Summer Entertaining Series Archives

Making the best Memories

August 1, 2014August 18, 2014 Rachel Sherwood

After all the planning, the food is eaten and guests say their good byes. At this point, all that is left are the memories. Those moments that you will never forget, the stories that you will share time and time again those moments are the memories that make our lives richer and keep the festivities living on.

So how do you create the best memories? How do you get people to talk well about the parties you host? It’s simple to make them feel welcome, special and have something unique.

Do your best to plan ahead. Create a party friendly menu or hire help so that you can have time to greet guests, make a few introductions and thank them for attending. As a host you will most likely know most of the guests attending so it is easy to be pulled in many directions. Make a point to have the focus on just your guests at the beginning and end of the event. All the food and beverages should be set just before they arrive so that you can welcome guests and then slip away for simple refills throughout the party.

Choose one thing to create a “wow factor”. Think about your guests and the experience you want to create for them. As they leave your event, what is it that you want them to say of their experience? What is it you want to be remembered for? What are those best memories you want to leave them with? Whatever that is, create a “wow factor” around it. Not everything has to be over-the-top and perfect. To be honest, some of the best memories usually come from things that go wrong.

Pick one thing to completely excel at. No one will remember if they drank out of plastic cups or normal glassware, but they will remember if you had custom crystal glasses. They may not remember the food but they will remember the perfect popovers or a unique sushi-making party. Simple candles are great decorations, but you could make a grand impression with beautiful, fresh flowers and stunning centerpieces. Or send them home with unique personal favors.

Pick one thing and do it very well, normal is normal, so think outside the box and do something uniquely you. It will long be remembered.

I truly hope you enjoyed the Summer Entertaining series with all the tips and entertaining secrets to get your next summer bash off to the great start. May every party you host, simple, grand and everything in between, be one that adds love, laughter and lasting memories to your life.

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

One last tip: Keep a camera close by and use it often, ask a friend, or hire a photographer to capture the moments. Smiling faces make it easy to remember why we get together. I never regret taking too many photos and capturing the best memories of a lifetime.

Leave a comment! What’s your favorite party memory?

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.

Party in an Instant, Pantry Essentials for Easy Entertaining

July 25, 2014August 18, 2014 Rachel Sherwood

Having a well-stocked pantry means you can have a party in an instant. The summer is always a special time for casual gatherings. In addition to my everyday pantry I like to keep a few of these special summer treats ready for an impromptu get together. It is easy to have confidence in the kitchen when you know you already have what you need on hand to make quick, easy, delicious meals at home.

Quick Breads: Banana bread in the beginning of summer and zucchini bread for the summer-end and into fall are perfect for a simple breakfast or snack on the go with fresh fruits and yogurt. You can make multiple loaves one for now and one to keep frozen for when you need it later.

Cheese: Cheese is wonderful for simple grilled cheese sandwiches, addition to green or pasta salads, simple snacks or my favorite for entertaining cheese plates. Cheese plates are the best, no-cooking-required entertaining appetizer, first course or dessert. Get your Cheese Wheel Paring Guide to easily choose delicious pairing combinations.

Out of Hand Snacks: For on-the-go snacks or putting together a simple elegant cheese place for appetizers keep a variety of cheese, smoked sausages, crackers or chips nuts and dried fruits available.

Pizza Dough: You can get this already prepared, in 5-min mixes or make your own. Pizza dough is so versatile! Use it for pizza with any topping or as flatbread with dips and spreads. In the summer I love to grill it and keep all the heat outdoors.

Citrus: lemons, limes, oranges add flavor and freshness to water, make lemonade and easily mix up a batch of lemon curd for dessert or breakfast.

Canned Beans: Beans are great to have at any time of the year to quickly mix up a bean dip like hummus or a spicy black bean dip for appetizers or a side dish. They are also a quickly prepared and inexpensive protein source to mix in with fresh vegetables for salads, tacos, quesadillas, or salsa.

Fruit: especially melons like watermelon, cantaloupe and honeydew. These are great for breakfast with yogurt and granola, snacks, side dishes and even dessert with a little ice cream. Melons in the summer are sweet and large, which makes them perfect for many people to share.

