For our purposes, we’re assuming you’re serving your guests something refreshing and possibly alcoholic – like beer.

If you’ve got the time and inclination to spend a little time in the kitchen, here are some simple suggestions that will make your guests know they are welcome:

Chips:

If you’ve got a mandoline, thinly slice some peeled potatoes and keep them covered in water. Pour vegetable oil into a large pot until it’s one-third full, and heat over medium-high to 350 degrees. Dry the potatoes on clean towels, and fry until golden brown. Season with salt, and flavour with your favourite spice mix. Yum.

Beer nuts:

Melt a couple of ounces of butter with an equal amount of brown sugar and a teaspoon-ish of your favourite spice mix and some salt. Toss with a couple of cups of raw nuts, and roast in a 375-degree oven until toasty and delicious.

Bacon wrapped snacks:

Wrap bite-size pieces of dried fruit (date, fig, apricot slices, etc.) in half of a slice of bacon or pancetta per piece, and bake at 350 until crispy, about 15 minutes. If you want to get all crazy, stuff the fruit with goat cheese before wrapping.

Veggie snacks:

Mince a couple of cloves of garlic with a few anchovies (trust me), and whisk it into some extra-virgin olive oil. Toss with bite-size cauliflower or broccoli florets to coat and roast, turning once, until cooked through, 15 to 20 minutes. Your stupid friends will make fun of you for serving this, but it will be gone first.

Crunchy chickpeas:

Deep-fry or pan-fry cooked chickpeas until they’re crunchy and golden, about 15 minutes, then drain and toss with salt and your favourite spice mix.