This DIY food label and party tip post has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #DipintoMeze #CollectiveBias
It has happened to all of us at least once in our lives. Someone calls and says they are going to stop by for a visit—that afternoon. Or you and your friends decide to throw together a last minute party for Memorial Day—and guess what—it will be at your place! Although everyone understands you didn’t have a ton of time to plan, you don’t want to disappoint them. Here are some really easy last minute party tips that will have you looking like you spent days preparing in the kitchen!
Last minute party tips
Tip #1: Purchase premade dips
The usual suspects when it comes to party dips are onion dip, salsa, hummus, and some sort of veggie dip. All of these can be purchased pre-made at Walmart. If you want to kick it up a notch to impress, you can go with some uncommon dip flavors. I love the new Chobani Mezé™ Dips because they are made with only natural, non-GMO ingredients including real vegetables and delicious Chobani Greek Yogurt. Plus, they have 4 unique flavors:
- Chili Lime (a tangy blend of lime and light spice, with ranch-style herbs)
- Roasted Red Pepper (a sweet and slightly hot mix of roasted peppers)
- Smoked Onion & Parmesan (a rich mix that combines bold onion flavor with nutty parmesan)
- Three Pepper Salsa (a light blend of green peppers, chili peppers & jalapeno peppers with herbs)
These unique dips will definitely be something your guests will not only enjoy but will be the talk of the party!
Tip #2: Purchase pre-cut veggies
When you serve dip at a party, the usual items you dip into them are chips, pretzels, and the store-bought vegetable tray. These items are easy, so they would be perfect for a last minute get together. However, if you want to look like you’ve put more time and thought into the food, purchase some uncommon dippers. While at Walmart, I picked up the following items that are just as easy as a bag of chips:
- Carrot chips
- Celery sticks
- Red, orange and yellow mini peppers
- Sugar snap peas
All of these items were pre-washed, pre-cut, and bagged in the refrigerated produce section. I just walked along and tossed them in my cart! I also picked up a bag of multigrain chips (like these) since they aren’t the usual chips at parties. The rainbow of colors will definitely impress guests.
Tip #3: Gather and store common supplies at a time when you don’t have a party coming up.
Purchase white serving dishes, white paper plates, white napkins, and white plasticware. White will go with any occasion, and you can bring in the theme colors with accessories. Purchase when you find items on sale and store everything in a box in the garage (get garage storage tips here) or in an under-bed storage container.
I also like to purchase a few decorations when they are on sale after the holiday. I got the flag banner shown above after Labor Day and the red berry containers after Valentine’s Day.
Tip #4: Make easy DIY food label holders that can be used for multiple occasions.
Whenever you have a buffet of food set up for a party, there are going to be items that people don’t recognize on the table. This would be the case with the Chobani Mezé Dips. The name of the dip is on the peel-off label and on the side of the container, but it would be so much easier if you labeled each dip. I have the easiest DIY for food label holders. Check it out below.
DIY Food Label Holders
Supplies needed
- Large binder clips
- Patterned duct tape – I used the patriotic theme for Memorial Day, 4th of July and Labor Day
- Cardstock paper
- Scissors, paper cutter, or x-acto knife
- Chobani Mezé Dip printable labels
If you would like blank patriotic food labels, fill out the form below to download them for free.
Directions
Step 1: Print the dip labels out on cardstock paper. Use scissors or paper cutter to cut around the labels.
Note: regular printer paper will not work because the binder clips won’t hold a single sheet very well.
Step 2: Place the end of the duct tape close to the edges of the binder clip. Press firmly over the tape to remove any air so it lays flat.
Note: If the tape is too wide, measure and cut to size first.
Step 3: Place the tape around the bottom of the binder clip pressing out air as you go.
Step 4: Continue pressing the tape around the clip until it meets the other edge. Cut along the edge with scissors or x-acto knife.
Repeat steps 1-4 with all of your binder clips.
Just place your dip labels between the silver ends of the clip and place near the food you want to label. From start to finish, the whole process only takes about 15 minutes for all 4. So easy you could make them last minute, or make a bunch for different occasions and get them out as needed!
What tips do you have for an impressive last minute party? Have you tried the Chobani Mezé Dips yet? Which flavor is your favorite?
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