Summer has to be one of the busiest seasons for entertaining. But it's definitely not the season to spend 5 hours in the kitchen cooking a 7-course meal. And you don't want to worry about polishing silver and washing crystal during the hottest months of the year. What you want is to decorate with an eye toward comfort, color and relaxation, and to cook with the season's freshest ingredients, thereby creating a memorable meal for your guests. But, most of all, you want to spend as little time as possible doing this. Because it's summertime, and we all need to enjoy the season, hosts right alongside their guests.
1. A Casual Summer Brunch Party
Photo © Flickr user r.j.wagner
Summer gives us extra time on Saturday and Sunday mornings for sleeping a little bit later, and then relaxing throughout the day. It seems like there are fewer kid activities that require our shuttle services, and less overtime is required in the office. It's the perfect time to invite friends over for a lazy brunch that will extend into a lazy afternoon. This menu has been simplified so that some of the recipes can even be prepared the evening before so that there's less to do before your guests arrive.
2. A Refreshing Summer Luncheon
Barbara Rolek
It can be so hot on some summer days that we want nothing more than a cup of ice cubes for lunch. But when you're entertaining, you need a bit more than ice cubes to serve to your guests. That's where this refreshing luncheon menu steps in. The food is both refreshing for your guests, and you won't have to break a sweat to prepare it for them. Everyone will also keep their cool while taking in your simple, refreshing table decorations.
3. An Easy Barbecue on the Deck
Donna Pilato
When we think about summer parties, a barbecue on the deck is one of the all-time classics. Most of the preparation for this party can be done in advance, leaving you with two things to cook before serving your guests, and one can be cooked while hanging out with them on your deck. See how to accompany the warm flavors of this menu with equally sunny decorations.
4. A Quick, Easy Summer Picnic
Summer is filled with places to go and attractions to see. There are concerts in the park, trips to state parks, visits to amusement parks, and days at the beach or pool club. But usually the food you can purchase at these events isn't nearly as good as what you can bring along if you pack a picnic. Most of this menu can be prepared quickly right before you leave, and the rest can be prepared in advance for any spontaneous outings that might pop up.
5. A Dinner Party with the Focus on Summer Flavors
Linda Larsen
It would be a shame not to give some serious thought to the selection of ingredients when you plan a summer menu. This isn't because the food needs to be serious, but because there are so many fresh, delicious choices. None of the recipes in this menu should take more than 15 minutes to prepare, leaving you plenty of time to relax with your guests.
6. A Summertime Potluck Party
Marian Blazes
Potluck parties are always popular because no one person does all the work or carries all of the expense. You really can't get much easier than that, but it needs to be properly organized to avoid getting triplicates (or worse) of any one dish. If you are the coordinator for a potluck learn how to manage everyone's contributions and find recipes you can recommend that are perfect for a summertime potluck.
7. An Impromptu Summer Dinner Party
Sometimes parties just happen. And with a little preparation you can be the host that makes it happen. This article will tell you which summer ingredients you need to keep on hand to be able to bring your guests home with you from the beach, pool, or wherever you've been relaxing together, and prepare a meal that will make everyone happy.
