A cocktail party is one of those parties you can throw in the tiniest of spaces. (We’re talking a studio apartment with a murphy bed!) You don’t need to fit a dozen people around a table for a seated meal. Heck, you don’t even really need to have seats for everyone in attendance (although a few would be nice). And you certainly don’t need to go all out with decorations.

Follow this super-easy five-step plan and your apartment will be party-ready faster than you can even ask someone to bring the ice.

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Some people like lemons. And then there are those who really like lemons — as in, they’re total lemonheads and like to suck on lemon slices as if they’re oranges. Is that you? We’ll assume yes. You wouldn’t have clicked on this story if it wasn’t!

With that settled, we’d like to know how many of these lemon treats you’ve had before. Take a look! And then start making plans to try the ones that are new to you.

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In addition to the killer snack selection, it should come as no surprise that Trader Joe’s also has an impressive lineup of appetizers that make for an “appy hour” spread. They’re fast, yes, and they’re all slight upgrades from what you’d usually serve.

Here are 10 things you should always consider.

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There’s a certain type of person who never has to wait for a drink at a party. For some reason their mere presence causes any bartender or cocktail waiter in a close proximity to hop to attention, like James Bond for instance — I’m pretty sure he’s never had to flag down a bartender to order his signature martini. And waiters with hors d’oeuvres probably flock to him with trays of cocktail hot dogs.

You too can possess this magical allure at all of your friends’ weddings this season. Here’s how.

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(Image credit: Joe Lingeman)

Sometimes you need a cake — like, now — and getting out a stand mixer and dirtying a few bowls isn’t ideal. It’s often in these situations we lean on cake mixes to get a cake in the oven. Inspired by the virtues of cake mix (it is easy and reliable, after all) we set out to create an everyday vanilla cake — something sweet but sturdy and resilient that we could quickly turn into everything from an everyday coffee cake to cupcakes to a giant ice cream cake sandwich.

Honestly, this cake can come together faster than your oven will preheat. So go set it to 350°F and then come back here to learn how to make this universal cake. It can be as simple or as stunning as you choose, and it will bake up at least a dozen different ways — all of them buttery, fragrant, and delicious.

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This is a mature scoby – after a few rounds of making kombucha, it will thicken, become smooth, and take uniform color

(Image credit: Emma Christensen)

There’s really no arguing that it’s ugly. And kind of alien-looking. And yeah, even downright gross. But dang it! Scobys make some delicious kombucha! If you want to save a few bucks on your ‘booch habit, there’s just no getting around it. You’re going to need a scoby.

You can beg a scoby from a kombucha-brewing friend, or you can order a fresh one online. But there’s one more option: you can grow your own.

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Growing up, my mom did hardly any of the cooking for our family. She could microwave frozen fish sticks and toast Eggo waffles, and she had one signature dish of meatballs with jarred Ragu sauce over spaghetti, but that’s about as far as her culinary prowess extended. There were a few times when she attempted to make slice-and-bake cookies, but they either ended up burnt or she walked away without preheating the oven and would come back hours later to find sad blobs of dough still waiting on the baking sheet.

As president of a video production company and a singer in a blues band, my mom had many talents — cooking was just not one of them. So she deferred to my dad, a wonderful cook, when it came to feeding us. But all that changed some years ago when my dad’s ability and desire to cook was thwarted by illness.

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Gingery Poached Egg Soup

(Image credit: Christine Han)

There are times when only a steaming bowl of slow-simmered soup will do, and then there are more realistic times when a meal needs to come together right this minute. This soup has been my saving grace when my stomach is rumbling, I want something healthy, and I don’t have much kicking around in the fridge. With this formula, a quick, nourishing soup is mine for the slurping in just about 10 minutes.

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If you ask us, the best Mother’s Day gift is surprising mom with a celebratory brunch. Whatever you cook up, we know she’s going to love it. And, if you’re worried about pulling off a special to-do without neglecting your most important guest — don’t. You can get a jump-start on the day with a menu that can be prepped (if not fully prepared) in advance.

From sweet cinnamon rolls and egg casseroles, to quiches and sweet breakfast bakes, here are 20 make-ahead recipes for a delicious and stress-free Mother’s Day brunch.

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(Image credit: Michael Wiltbank)

I am warning you now that you may inhale these innocent-looking roll-ups before your friends even ring the doorbell. I had to pull myself away from the baking sheet and leave the kitchen entirely to escape the buttery, garlicky aroma. These roll-ups wouldn’t make it to their serving platter if I lingered too long.

This is the kind of homemade appetizer that is going to win you accolades. Make them once and friends will begin to ask you for those “flaky, garlicky things” each time they drop by; it’s already happening to me! That’s not necessarily a bad thing because they’re something you can keep stocked in the freezer to bake off at a moment’s notice. They’ll bake in just the amount of time it takes to pop open a bottle of wine and pour everyone a glass, ensuring your happy hour is effortless.

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