak medallions or stew meat.

Chocolate Fondue

For this recipe or any that calls for only a "nip" of liqueur, buy an airplane-size bottle instead of a big one.