STYLETHREAD -- LET'S TALK SHOP!

Every time I have people over I get so nervous at the last minute and think "why did I invite anyone? I can't do this!" So I totally feel your pain! But it always works out after all.

If people are coming over last minute, it's so understandable that you'd feel stressed. Anyone would. If people are just coming over for snacks, the easiest things I can think of are keeping nuts on hand (in the refrigerator so they last longer), chips and salsa, pretzels. Things that can sit around in your pantry for a while and be okay. If you have time, you could swing by the store and pick up a baguette to make crostini -- bake slices in the oven for a little while with grated parmesan cheese on top, or just bake them for toast and top with mixed tuna and cannelini beans (which are both canned and can be kept at home for these kinds of situations). (If you want more detailed recipes of the above, PM me.)

I've also seen frozen appetizers in speciality food stores, like cheeze blintzes and things like that. You could try getting some of those to keep on hand.

For serving, I have a couple large wooden cutting boards for spreading out cheeses, crackers, and sliced meats, a large glass platter, and a shallow glass bowl for serving other things.

For drinks, I am not so great at that myself. I try to keep wine on hand all the time and to have a decent array of liquors, like vodka, gin, or whiskey, but I don't always have the right mixers.