At this time of year, you never really know where the party’s going to end up. And sometimes that means your place. Stocked with a couple of key items, you can be ready to revel in the festivities at a moments notice. Here are our top 7 items to keep your cupboards (and fridge) perfectly poised for those unexpected holiday guests.
Spiced Nuts: Delightfully sweet and salty, spiced or candied nuts like are perfect pre-party munching if the friends are meeting up at your place to get ready. From pecans to peanuts, they’re all good, but we’re particularly partial to Sahale Snacks Maple Pecans with Walnuts, Cherries and Cinnamon which are particularly impossible to put down.
Assorted Cheeses: Stash away 3-4 cheeses so they’re ready when you are. Make sure to pick contrasting flavors, textures and colors for an ideal selection. Nutty, hard aged gouda, soft, earthy Humbolt Fog goats milk cheese and a creamy, buttery brie will give your guests plenty to choose from.
Crisp Crackers: Bread may get stale and those whole wheat crackers that end up in your lunchbox are way too mundane for company. Chose crisp crackers like Sea Salt Lentil Crackers that can stand on their own, but also pair well with dips, spreads and those cheeses you’re dying to dig into.
Dark Chocolates: What better way to end the night than a little extra dark chocolate? From ooey, gooey Dark Chocolate Sea Salt Caramels to a simple, decadent piece of dark chocolate, we say go for it. If you like to cap off the night with a smooth red wine, better have some Extra Dark Chocolate Brix on hand for the perfect pairing.
Holiday Cookies: Whether you have little ones in the house or not, ‘tis the season for sugary goodness. Now’s the time to fill that cookie jar you inherited from Grandma. Create an assortment of colorfully decorated sugar, chocolate chip and oatmeal cookies with Scratch and Grain Cookie Kits. Keep an assortment of tea nearby and you’ve got all the makings for an impromptu afternoon.
Marinated Olives: The ideal snack for the mid-weekend martini meet-n-greet, olives are available in a variety of flavors, shapes and sizes. From tiny French Nicoise olives to brilliant green Castelvetranos from Italy, there’s something for everyone. We love authentic Olympos Pitted Green Olives which deliver juicy, briny flavor straight from Greece.
Chilled Champagne: Last, but definitely not least. Always have a bottle of the bubbly chilling in your fridge. Can’t afford the real deal? There are plenty of California sparklers for a fraction of the price. Afterall, ’tis the season to splurge on yourself, your family and your guests!
What do you keep on hand to make sure none of your guests go home hungry?
