Too Busy to Cook? Shop to be Ready to Entertain!
Your refrigerator may be empty and your idea of cooking may be opening a can of soup, but you still want to be ready if your friends, relatives, or coworkers stop in. And it’s easy. 
Check the shelves of Trader Joes, World Market and other specialty shops for packaged pastries, canned meats and fishes, and packaged hors d’ouvres that will keep until unexpected friends drop in. If you have the right ingredients, you can do instant entertaining in your own kitchen.

Here’s a checklist of versatile foods that will be there so you are always ready when you need them.

Hors D’ouvres

Olives, canned humus, cheeses, crackers, campanato, tiny jars of caviar, canned smoked oysters, pickles, nuts, pates in a can, dried fruit, dried cranberries, Popcorn to top with garlic, parmesan. Tortilla chips and jars of black bean dip and salsa.

Serve: A sausage board and crackers with mustards and pickles.

Choose from bratwurst to capocollo to Danish salami to pepperoni

Drinks

Aperitifs: Lillet with a slice of orange, dry sherry, Campari, Pimm’s Cup; Beer

Entrees:

Pasta Saves the Day – have spaghetti, rotini, fettuccini, other pastas

Sauces: Pesto, Marinara, Italian

Toppings: Parmesan, pepperoni, sausage

 Dessert

Dried apricots , and other dried fruit dipped in Hershey’s chocolate sauce and rolled in coconut and crushed nuts (put the nuts in a plastic bag and bang them softly with a mug)

Or Kahlua with whipped cream

 Music and candles make it special. Your relaxed company makes it work.