(mostly) effortless hosting tips and last-minute easy appetizers

Maybe you're not like me. Maybe your calendar app is up-to-date, maybe your planner is bible, maybe you don't forget things. Or maybe you are like me. Maybe you go through most days with a sneaking suspicion that you are forgetting something. Maybe you just hope that you'll remember before it's too late or someone will text you and remind you of the plans that you made with them a week ago for this evening.

I've gotten really good at last minute. There's a thrill in it. Whip up a quick snack or dessert, put it in a fancy dish- bada bing bada boom- no one has to know you were scrambling.

Some of my favorite things to make when I'm crunched for time:

Vegan Berry Crisp

This has been one of my go-to's recently. Sometimes making a dessert can feel like a lot of effort. There are so many bowls and steps and flour flying every where. This recipe requires one bowl. 6 ingredients. A cast iron skillet. And 45 minutes. Now, 45 minutes might not feel like an "in a pinch" kind of time line. But when someone walks into a home and is met with the smell of a berry crisp baking- they're not going to be mad that they have to wait 30 more minutes.

Goat Cheese Spread

This is the easiest recipe of all time. It feels disingenuous to call it a recipe. It's literally just honey drizzled over goat cheese. Minimal effort required but so delicious. Talk about a good ROI. There's something about a nice cheese and cracker situation that screams "I'm put together." Put this and some crackers (the fig and olive crisp crackers from trader joe's are my favorites!) on a cheese board with a cute little cheese knife and you're set. I'm not even going to post a separate recipe for this because it's so easy.

1. buy log of goat cheese. open package and set on serving dish.

2. drizzle honey on top to your hearts content.

Spicy Saltines

There's something so nostalgic about saltines for me. So bland but always hitting the spot. I would eat them as a kid with cheese or peanut butter for lunch when my mom was feeling uninspired after days of pouring herself into perfect heart shaped PB&J's and clean cut turkey sandwiches. With this recipe- it's like those nostalgic crackers with an adult twist. Add butter and seasoning, bake them, and you've got a classy cracker.

Namaste Boxed Brownies

These brownies. No words. They're gooey. Moist. Thick. All the words you hate to say but always want to associate with brownies. I can't describe the way my life changed when I first tried these. But it gets better -- They're also gluten free and can be made vegan. I don't see them in stores often so when I do- I grab them in bulk. Looking like a doomsday prepper who's preparing to live off of brownies (wouldn't be the worst way to spend an apocalypse.)

Or if there's no time/energy left for prep- just put stuff in a bowl. Anything in a bowl is instantly elevated somehow.

Pre-made Hummus and Veggies in a Bowl

Grapes in a Bowl

Chips in a Bowl

Chocolates.... in a Bowl

Speaking of bowls, bowls, all types of bowls. Here are some of my favorites for hosting!

Heart Shaped Bowl

Simple White Bowls

Pink and Gold Glass Bowl