Summers are made for easy living, even when we're entertaining. Use this simple barbecue menu to spend less time in the kitchen and more time with your friends. Bring this party outside, and your pre-party cleaning will be as simple as your after party clean-up.
Except for grilling the steaks and cooking the quesadillas, all the rest of the preparations and cooking for this party can be done in advance. When it comes time for the brownie sundaes, offer your guests the ingredients on an attractive serving tray and let everyone assemble their own sundaes. It will be fun to see who goes for that extra dollop of whipped cream!
Setting the Stage
This menu showcases flavors from countries that are closer to the southern hemisphere. Choose colors for your table settings that are reminiscent of the sunny places where the flavors of this menu originate.
Since this party will be held outside, make sure you have enough insect repellants and candles to keep away those pests that would chase your guests back inside.
Set your table using a warm tone table cloth such as rust or gold to evoke a sunny, southwestern mood. Your napkins should be in coordinating earth tone colors.
Use potted cactus plants to continue the southwestern feeling of your table. You can either have one large dish filled with these plants or separate plants placed by each place setting that can be taken home as a party favor.
Hang colorful lanterns over your table to add warmth and light to your party as the evening grows dark.
The Menu
Mexican Quesadillas - I've never heard complaints when quesadillas have been part of my menu. Stephanie Gallagher, Guide to Kids Cooking, tells you the easy way to put together this popular appetizer. And if you prepare the guacamole and tomato salsa in advance, it will be even easier to bring them out to your guests. What? You don't have time to prepare the dips? Then purchase them pre-made and put them in a pretty serving dish. I'll never tell.
Grilled Tenderloin Steaks, Patagonian Style - This recipe for steaks, from Marian Blazes, Guide to South American Food, couldn't get any easier. By seasoning your steaks as Marian recommends, and cooking it at the proper temperatures, you'll end up with very juicy, flavorful beef.
Caprese Salad - When tomatoes are in season and local as they are in the summertime, I could eat this salad every day. Molly Watson, Guide to Local Foods, tells us how to prepare this classic salad, but I believe the most important detail is to buy the best quality ingredients you can find. In the summertime, that isn't difficult to do.
Brownie Sundaes - Baking and Desserts Guide, Carroll Pellegrinelli, suggests a few ways to add a special twist to this very popular dessert. This one is my husband's absolute favorite desserts, so the next time I prepare it for him, I'll have to try one of Carroll's tasty suggestions.
Shandy - Beer Guide Bryce Eddings tells us how to make this popular, refreshing summer drink using beer. It's perfect for a relaxing dinner out on the deck.
Flavored Water - In recent years the beverage category of flavored waters has been growing on retailers' shelves. Some flavored waters claim to offer health benefits, others are just about flavor without the unnecessary sugar. Find one that you like, and introduce it to your guests. Here are some of my favorites.
An assortment of other refreshing summer beverages including iced tea, soft drinks, and cold water.
