And the key to hosting, for teddy bears or for secret agents, is this: Hang out with your guests. Don’t spend all evening in the kitchen. Our cocktail party will let you do that. The menu’s made up of nibbles that are easy to prepare and potent drinks suited for mixing up in batches ahead of party time. You don’t even need to pick out music: try our iMix to set the mood.

But if even that much prep makes you reach for a can of Natty Light, we’ve still got something for you: a list of 12 items to keep on hand for truly instant entertaining, and by that we mean buy, unwrap, serve. And, of course, mingle.