BELLAIRE • MEMORIAL • RIVER OAKS • TANGLEWOOD • WEST UNIVERSITY

Party Pop-Ups: What to Keep on Hand

Posted by The Buzz | March 1, 2016

Click the Buzz Me button to receive email notifications when this writer publishes a new article or a new article in this column is published.

Andria Frankfort’s recent article “Party Pop Ups: No fuss, no muss at impromptu gatherings” struck a chord around The Buzz office. We’ve all been in those situations where friends, family or neighbors spontaneously popped by to say hello - and what do we have to offer them?

So we put our heads together and compiled a shopping list of what to keep on hand for those fun, spontaneous hangouts. The list below is based on what Kim Etheridge, Ellen Elam and Lindy McGee often keep on hand (read the full story here), plus a few of our favorites too.

Food + Drinks

Cheese: Brie or Manchego are popular choices. Kim Etheridge suggested Manchego with honey and truffles in it. Also, if you know you have company coming over but don’t have much time to plan, Central Market offers a “create your own cheese platter” option, which is quick, easy and reasonably priced.
Marcona almonds
Grapes
Peppered salami
Carrots or cucumbers and hummus
Peppers (try the mini peppers in a bag with spinach and artichoke dip)
Crackers, plus snacks like Goldfish are always popular with kids
Olives
Cherry tomatoes (try putting them in a baggie with olive oil and your favorite herb. Shake it up and then serve with toothpicks.)
Frozen foods (Lindy McGee suggested stocking up on frozen spanakopita. You can also keep frozen taquitos or meatballs in the freezer for a quick, easy and heartier snack. Another idea is frozen edamame with some sea salt or soy sauce.). Plus, consider keeping some ice cream to serve for a sweet treat.
Drinks: Keep a few bottles of red and white at home, plus some juice boxes for the kids.

Recipes

Some quick recipe ideas that call for ingredients you probably already have in your kitchen:

See more Buzz recipes here.

Props + Products

Besides the food and drinks, the key to a successful “pop-up” includes easily setting up a relaxing atmosphere. Here are some ideas from Andria’s story: