Party In A Pantry

Super Easy, Mom-Friendly Quick Party Menu Ideas!!!

By Susan Fox

Party #1 Fruit and Cheese Display

3 cheeses- 2-4 ounces per person/ per cheese

1 Sheep’s milk – Try Asiago Fresco

1 Cheddar – I recommend Beecher’s Flagship Aged Cheddar

1 Goat’s milk

Assorted Crackers, Bread’s and Flatbreads - Look at Trader Joes, Central Markets and Whole Foods.

Spiced Nuts

Seedless Grapes

Dried Figs, Medjool Dates and Dried Apricots

Jar of Fig Jam

Assortment of drinks: Martinelli’s Sparkling Cider, Perrier Waters or Flavored Seltzers

Arrange Platters with Cheeses and crackers, decorate the sides of each platter with the dried fruits.

Party #2 Tea and cookies

Great for the neighborhood ladies or just your girlfriends after a morning of shopping

Assorted tea bags-Mighty Leaf brand is especially nice, we like African Nectar. Place tea bags in a pretty bowl or basket

Sugar cubes/ Honey

Pepperidge Farm assorted cookies

Nonni’s Biscotti Cookies

Lindt Lindor Truffles, assorted flavors available at most grocery stores.

Satsuma oranges

Party #3 Appetizer Buffet

Recipes Available at www.247moms.com

Little Smokie’s Appetizer Serve with spiced or honey mustard dip

Baked Brie Ala Melanie w/Assorted Crackers to serve with Brie

Olive Cheese Balls

Nestle Sweet Assorted Tartlet’s

Chocolate Dipped Pretzel’s

Crispix Cereal Treat

Store bought chocolate’s, something nice like See’s or check out our featured sweet of the week and order some online

Punch – “Rudolph the Raspberry Turnover”

Recipe featured by Red Robin and Kiro TV

46 oz. Cranberry Juice Cocktail

12 oz. Water

4 packets Apple Spiced Cider

5 oz. Whole Frozen Raspberries

4 oz. Raspberry Italian Syrup

Measure Ingredients and Stir and server in punchbowl

Party in a Pantry Supplies

By keeping several of these items on hand in your pantry you can easily entertain on a moment’s notice! These are just ideas to get you started.

Martinelli’s – buy in bulk at Costco

Flavored Seltzer Waters

Sodas

Quality Coffee

Assorted crackers

Assorted Cookies, like Pepperidge Farm,

Nonni’s Biscotti Free Bonus Mom-Tip! These come in boxes of many different flavors and are individually wrapped and very inexpensive at the grocery store. They are great with Tea, coffee or cocoa or that Starbucks card for a teacher gift)

Gingerbread cookies, etc.

Pretzels

Gourmet dips, mustards

Olives and dipping oils

Gourmet Chips

Pita Bread

Crostini bread

Salsa

Dried Salami

Dried Fruits: Dates, Apricots, Cranberries and Cherries

Nuts- love Costco cashews!

Marinated Artichokes and Red Peppers for dips and appetizers

Dried mixes for easy dips

Specialty jams

Specialty Chocolates, Truffles

Don’t forget to get stocked up on Paper Party Supplies

like plates, napkins and cups

Stock you Refrigerator too!

Cheeses

Hummus

Cream Cheese and sour cream for making quick dips

Readymade dips

Puff Pastry

Juices

Yogurt

Bagged Salad

Refrigerated rolls

Fresh fruits and vegetables: baby carrots, celery, red peppers, broccoli for making a quick veggie tray

Apples, Pears, Satsuma’s, Mandarins, Tangerines, and Berries if they are available keep your fruit in a bowl on the counter to encourage guests to help themselves.

Eggs- always have on hand for baking or omelets for overnight guests

Stock the Freezer

Readymade Meatballs

Readymade Lasagna

Pre-cooked Party chicken wings

Frozen Pizza Rolls

Ice Cream – of course!!!

Ready Made Cream Puffs- Costco! These will save the day! Or the Party!!!

Frozen Fruit for drinks, punches and smoothies

Cookies, of course if you are a baker!