Aaah summer! Summer days are all about swimming, picnics, camping, vacations and outdoor entertaining! I, personally, am not a fan of summer weather. The heat and humidity does not get along with my hair, nor does it get along with me, but I do love to entertain! So today, I am going to share some ideas for entertaining outdoors with your friends/family. Recipe and drink ideas, as well as, how to decorate the table, plus a way to keep your cool too, are all on the agenda! I promise it will be stress free and fun!
I am taking full advantage of the tropical theme here without going too Tikki Lounge. I was inspired by all the pineapples, palm trees and coconuts I saw on the store shelves at the beginning of the summer, although, as I write this, fall stuff is making it's way into the stores now! But, let's enjoy summer a bit more shall we?
Now, that being said, make sure you invite your guests a few weeks ahead, as people tend to make summer plans way in advance. Once you have your guest list done, think about what you want to serve at your party. An easy and simple menu, such as snacks and hors d'oeuvres, is a great option. One reason being it can all be served buffet style (which is pretty much my favourite kind of party), leaving you a lot of freedom to enjoy the festivities as well!
Your menu should include items that can stand the heat and can be served well at room temperature. A cheeseboard might not be the best idea for outdoor summer entertaining, especially if its really hot outside. Now, that being said, I do love cheese, so I had to sneak some in. I would keep it down to one type, such as a firm cheese, and recommend serving small quantities of it, so it won't be out for too long. I think feta is a great option, and I am going to share a delicious recipe for Marinated Feta in just a bit, but in the meantime, here are some other ideas that are ideal for outdoor entertaining:
~olives
~pickles
~nuts or other snacks like plantain chips and snap pea crisps
~pretzels, crackers, assorted breads
~dried fruit (apricots, figs or dates)
~raw veggies (baby carrots, radishes, blanched green beans, endive spears, celery, peppers)
~oil and vinegar (for dipping bread or raw veggies)
~hummus (cannot sit out for too long. 4-6 hours; under 4 hours is best)
~gazpacho (served in shot glasses or espresso cups)
~crostini or tortilla chips for dipping in gazpacho
~fresh tomato bruschetta
The last item, Gazpacho, is perfect for summer parties. It is a tomato based soup that is served cold or at room temperature, and it is a cinch to make, as it all gets processed in a food processor. It is best when made ahead, so you can either make it the night before or the morning of your party. The longer it sits in the fridge, the better the flavours get! My favourite recipe is from The Barefoot Contessa. Her recipe for Easy Gazpacho can be found at www.barefootcontessa.com, or in her cookbook titled "Foolproof".
Serve the gazpacho along side some tortilla chips or plantain chips for dipping! Serving it in shot glasses or small espresso cups, makes it easy for guests to eat and mingle!
Next, is the Marinated Feta recipe. I love Feta cheese. It's salty, delicious and can take on any flavours really well. This recipe is so easy, you will probably make it all the time. There are a lot of recipes that call for marinating the feta in a lot of oil, so it is submerged, which is all good, but I prefer to use less oil when marinating it. The taste is still the same, and it just looks nicer!
MARINATED FETA
-1 or 2 blocks of feta cheese, (200g each), drained from its liquid and patted dry
-Spice Mixture ( I use 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano, 1/4 teaspoon of red chilli flakes and 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme)
-good quality olive oil for drizzling
-salt and pepper to taste
**pat the feta cheese dry with a paper towel; then cut into thick slices
**in a small bowl, combine oregano, thyme and chilli flakes, then top the feta slices with the spice mixture.
**drizzle the feta with olive oil and sprinkle some salt and pepper on top
That's it! So easy to make and it's tasty! Serve it alongside some crackers, breads or crostini. This recipe can also be made a few hours ahead.
Now onto more important things: the cocktail!! As you may already know from past posts, I love to serve one signature cocktail that can be made ahead and in big batches. It leaves you time to enjoy your party and not have to play bartender. I found an amazing recipe for SPARKLING GRAPEFRUIT SANGRIA from www.thewickednoodle.com. It is easy and so refreshing; perfect for a warm summer's evening! I am not a fan of grapefruit, but I am a fan of sangria, so if grapefruit juice is mixed with alcohol, then it can't be all that bad! :)
Here is the recipe for you:
SPARKLING GRAPEFRUIT SANGRIA
1 bottle riesling (750ml)
1 bottle Prosecco (750ml)
2 cups grapefruit juice
1/2 cup simple syrup or agave
1/2 cup club soda
1 grapefruit, sliced
*mix all ingredients, except Prosecco, in a large pitcher or drink dispenser; refrigerate for at least 24 hours
*when ready to serve, add Prosecco
*the original recipe calls for 2 cups of sliced strawberries, but I decided to leave them out.
*simple syrup is equal parts sugar and water boiled until sugar is dissolved.
Another simple and delicious cocktail option is Lemonade Mimosa! Add homemade or store bought lemonade to a glass and top with champagne, Cava or Prosecco! Easy and oh so good!
I also like to have a variety of other alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages available for guests. If you have the space, try to set up a bar area in another spot away from the buffet table. If you don't, even a small side table or bench can be used, or save some room on the buffet table for adding a tray with the drinks.
We have a piece of furniture that we used to use in our laundry room, as our now designated outdoor bar/serving table. I placed a seagrass runner on the top of the bar, and used every inch of space that I could. I love that there are shelves on the bottom that can hold the bottles, glasses and other bar essentials. Here I chose to use one of the drawers as a towel holder and the other one to hold bar tools. This allows access to everything so your guests can help themselves!
Make sure you have ice handy to keep your drinks cool all night long. I used a black and gold bowl and added a scoop. The metal in the bowl helps to keep the ice from melting a bit, but you will need to replenish it as needed.
I also added this gold frame that I found at a thrift store to the bar area. I painted the cardboard insert green to go with the colour scheme, added a quote and voila, a simple DIY! You could also use it as a menu board if preferred. I used removable adhesive stencils and a glass marker to create the letters. It was way easier for me to do that, then try to write it free hand!
Little details can elevate your bar too. Patterned paper straws, cocktail stirrers, cute napkins and a set of bar tools with shakers, dress up your bar, and allow your guests creative freedom to be their own cocktail master! Add a few bowls of lemons and limes, along with a serrated knife and small cutting board, and your bar is pretty much set up.
I like to put bottles of sparkling water out on a tray along with one or two bottles of juice/lemonade as well. Decanting the juices into clear or decorative bottles makes for a pretty display too. All you need is a tag or label attached so your guests know what they are drinking!
I found a really cute idea to keep my guests cool during the night as well. These all natural mists are fun and so easy to do. I like to place the filled bottles in the refrigerator to make sure they are extra cold, and then place them in an area that is easily accessible for the guests, like on the bar. Here is how I made mine:
ALL-NATURAL MISTS
* fill small spray bottles with water ( I found the bottles at the dollar store)
* add julienned cucumbers to some of the bottles, and sprigs of lavender and mint to the others.
* label the bottles and add a little tag or sign where they are displayed
They really do help to cool off, and cucumber is known for its hydrating properties, so bonus on that one, while lavender and mint are great at repelling insects! Win win! These would also make cute party favours for your guests to take home too.
Next, setting up your table for a buffet style meal. I used a scarf in a tropical pattern for my table cover. It is an inexpensive option and you have more chances of finding some fun prints. I then placed a few plants in the center of the table. I used plants I already hand on hand so I didn't have to go shopping, but feel free to use flowers or whatever you like. I added a few votive holders with LED candles in them to light up as it gets darker. Think about adding some citronella candles around your backyard too, to keep the bugs away, just don't place them directly on the food table. No one wants the smell of citronella, while they are trying to enjoy their food!
Because this was a smaller table, I added the napkins and dishes on one end of the table so guests know where to start. The food was easily accessible from both sides of the table, so there is no waiting in line. I used linen napkins with bamboo napkin rings in a basket and placed a few mini terracotta pots with skewer picks on both sides of the table for guests to use.
I like adding different platters and pedestals to serve the food on, because it makes the table visually appealing, but also gives a bit more room to your table to add more dishes. Here, I used a mixture of black, gold and some wood elements, to compliment the colour scheme. I used a cake stand for the crackers and added a vase in the middle of it. I always suggest shopping your home for fun and creative serving pieces before going out and buying new ones. You never know what you have until you look for it!
To end the evening, why not give your guests a fun treat for dessert. Who doesn't love a popsicle in the summertime? Boozy Popsicles are an easy make-ahead treat, and there are so many great combinations you can play around with. I guarantee your guests will love them. These can be made without the alcohol as well, and it might not be a bad idea to have a non-alcoholic option for designated drivers. Here are some delicious ideas:
~PEACH BOURBON
~CITRUS CAMPARI
~PINA COLADA
~WATERMELON MARGARITA
~CUCUMBER, MINT AND GIN
I could go on, but there you have it! Some simple and fun ideas for your next summer party. Oh and one more thing! Don't forget the music; every party needs a good playlist! I hope this post gets you excited about entertaining your friends and family in the great outdoors, and enjoying the summer weather a little bit longer!
Until next time!
~A
PRODUCT INFORMATION:
-scarf from www.ardene.com
-leaf platters from www.walmart.ca
-plates and tea towel from www.chaptersindigo.ca
-plastic stemless wine glasses and small black and gold metal bowls from www.loblaws.ca
-large black and gold bowl, terracotta pots from www.dollarama.com
-skewer picks and mini plastic bottles from www.dollartree.com
-drink pitcher, coloured plastic cups (with straws and stirrers) from www.target.com
-bamboo tray from www.varagesale.com
-mini fake plants, clear votive holders, green vase from www.michaels.com
