I have foolishly volunteered to have a few friends over for a New Year's Eve party. It'll be potluck, so I don't have to do all of the cookin', but I'd like for us to be well-fed and well-refreshed.

So... anybody got some favorite recipes that are party-friendly? Things that can be made in advance and sit around well? I've still got half of the Christmas ham to work with, plenty of eggs and butter, cream cheese, all of the basics.

I've also got a punch bowl and silly little punch glasses and glass hors d'ouvres plates that I've never used, so I'd be especially interested in punch recipes. Either with booze or without. Oh, and 18 champagne flutes I've never used.

Many years ago, when I was in college, (okay, more like twelve or thirteen years ago) some of my friends threw a Communist Party. Everyone came dressed in red and they drank The People's Punch (vodka and cranberry juice). I don't think I can pull that off, but you never know.