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15 Simple Pantry Staples You Need to Be the Best Hostess Ever

Stash snacks and wine for an impromptu newlywed dinner party

Photo by Jennifer Causey

Plenty ofnewlywed dinner partiesare definitely in your future, buthaving people overdoesn’t mean you'll have to ruin your whole Saturdayplanningand shopping. All you need is these 15 pantry staples!

If newlywed dinner parties make you think of your mom and her fleet of votivecandlesand pressed white linens, it's time for you to reassess. You can liberate yourself from the idea of capital-E Entertaining just by keeping sophisticated munchies anddrinkson hand so you can be seconds away from the best kind of get together:last-minute, easy, and, of course, delicious.

Stash away the 15 snacks and drinks below so you'll always be ready for an impromptu newlywed dinner party.

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In the pantry:

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Salty, crunchy, pretty: That’s the trifecta you’re after here. ThinkSaffron Road Crunchy Chickpeas(Buy them here!)andTrader Joe’s cheese twists(Buy them here!)—because they’re amazing and stand tall in a glass, andParty Display 101decrees that you need some height!

While you're shopping, load up oncornichons(Buy them here!)andMarcona almonds(Buy them here!), which are like regular almonds but Insta-friendlier with their pretty sheen. Your gluten-free friends—or anyone with taste buds—will likeplantain chips(Buy them here!)(from Terra or Whole Foods's bulk section). The same goes forBjornQorn(Buy them here!), which is dusted with umami-loaded nutritional yeast and guaranteed to elicit a “what is this?” from your impressed guests.

In the Fridge and Freezer:

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You can’t go wrong withfig jam(Buy it here!), abaguettein the freezer (slice into rounds before you freeze so it thaws quickly), and a hunk ofParm Parmigiano-Reggiano(Buy it here!)。(检查皮至少Parmigi的一部分ano-Reggiano stamp to make sure it’s the real stuff.)

A bag ofStacy’s pita chips(Buy them here!)and atub of hummuswill never fail you: To make it party-worthy, fold in a dollop of plain Greek yogurt and drizzle with reallygood olive oil(Buy a bottle here!)。You can also whirl a cup or two of thawed frozen peas in the food processor with some Parm, olive oil, salt, a dash of vinegar, and fresh mint if you have it. You’ll blow minds left and right, especially when you serve it with those plantain chips.

On the Bar Cart:

bar cart

Photo by Logan Cole

All priced under $20 and curated byJon Bonné, author ofThe New Wine Rules, these wines are perfect to stock up on! For a red wine, tryRaisins Gaulois by Marcel Lapierre, which clocks in at just $16(Buy a bottle here!)。For your guests who perfer white wine, serveOvum Big Salt Whitefor just $18(Buy a bottle here!)。And for celebrations that require a sparkling wine,Castellroig NV Penedès Cava Brutis a great option at just $14(Buy a bottle here!)

这个故事最初发表在4月/ 5月20日19 issue of Brides, on sale beginning February 26.

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