Between all the shopping, wrapping, planning, hosting and going, who has time to whip up a homemade dish for every holiday party of the season? If you have 5 minutes and a little know-how, you can dress up store-bought items to make a stunning dish, and no one will know you didn’t spend all afternoon in the kitchen.

Serve goat cheese with whole wheat crackers, Marcona almonds and fig jam for a stunning cheese plate.
Pick up a vegetable tray, and serve with store-bought hummus. Transfer the hummus to a serving bowl, drizzle it with olive oil, and sprinkle with paprika and toasted pine nuts for a “homemade” look.
Dress up store-bought salsa by stirring in fresh chopped avocado, canned black beans or black eyed peas, or fresh herbs. Serve with multigrain tortilla chips or sweet potato chips.
Purchase a fruit tray, or create your own by combine pre-cut fruit from the produce section. Pair it with a simple dip made by stirring together low-fat plain yogurt, honey and cinnamon for a burst of color and nutrition.
Cut a baguette into thin slices and toast until crisp. Spread jarred pesto over each baguette slice, and top with sliced roasted red peppers for quick festive crostini.