My family Christmas gatherings have always consisted of snacking throughout the day and then having a meal that afternoon.

Honestly, I’ve never known any other way.

However, there are a few key hors d’oeuvres that stand out in my memory.

These treats were a staple of family Christmas gatherings for many years, and still are honestly.

They offer a filling snack and help stem the tide of hungry relatives while the ham is baking to perfection.

The first of these snacks is sausage balls.

These have been a family-favorite for years.

My cousins would always ask my mom to make them for every holiday gathering, and she would oblige.

They are essentially a sausage and biscuit rolled into one, bite-sized ball that can be easily consumed on the go if the need were to arise.

I know most people in the south are probably familiar with sausage balls, as it seems they are an area staple, but everyone makes them differently.

That’s the beauty of things like this, they can be made 100 different ways and have 100 unique flavors and textures.

The other, and an all-time favorite of mine, is glazed pecans.

You might recall I featured these delectable treats in my sugar free/low sugar column a while back.

However, for the holidays, I thought I’d go whole hog (no pun intended) and feature them again since I equate them with the holidays.

I love these little sugar-coated bites and I always go overboard when they are around.

I can never stop at a few. It’s a curse.

However, I absolutely adore them and I think they lend themselves especially well to Christmas and this time of year.

I’m not sure why, it just feels natural. Perhaps it’s because my grandma always makes them this time of year and I have just been programmed to feel that way about them. Either way, I regret nothing as I sit here chowing down on the sweet treats.

So, if you want to elevate your holiday gatherings this year, I recommend giving these dishes a try. Also, come back next week when I’ll continue the trend with more holiday hors d’oeuvres.

SAUSAGE BALLS
1 pound pork sausage
8 ounces shredded cheddar cheese
2 cups self rising flour
1 cup milk

■ Preheat oven to 375 degrees
■ Cook sausage until done. Let cool slightly.
■ In a mixing bowl, add cheese to flour to keep cheese from clumping together.
■ Mix in the sausage, stirring to combine.
■ Add milk.
■ Mix to make a biscuit-like dough.
■ Roll into balls and place on a greased baking sheet.
■ Bake for 10-12 minutes, until brown on bottom.
■ Remove from the pan to cool.
■ Leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator.

GLAZED PECANS
¾ Cups Splenda brown sugar
1 Egg white
2-½ Tablespoons water
½ Teaspoons salt
8 Cups pecan halves

■ Combine Splenda brown sugar, egg white, water and salt in a large bowl.
■ Mix well.
■ Add pecans and stir until well coated.
■ Spread in a greased 15 — by-10-by-1 inch pan.
■ Bake at 275 degrees for 50-55 minutes.
■ Remove from the pan and pour on waxed paper while still warm.
■ Cool and store in an airtight container.
■ Yield: 9 cups.