One of my party secrets is mini creme brulee. I prefer {like most people} something made from scratch. But since things can get hectic before a party I try to balance the things I serve 50 percent made from scratch/50 percent from a mix.

At Sur La Table they carry mini-ramekins {1.5 oz} for $1 each. {online they are $4!} I’ve collected them over the last two years and am now up to 40. Any thing I serve looks great in these mini dishes but my favorite and easiest dish is creme brulee. Here is the secret part: Williams Sonoma sells a creme brulee mix {can’t find it online} that only requires you to heat up the mix and pour it into the ramekins. The whole process takes ten minutes and then you let them set for at least four hours. Then I carmelize them right before I serve them. It is always a hit and I make sure to serve them with mini tea spoons, perfect for cracking the surface.