Skip the complicated mains and keep things simple with these quick, delicious recipes
Written bySunsetNovember 21, 2018
Share this story
Melissa Gayle
1 of 8Melissa Gayle
Taste the Holidays
Throwing an effortless get-together is easier than it sounds. Start by compiling a short list of friends—10 to 12 people—and craft a casual yet chic menu of appetizers, a signature cocktail, and a tempting dessert. Next, add a light-hearted activity to break the ice. At a Sunset Secret House Party in Beverly Hills, artist Lindsay Swearingen taught guests simple embroidery, while chef Ashley Rodriguez whipped up dishes from her cookbook, Let’s Stay In: More Than 120 Recipes to Nourish the People You Love. You can follow their lead using the recipes and other tips that follow. It doesn’t get much easier than this.
Melissa Gayle
2 of 8Melissa Gayle
Holiday Spritz
This sparkling cocktail is made with Jardesca, a grape spirit infused with botanicals.Recipe:Holiday Spritz
More Videos From Sunset
Melissa Gayle
3 of 8Melissa Gayle
Baked Camembert with Blackberries and Rosemary
People go crazy over warm cheese, as they should. This easy starter or snack is more about assembling than cooking.
A happy grocery-store accident: The shishitos and kumquats are placed near one another; both end up in your cart. You wonder, how would they taste together? Your friends will describe the combo as “magic.”
Get a little crafty and stage a group activity at your gathering. It’ll help spark conversation. Stock up on a few basic supplies—pretty cloth linens, wooden embroidery looms, embroidery needles, and a variety of floss—and invite your guests to help one another monogram their own napkin with letters or more elaborate designs.
For our Secret House Party decor, we partnered with Hayneedle and sought to mix nature-inspired elements with glam accents for a fresh spin on seasonal entertaining. See more of the decor here.