Summer entertaining ideas are a hot topic of conversation and consideration now that the season is in full swing.
Architectural Digest – Photography by Amy Neunsinger
Whether a bountiful gathering of friends for a summer soiree or a party for two under the stars, the ultimate party goal is an easy, enjoyable, delicious, and relaxing time.
Entertaining well doesn’t mean entertaining extravagantly (not that there’s anything wrong with that), but it is summertime, and easy rules the outdoor living way of summer life.
Photo by Silvia Mara on Unsplash
Outdoor Life is Dirty So Let’s Clean It Up
Give your outdoor oasis a look see through the lens of polish and refresh.
Clean what pieces will greatly benefit from a brush-sweep-soap session, and assess the situation of items not so worthy.
Clear the deck so to speak of debris, replace rotten/rotting/missing boards, secure loose ones, nail down pop ups, and sand down signs of splinter or potential problem areas (ouch!).
Good Housekeeping – Photography by Christopher Baker
Outdoor Cushion Cleanser
Ingredients
1 Tablespoon dish detergent
¼ cup Borax
Directions
Add dish detergent and Borax to a bucket of water. Dip a soft bristle brush into the cleaning solution and proceed to scrub cushion in a circular motion cleaning the entire surface.
Allow at least five minutes for the cleaning solution to penetrate the cushion.
Using a garden hose, rinse the cushion thoroughly in order to remove residual cleanser.
You’ll want to use an old towel for the next step. Pat the cushion with the towel in order to absorb as much of water as possible. Prop the cushion(s) upright in a sunny spot and allow to air-dry until completely dry.
Votive candles with battery operated LED versions in flicker fabulous mode replaced standard votives, and the look and the ease of operation confirms its patio practicality.
Simple is always a welcome guest at any outdoor gathering. Nothing is more simple, and might I add simply elegant, than a glass container filled with string/fairy lights.
Photo by Abijith K
Glass Candle Holder With Handle
Now, let’s set the table and the scene.
Domino – Photography by Julian Fernandez
Summer evenings seem tailor-made for an in the style of apéro featuring light bites and tasty beverages to enhance the idea of relaxing and connecting.
Architectural Digest – Photography by Joe Schmelzer
When selecting the music for the party playlist aim to keep the types, styles, genres, and decades balanced somewhere between current hits, grooving to the oldies, what movie is this from, smooth and easy jazz, lounge lizard standards, and the soundtrack to high school and college days gone by.
Image by Freepik
Arthur Court Butterfly Topped Mesh Food Dome Cover, Set of 2
4th of July approved!
Americana Earthenware Serving Bowl
Crow Canyon Splatter Cocktail Tray/Deep Dish Pizza
Better Homes & Gardens All-in-One Caddy
Paper plates of pink and green put the style in keep it summer simple.
Melamine.
8pk Pembroke Lattice Lemon Flower Salad And Dinner Plates
Just add cute outdoor appropriate plates to serve summer goodies upon.
Set Of 4 Indoor Outdoor Melamine Suzuka Floral Dinner Plates
Photo by Christabel Seneque
Is That a Bee in Your Bonnet?
No, it’s a dryer sheet!
Strategically placed in an apron pocket, under table linens, or pinned to the corners of a tablecloth, dryer sheets help to keep bees at bay.
Better Homes & Gardens – Photography by Erica George Dines
Set a vase, crock, or pitcher full of fresh seasonal flowers on a tabletop and invite the scents of the season to the party.
Photo by Jez Timms
Eyes set the “seen” when it comes to food, and easy always makes the perfect party guest.
Cilantro and Sunflower Seed Dip Recipe
Creole Shrimp Caesar Salad with Cheesy Croutons Recipe
Who remembers when the crudité tray ruled the appetizer course?
Inexpensive natural wooden trays and crates packed tight with fresh seasonal veggies serve up a simple and impressive summer crudites tray.
Decorative Rectangle Tray, Customizable Serving Tray with Handles
Summer simple appetizers such as small bites and nibbles make the perfect edible complement to a cold beverage.
Shrimp Cobb Salad with Bacon Dressing Recipe
Heat and humidity will melt those ice cubes soon enough, but with flavored ice cubes watered down beverages retain their deliciousness.
This is so simple; fill ice trays 3/4 full with the beverage of choice and freeze.
Take the taste to the next level by adding fresh mint to iced tea or punch cubes, rosemary sprigs to lemonade, pearl onion or halved seasoned green bean to Clamato for a Bloody Mary, or a blend of cream with a sprinkle of cinnamon to iced coffees.
