Aah! Summer is here and one of the things that we look forward to during the summer is having friends over to visit. When you are a hockey family, almost every weekend is taken up with practices or games during Fall/Winter and it becomes almost impossible to find time on the weekends to have friends over for a meal or casual entertaining. We like to more than make up for it in the summer by inviting friends over for a BBQ, drinks, munchies or dessert on our deck. After all, isn't having fun with family and friends part of what summer is all about? Here are a few things that I have found that make summer entertaining easy, so you can have more time for relaxing with guests and less time fretting in the kitchen.
1. Set Up A Hostess Station~
Find a small table to set up for things like drinks, snacks, cutlery, straws, napkins and other things that guests might need. This is a lifesaver for any busy host!
2. Use Flowers & Potted Plants For Decor~
Gather some fresh flowers or potted plants and place around your entertaining area. They add colour, smell nice and make things feel special. They are also easy on the budget too as they can be used all summer long.
3. Set Up Cozy Seating Areas~
Bring out as many chairs as you think you will need and add comfy pillows and side tables to hold drinks. If it's later in the evening, candles and lanterns are a nice touch too.
4.Keep Food Simple~
Now is the time to serve easy food like dips and fruit because they are perfect foods for warm weather and they can be made ahead. If you don't enjoy cooking, these types of dishes are also available in any grocery store too!
Here are some of our favourites:
Baked Jalapeno Popper Dip which can also be made on the grill in a heat proof dish or foil pan.
4. Serve A Special Drink~
Serving one special drink for everyone is a much easier choice that trying to offer many choices.
Serve something that both kids and adults will both enjoy....like this Basil Watermelon Lemonade.
5. Do A Quick Tidy~
Summer is a great time for entertaining because guests can be entertained outside.
And keeping guests outside takes the pressure off the hostess to clean the whole house...especially when you've been busy during the week.
A quick tidy of the kitchen and bathrooms is usually all that is needed.
One thing that makes my kitchen so much easier to clean & maintain are my Frigidaire Smudge-Proof ™Technology Fridge & Stove. {This technology is available on all Frigidaire Gallery and Frigidaire Professional® products and works like a charm in making kitchen clean-ups super fast by resisting dirty fingerprints. This technology is so much easier to clean than traditional stainless steel surfaces because Frigidaire uses high grade stainless steel that is coated with layers of polymers, resulting in a sleek, beautiful stainless steel finish that is both durable and resistant to fingerprints.
My fridge and stove clean beautifully with just water and I love that!
When it comes to entertaining, I love keeping things simple! I find that when I am able to plan simple food and drink, along with practical decor and preparation that includes easy cleaning tasks, I enjoy myself and have a lot more fun, with beautiful memories to treasure as well!
Wishing you beautiful summer memories!
Disclosure: I am part of the Frigidaire Canada Ambassador program with Mom Central Canada and I receive special perks as part of my affiliation with this group. The opinions on the blog are my own.
This post is linked to:
Monday Funday, Under The Table & Dreaming,
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