Hosting & Entertaining Essentials

Great hosting starts with a handful of pieces you will use again and again: a good pot, a reliable mixer and a board to serve from. This guide gathers kitchen and serving essentials, with ideas for a Friendsgiving potluck, a cocktail party or a small-space dinner. Start with the essentials and add from there.

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Hosting & Entertaining Essentials

KitchenAid Artisan 5-Qt Mixer

A 5-quart stand mixer from KitchenAid's Artisan line. A stand mixer takes on the mixing for dough, batter and whipped toppings, which frees you up to greet guests.

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Lodge 6 Qt Dutch Oven

A 6-quart Dutch oven from Lodge. A pot this size suits soups, braises and one-pot meals for a crowd, and it can go from the stove to the table.

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Mueller DuraCast 6 Qt Dutch Oven

A 6-quart Dutch oven from Mueller's DuraCast line. A second pot in this size is handy when you are cooking a main and a side at the same time.

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Martha Stewart 7-Qt Dutch Oven

A 7-quart Dutch oven from Martha Stewart, the roomiest of the three here. The extra capacity helps when you are feeding a bigger table.

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YZS Bamboo Charcuterie Set

A bamboo charcuterie set for serving cheese, fruit and snacks. A board like this makes an easy starter while dinner finishes cooking.

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You do not need a full set of everything to host well. Choose a few versatile pieces, keep the table simple, and let the company do the rest. Check each Amazon listing for dimensions, materials and care instructions, especially for small spaces.