If you want, you can dress up store-bought foods by placing them in attractive, real dishes and adding your own garnish or arrangement. Another way around this is to order food from a gourmet deli or local restaurant that is as good as homemade food; be sure to put in your order several days in advance. You could bring a dessert platter that can accommodate various dietary restrictions of the guests, such as gluten-free, nut-free, etc. This way, you also show that you are considerate.
Make fruit salad, bring seasonal, fresh fruit, or just cut up a watermelon. A bowl of fresh berries is always appreciated. Place a bag of prepared, frozen meatballs into a crock pot with a bottle of either barbecue sauce or teriyaki sauce. You can transport them separately in their original containers. Turn on the crock pot immediately when you arrive and everything will be warm by the time people eat; just be sure you’re going somewhere that has electricity. Place a jar of toothpicks next to the crock pot for easy self-serving. Make no-bake cookies or peanut butter fudge, melting the chocolate in the microwave.
Be sure to coordinate with your hosts, especially if you plan to bring alcoholic drinks. Don’t forget a bottle opener and corkscrew, even if all the drinks you bring are screw-top. It’s the last thing people seem to think of bringing to gatherings. If you’re given to heroics, you could learn to open a beer with a dollar bill or open a wine bottle without a corkscrew, but you’ll still be a hero for bringing the right tools.