Something Special: Everyone loves a little sweet in the summer and if you have a campfire s’mores are a must have. I like to keep the fixings sealed in mason jars to have a party in an instant. This is a nice approach for a DIY snack. The jars keep ingredients fresh, clean and easy to handle and they are quite darling if you want to wrap with scraps of fabric or ribbon to match a theme.

Other freezer treats: like Ice Cream or Popsicles for children, and a batch of Brandy Smash for the adults are sure to please a summer crowd.

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.

Easy Breezy, decorate with casual summer style for less

July 11, 2014August 18, 2014 Rachel Sherwood

After you invite guests and plan the meal, it is all about creating a mood. The mood is the underlying tone of a party that ties everything together. It is the little elements of decoration, colors, centerpieces, flowers, lighting and sound that all play into the overall feel of the party. Here is how to pull off a unique and elegant look without breaking the bank.

Serving Items: When it comes to outdoor events I like to use high quality disposable products. There are nice ones on the market now that are durable and made of recyclable and compostable products so you don’t have to feel so bad about tossing them away. Don’t go the inexpensive rout here: higher quality dishes means more durable, so less chance of spills, cracking and guests dropping a plate of food. Acrylic dishes are also nice as they are strong, reusable and you don’t have to worry about them breaking but you do need to wash them.

Napkins: Add color with napkins: use paper, assorted cloth or craft bandanas that you can usually find for $1. When purchasing napkins look for ones with solid colors or non-decrepit designs that can be easily mixed and matched and used for multiple events, avoid ones with writing like “Happy Birthday” or “Welcome Baby”.

Centerpieces: Use your recycling for vases, glass bottles or jars from things such as wine, juice, and salsa to make perfect vases or candle-holders with the labels removed. Cans from soup or vegetables can be painted or covered with cloth and filled with flowers or potted plants. Think outside the box for centerpieces, flowers are great but also fruit, candy, rocks, even branches put in a vase can be an interesting decorative centerpiece.

Speaking of flowers: look around your garden; pick wild flowers even some weeds can be quite lovely in a garden setting. Split a grocery store bouquet of daisies into multiple small vases – you will be surprised how far one bunch of flowers can get you! Or try the “less is more” approach of just floating one larger bud like a mum, sunflower, Gerber daisy or a rose.

Table Coverings: don’t all have to match. Use what you have, pick up plastic ones if you want particular colors, shop thrift stores and get creative with multiple fabrics, burlap is really popular lately and inexpensive lace from a fabric store can add a simple upscale look. You can also let colored napkins to sit under centerpieces for an extra splash of color or incorporate a few mixed table runners made of cut fabric for interest.

Outdoor lighting can often do double duty to help keep the bugs away as well. Citronella candles and garden torches lining the premise of your party add a nice glow and keep away the bugs; be cautious of using citronella around food as the sent can be strong and overpower food. Break out the Christmas lights and string a few strands on a nearby tree or bushes. As the sun goes down these will keep the mood fun.

Finish it up by streaming in or creating a mixed playlist of some soft music that fits the theme or mood of the event and you are ready to party in style! What is your favorite way to add interest to your party space?

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.

Get Out and Celebrate! Summer Entertaining Series

July 1, 2014August 18, 2014 Rachel Sherwood

Happy 4^th of July! How are you celebrating your Independence Day? With an outdoor party, or maybe even a parade by chance? This is the holiday of all American holidays to be outside, enjoy the weather, your family, friends, food and fireworks! I wish you and your family the very best.

I hope that last week’s guide to serving up good food outdoor and keeping it safe helped prepare for this weekend. Now that you have the food handled week 2 is all about beverages. Enjoy!

To kick off the rest of summer here is your guide to Summer Entertaining devoted to making it easier to enjoy the ones you love and the sun.

Get Out and Celebrate! Summer Entertaining Series

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

Did you miss something? Here is what you let slip and what is left to come, Don’t miss out on the fun you could be having.

#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

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.

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

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.