Grab the blender (or food processor) and purée watermelon slices or fresh strawberries for a summer kick over watermelon or strawberry flavored ice cubes.
Tennessee Fruit Tea
Ingredients
1 (64 oz.) bottle sweet tea (such as Milo’s or Turkey Hill)
1 (59 oz.) carton pineapple-orange juice
Directions
Pour half of the sweet tea (4 cups) and half of the pineapple-orange juice (about 3 2/3 cups) into a pitcher. Stir to combine.
Pour the remaining pineapple-orange juice into the bottle of sweet tea, and shake to combine.
The mixture in the pitcher can either be served immediately or decanted back into the juice carton to store.
Sparkling Spiked Peach Lemonade
Ingredients
1 cup sugar
1 cup of water
3 large peaches
6 cups sparkling water
1 cup fresh-squeezed lemon juice
1 ½ cup vodka
Directions
In a small pot, combine the sugar and 1 cup of water. Bring to a simmer over medium heat, and simmer until the sugar is dissolved. Remove from heat and cool completely.
Remove the skins from 2 of the peaches, reserving the third. Cut an “X” in the bottom of each one, and place them in a pot of boiling water for about 30 seconds. Transfer the peaches to an ice bath, and peel when cool enough to handle. Slice each peeled peach in half and remove the pits. Cut peaches into cubes, place them in the blender or food processor, and puree until liquified.
In a large pitcher, combine the pureed peaches, the cooled simple syrup, the sparkling water, the lemon juice and the vodka. Stir to combine. Add ice and stir again.
Cut the remaining peach into thin slices. Stir a few of the slices into the lemonade and use the others to garnish the glasses.
Serves 4.
Doris Day’s German Potato Salad
Ingredients
6 medium-sized potatoes
1 large stalk of celery, chopped in small pieces
3-4 scallions (white part only), thinly sliced
4 slices lean bacon, cut in small strips
2/3 cup water
½ cup cider (or wine) vinegar
Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
Directions
Cook potatoes in their skins until tender. Cool slightly, peel and slice into a large bowl. Add celery and scallions. Fry bacon in saucepan until crisp. Add water and vinegar. Pour over potato-celery-scallion mixture, toss lightly.
Cover and marinate thoroughly (several hours or overnight) before serving.
Serves 4.
Tropical fruit salad is keep it summer simple easy with a side of pretty presentation, and that’s what counts.
Tropical Fruit Salad
Ingredients
2 cans tropical fruit, drained
1 can pear halves, drained
1 pint blueberries
juice of one(1) lemon
1 small container plain Greek yogurt
2 Tablespoons honey
Directions
In a mixing bowl, toss together canned fruit with juice of one lemon. Cover and chill 1 hour.
Add honey to Greek yogurt and you’ve got the dressing.
Refreshing Strawberry Pineapple Salsa Recipe
Classic Macaroni Salad
Ingredients
1½ cup (12 ounces) dry elbow macaroni
½ cup mayonnaise (I use Duke’s)
1 Tbsp white wine vinegar
¼ cup milk
2 teaspoons sugar
½ teaspoon Kosher salt (or more to taste)
black pepper to taste
1 medium tomato, chopped
1 medium bell pepper, diced
¼ cup red onion, diced
1 whole green onion (green and white parts), sliced
1 cup whole kernel corn, drained
Directions
Cook the elbow macaroni in salted water according to directions on package. Drain cooked macaroni, rinse with cold water, and allow to completely cool.
Chop, slice, and dice the tomato, bell pepper, red onion, and green onion.
To prepare the dressing grab a medium mixing bowl. Add the mayonnaise, vinegar, milk, sugar, salt and pepper. Stir all together to incorporate and set aside.
Place macaroni in a large mixing bowl. Add the bell pepper, green onion, red onion, tomatoes, and corn. Pour dressing over top and toss to evenly coat. Chill salad for at least 2 hours before serving.
No-Bake Pink Lemonade Pie Recipe
I’m convinced more and more the move toward the trend of taking purchased prepared foods to the next level via the presentation factor is a gift from the outdoor living entertaining powers that be and your local grocery store and farmers market.
Pick up a luscious bakery or box lemon pound cake and proceed to sweetly impress with the addition of fresh blueberries and lemon slices topping it all of with a generous tablespoon of lemon curd and/or whipped topping.
Corn on the Cob Cupcakes Recipe
Consider these summer entertaining ideas seasonal lagniappe- a little something extra for your summertime good times.
Craft or butcher paper makes a great disposable table cover.
