6 Easy Ways to Get Ready for Guests When You're Exhausted

Stock Up on Cream Cheese

This must be the world's easiest homemade appetizer: Let a block of cream cheese come to room temperature. (You can even remove it from the refrigerator in the morning and leave it out—wrapped in the original packaging or plastic—all day.) Spread pepper jelly or mango pepper jelly on top and serve with crackers. (If you buy a few bricks, you'll have extra for morning-after bagels.)