READY FOR COMPANY
Big dippers
Robert Rothschild Farm’s “Cheese Ball” dips–cream cheese-based spreads with a lively array of ingredients–can be served from the jar or formed into retro-ish mounds. They match well with crackers or veggies. Flavors include sweet pineapple margarita, hot pepper peach and a more savory dirty martini (it’s got green olives). The dips are $8.50-$10.50 each at Persimmon Tree in Geneva, Lynfred Winery in Roselle, Famous Liquors in Lombard, Sunset Foods, Mulberry Street in Downers Grove and by mail (robertrothschild.com or 866-565-6790).
Just enough joe
Flavored coffees can be cloying, so we were pleased with the light touch of the varieties from Folgers’ Gourmet Selections, especially the chocolate truffle and caramel drizzle. Other flavors include vanilla biscotti and hazelnut cream. A 12-ounce bag of ground coffee costs $5-$6.50 at Jewel, Sunset Foods and Target.
Party smarts
A friendly voice, oodles of doable recipes and party-friendly tips that emphasize a can-do spirit make “The Two of Us . . . and Friends” (Marlowe & Co., $27.95), by caterer Jessie Carry Saunders, a great resource for anyone new to entertaining. Chapters focus on dinners for two, four, six and upwards of eight. The author’s whimsical illustrations make a fine complement. The book is at some Borders and Barnes & Noble bookstores and amazon.com.
