Summer Entertaining Archives

Summer Entertaining: Party Pitfalls

July 2, 2015July 2, 2015 Rachel Sherwood

(Summer picnic plate)

Happy 4^th of July! With all the celebrating and gathering of people this weekend there is much fun and food to be shared. Don’t let one of these most common summer party pitfalls ruin your day.

Congested Areas:

People tend to gather where there is food, beverage, or an activity. When these are put near each other people tend to settle in and not move making it hard to get around and access items. To keep people moving and mingling separate your food, beverage and activity areas.

Bugged by Bugs:

Don’t let the bugs control the party. Keep trashcans covered and away from main food and gathering areas. Put a half open can of soda pop away from the party to attract bugs to a different location. Also, provide a few cans of bug spray so guests can help themselves if needed.

Trashy Tables:

Make it easy for guests to help clean up by having covered trashcans that are easy to access. Also, double line cans with an extra bag making it easy for quick trash removal and extra protection if soothing gets too heavy or breaks.

Wasted or Spoiled Food:

No one likes tossing out “good food” but holing on the leftovers after an outdoor gathering is risky. You never know exactly how long it has been sitting out or what may have gotten into it making it a potential breeding ground for bacteria. To avoid potentially hazardous foods and wasting them serve items in small batches and refill, as needed keeping the food cool and clean. For safety keep food out of direct sunlight. As a general rule perishable food should not be left out for more than 2 hours; cold food should be kept below 40 degrees and hot food above 140 degrees out of the Temperature Danger Zone.

Too Much Sun:

The summer sun can be fun, but too much of a good thing can have your guests miserable. Make sure there is ample shade for guests to sit in, be creative with trees, tents, and umbrellas to fit your needs. If there is not much option for shade think about hosting the party earlier or later in the day to avoid mid-day heat. Provide a basket with sunscreen so guests can help themselves if needed. For really hot days make sure you also have plenty of regular water and maybe consider passing out a few paper fans.

(summer garden party)

Interested in more on Summer Party Success? Check out these articles.

Easy Summer Entertaining, Quinoa Salad

June 18, 2015June 18, 2015 Rachel Sherwood

It is full swing summer entertaining time. The thing I love most about easy summer entertaining is that is it so casual. A nice evening on the deck with a few snacks, drinks and friends makes a perfect evening of fun and conversation.

(family dinner for 4 turned to 15 in just a few hours)

This week my mother and father in law came to visit, as well as my cousin from France was visiting with her family, and a few more friends from Philadelphia were in town. With so many people, schedules and things to do I just put out an open invitation to call before you come but stop by anytime. You may wonder how I handle the potential of having a group of 4-10 extra people just stop by anytime and not stress out about it. The key is to have a well-stocked pantry and a few pre-made batch items ready to go. Whenever I have houseguests, I plan a few meals but also have on hand 2-3 premade bulk items that can serves as salads, side dishes and quick meals at anytime. Try out this healthy favorite using quinoa for your next gathering.

Sweet Quinoa Salad with Creamy Balsamic Dressing

1 cup quinoa, cooked to package directions
1 medium red pepper small diced, about 1 cup
1 medium sweet red apple, (anything but Washington would be fine) small diced, about 1 cup
½ cup raisins
1 bunch Italian parsley finely chopped
1 head romaine lettuce, cleaned and chopped, optional

Dressing:

2 tablespoons apple cider or white wine vinegar
1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
6 tablespoons plain yogurt
1 teaspoon honey, optional
salt and pepper to taste

(note, if you don’t have yogurt on hand or want a dairy-free version use sour cream or olive oil in place of the yogurt.)

Mix all dressing items together in a large bowl. Add the warm cooked quinoa and mix until coated. Add the diced red pepper, apple, raisins and parsley. Mix well, cover and refrigerate.

Sweet Quinoa Salad with Creamy Balsamic Dressing over Romaine

Serve as is or spoon over fresh romaine lettuce and drizzle with extra dressing or balsamic vinegar.

Want more like this? Try one of these other favorites.

Peanut Pasta Salad
Thai Peanut Pasta Salad
Penne Pasta Toss
Looking for more summer entertaining resources? Check out the Summer Entertaining Series here.

What you need to know before you host a summer party

June 26, 2014August 18, 2014 Rachel Sherwood

The Summer Solstice was just last week. That’s right the longest day of the year has passed and days are slowly getting shorter. Don’t miss any more of the sunlight – use it to your advantage, get out and enjoy it! To kick off the rest of the summer here is your guide to Summer Entertaining devoted to making it easier to enjoy the ones you love and the sun.

Summer Entertaining Series

The things you need to know to ensure summer fun for all

#1 Food: easy, delicious and safe, read this before dishing up
#2 Relaxing Refreshments, don’t break a sweat keeping hydrated
#3 Easy Breezy, decorate with casual summer style for less
#4 Keep Your Cool, comfort is everything
#5 Party in an Instant, have these on hand to welcome guests at any time

Week #1 Food, easy, delicious and safe? Read this before dishing up

There are few things better than a BBQ with friends in the summer. Don’t let the heat spoil your party. Here is what you need to keep serving up good times.

Keep it clean: Avoid cross contamination by always using clean cutting boards, platters and utensils when handling raw and cooked items.
Keep it cool: When transporting food keep beverages and perishable food items in separate coolers. Keep ice on top of food not just on the bottom for the best chill.
Keep it small: To avoid tossing out extra food serve sides in smaller bowls and replenish often.
Keep it shaded: Never set out food in direct sunlight. Pull your table under the shade of a tree, use a large umbrella, tent or keep your food table in a garage or under a pavilion.
Keep time: As a general rule, never eat cooked meat or dairy products that have been out of refrigerator for more than two hours. This also applies to condiments like mayonnaise. Never leave raw meat out for any period of time and remember, “When in doubt toss it out”

Need a side? Check out these party favorites to accompany any grill out.

Fresh Tomato and Bean Salsa

Penne Pasta Toss

German Potato Salad

Thai Peanut Pasta Salad

Pick up your copy of The Pretty Plate for more simple techniques and recipes, and learn about the five elements to make your everyday meals magnificent.