( REAL SIMPLE ) -- Whether you 're hosting a formal party or just throwing together snacks for drinks with friends , we 've got ideas for transforming carryout into crowd-pleasing cuisine . Everyone will assume your sink is stacked with dirty pots and pans . ( And if you keep them out of the kitchen , they 'll never know the truth . ) Tiny-size pizzas . Start with : A large cheese pizza . ( Ask for it unsliced and , if possible , slightly underbaked . ) To make : Avoiding the crust , cut out mini pizzas with round cookie or biscuit cutters . Heat the rounds at 400º Fahrenheit for about 5 minutes . Top with slices of olives , marinated mushrooms , chopped prosciutto , an anchovy fillet , or fresh herbs ( such as basil , flat-leaf parsley , rosemary , thyme , or oregano ) . Mediterranean bruschetta . Start with : Garlic bread from your favorite Italian spot . To make : Slather slices with prepared marinara or pesto sauce . Top with goat cheese or mozzarella , a marinated pepper , or an oil-packed sun-dried tomato , then toast in the oven . Also try : Hummus po ' boys . Spread hot garlic bread with hummus and top with coleslaw or lettuce and tomato . Cap with more hot , crunchy bread . Real Simple : How to know when food is cooked just right . Chicken- or shrimp-boat hors d'oeuvres . Start with : Your favorite chicken or shrimp Chinese stir-fry . To make : Mound spoonfuls of stir-fry into the cuplike center leaves from a head of Boston lettuce . If desired , top the boats with chopped nuts or scallion slices . Also try : Asian-Mexican fusion . Roll the dish with rice and some soy sauce in a giant tortilla . Slice into single-serving pieces . Chicken pasta with blue cheese and walnuts . Start with : A golden-brown rotisserie chicken . To make : Toss thin slices of chicken with hot pasta , crumbled blue cheese , and chopped walnuts . Also try : Quick chicken salad . Stir Dijon mustard , mayo , and chopped onion and herbs into shredded chicken meat . Season with salt and pepper and spoon onto whole-grain bread for sandwiches . Real Simple : Pasta glossary . Antipasto platter . Start with : Assorted salad-bar treats . To make : Arrange Swiss and cheddar cheese cubes , prosciutto and salami slices , marinated vegetables ( artichoke hearts , red peppers , mushrooms ) , mixed olives , and giant capers on a platter . Also try : Salad bar as personal sous-chef . Make it your source for julienned vegetables , grated cheese , and bite-size meats . Roasted duck , watercress , and brown rice salad . Start with : Half a Chinese Peking duck ( 1 order ) . To make : Shred the meat and toss it with take-out brown rice and a splash of dumpling dipping sauce ( most restaurants will add it to your order at no charge ) . Top with chopped watercress and scallions . Also try : Duck crostini . Finely chop the meat and toss it with minced herbs , chopped onion , olive oil , and balsamic vinegar . Pile the mixture on tiny toasts . Real Simple : Easy fixes for 8 common kitchen mishaps . Spareribs , minimalist style . Start with : A few orders of Chinese take-out ribs . To make : Simply separate the spareribs , heat , and serve on simple white plates . Also try : Spareribs with crunch . The glaze on Chinese-style ribs provides the perfect glue for a crunchy coating . Separate the ribs and roll them in chopped peanuts or toasted sesame seeds . Serve hot on a scoop of fried or steamed rice . Trimmings . Start with : A bucket of chicken , some biscuits , mashed potatoes , and gravy -- all from your local KFC . To make : Heat the chicken and biscuits in a 350º F oven for 10 minutes , then place in napkin-lined baskets . Put the potatoes and gravy ( request it on the side ) in your best bowls . Also try : Chicken dippers . Serve slices of fried chicken with homemade sauce -- yogurt or sour cream with honey mustard stirred in to taste . Get a FREE TRIAL issue of Real Simple - CLICK HERE ! Copyright © 2008 Time Inc. All rights reserved .
You can feed great food to guests by fiddling with takeout . Use cookie cutter to cut bite-size pizzas out of large uncut pizza . Comment: Spoon shrimp stir-fry into Boston lettuce leaves , top with chopped nuts .