Impromptu gatherings are half the fun of the holiday season. All you need are good friends, easy libations, and, most important, no-fuss finger foods.

Plan at least five selections, 2-4 servings of each per person. You’ll want world flavors to fuel the imagination, and convenience foods to minimize cooking and cleanup. Here are five suggestions to get you going. (Don’t forget to garnish lavishly with fresh herbs, fruit, nuts and vegetables—it makes a big difference!)

Southern fiesta: Smoked, canned jalapenos (called chipotle) give prepared pimento cheese a delicious Mexican kick. Stir 3 teaspoons of chipotle into 1 cup of pimento cheese. Top the cheese with crisp, crumbled, fried bacon. Serve with celery sticks or yellow corn tortilla chips.

French fries fantastique: Season 1 cup of store-bought mayonnaise with 1 teaspoon chopped fresh rosemary and 2 teaspoons orange zest. Prepare frozen sweet potato fries according to package directions. Arrange the fries on a platter around a bowl of the mayonnaise.

Mediterranean mezze: Place a container of prepared hummus at one end of a large platter. Surround the dip with pita chips, sliced cucumbers, feta cheese chunks, prepared stuffed grape leaves, canned roasted red peppers, olives and cherry tomatoes.

Spice Route rotisserie: Asian sauces make great dressing for rotisserie ribs and/or chicken wings. Whisk together 1 cup of hoisin sauce, ¼ cup medium-dry sherry, 1 tablespoon sesame oil, and 1 teaspoon hot sauce. Coat wings or ribs with the sauce, then heat them on a baking sheet in a 400° F oven for 5 minutes. Arrange meat on a platter, and sprinkle with 1 tablespoon each of sesame seeds and chopped chives.

Gingerbread dreams: Pipe ready-to-eat cheesecake filling around the edge of store-bought gingerbread cookies. Spoon a little marmalade or cranberry sauce in the center. Sprinkle with cinnamon sugar.