Whether your friends and family take the “door’s always open” policy a little too literally or not, it’s ALWAYS a good idea to have a few key pantry staples on hand.

“I always keep phyllo dough in the freezer because you can wrap it around anything,” says Rach.

Here are the party-ready pantry staples that Jake Smollett, host of Food Network’s “Smollett Eats,” recommends keeping on hand -- and his tips for getting them, well, party-ready!

Pita Chips

If you have some pita bread on hand, whether it’s fresh or fresh outta the freezer, you can always cut those up, flavor ‘em with parmesan cheese, maybe some spices and a drizzle of EVOO, bake ‘em off till crisp and you’ve got some fancy pita chips right there!

READ: 4 Hacks That Could Save Your Next Party

Fancy Olives

Jake says if you’ve got some olives in your pantry, just jazz ‘em up and they’ll look like the fancy marinated ones from the market. He strains them, then seasons with coriander, chili flakes, garlic, and give ‘em a stir! If you’re feeling super indulgent, shave a little parmesan cheese right over the top.

“You can’t really overseason this either,” says Jake.

“No, plus its an olive, it’s already salt and fat, those are the world’s two perfect ingredients!” says Rach.

Hummus

Plain hummus can be customized so many ways, so it’s perfect to have on hand. Rach says she likes to add spinach, garlic and artichokes to hers. Jake topped his off with some cayenne pepper, paprika and a little bit of grated parmesan.

MAKE: Kale-Basil Pesto, Roasted Tomato and Goat Cheese Dip