Those Lazy, Hazy, Crazy Days of Summer

Throwing a memorable party outdoors is all about the little details. Make your summer sizzle with these seasonal recipes and party planning tips.
By Shannon McLaughlin

It’s summertime and the livin’ is easy—it’s finally time to break out your summer wardrobe and take the top off your grill! Summer is all about backyard adventures, barbecues and late nights on the patio—whether the event is impromptu or planned for weeks, throwing a soirée doesn’t have to leave you too exhausted to make it to your own party.  Feel the heat and get inspired by our great summer entertaining tips:

Outdoor Oasis

Take a little extra time to create the right ambience by transforming your outdoor party into a soirée your guests will never forget. When the sun sets, turn your backyard into a starlit paradise by using lanterns, garden lamps or small white twinkle lights to create a sophisticated atmosphere. For that extra wow factor, place a few floating candles in bowls of water for a centerpiece or in a birdbath to create some unexpected elegance. Cluster colorful paper lanterns to create a summery, romantic feel, both indoors and out. Light them up with LED battery powered lights and string them in your garden to add a beautiful glow to your backyard. Planning something more last minute? Setting the mood with china, crystal or silver votives will provide some sparkle for the table, while citronella candles will help deter unwanted guests.

Let the Good Times Roll

Plan ahead and keep the menu simple, but don’t feel forced to stick with the traditional burgers and dogs. Grilling is a summer staple but if you’re looking to entertain your guests, consider serving a sushi and sake soirée—which is not only healthy and delicious—it’s a light meal perfect for warm weather.

For those who are more traditional, consider a meal that is cooked entirely on the grill—your guests can pitch in and the sense of camaraderie will only add to the fun. When grilling, try to think past the usual barbecue fare and prepare something more innovative and exciting. Try grilled fish from a grilling basket for a stunning presentation, or a butterflied leg of lamb, which is also delicious grilled. Even though you might not be at the beach, try a clam bake. You can do it inside or out, but everyone will love feasting on lobsters and shellfish. Interested in purchasing a new grill but don’t really know where to start? Grates & Grills (www.gratesandgrills.com) in Dublin have been keeping folks warm since 1975, carrying the full line of Weber barbecue, charcoal and gas grills for your outdoor enjoyment. They also carry Fire Magic barbecues, which makes it a whole heck of a lot easier to prepare five-course gourmet meals. For the devoted charcoal aficionados, Grates & Grills stocks various brands and styles for you to choose from, including the Big Green Egg.

Mix things up by serving “family style” at the table or setting up a buffet and letting the host take a breather while the guests serve themselves. Tie place settings of flatware in colorful cotton napkins, using rustic materials such as raffia, to make it easy for everyone to grab a set on their way to their table. From the basic to the obscure, Lahaska’s Cookery Ware Shop (www.cookeryware.com) has everything you could ever need for a summer bash, including gorgeous linens you won’t find anywhere else. Their store, located in Peddler’s Village, has extensive lines of cookware and cutlery, along with a never-ending supply of barware, utensils and table décor that will suit anyone’s party-planning needs.

On days when the temperature rises, nothing is quite as refreshing as ice cold, fruity cocktails, frozen daiquiris, margaritas and pina coladas. Pitchers of sangria chock full of fruit, planters punch or hip and colorful cocktails will help guests beat the heat. Serve a cool sparkling wine, such as Italian Prosecco, to get the evening off to a spectacular start. A nice dry rose wine is a good accompaniment to nearly any summer meal, and guests can make and serve their own cocktails, which is always a fun time.

Another fun addition to any summer party is homemade popsicles. You can mix any fresh juices and pureed fruit to make creative combinations. Think outside the box by creating a Mexican menu and finishing with mango-pineapple or guava-lime ice pops. If you’re planning a 4th of July celebration, try blueberry-lemonade American flag-inspired popsicles.

Celebrate with Style

Decorate with vibrant, sun-drenched colors. A summer table looks great decked out in saturated colors. Try a combination of fuchsia, orange and cherry red, adding vintage tea tins filled with petite clusters of gerbera daisies. Use a festive tablecloth and napkins for your table décor. Foster’s Toys & Party Center (www.fosterstoysandpartycenter.com) in Doylestown carries all the latest party supplies and balloons guaranteed to make your party a hit—from grass skirts and tiki torches to 4th of July décor, they’ve got you covered.

Enjoy the sunshine and take your best tableware outdoors. Celebrate the glory of eating surrounded by nature—use crystal pitchers to serve sangria, silver or china platters for burgers and hot dog and whimsical metal bowls for fresh fruit salad. To make an outdoor party truly elegant, skip the plastic plates and tumblers and break out the goods. China and silver used outdoors is unexpected and makes your guests feel pampered.

Plant bright flowers in hanging planters—allowing them to cascade downwards over your guests. Make sure there is enough seating for all your guests, including children, who will be comfortable sitting on blankets, bean bag chairs and pillows. Perk up last season’s lawn furniture by covering it with decorative cushions and slips; it’s a great way to incorporate new trends with old furniture. Would you rather just treat yourself to some new outdoor furniture? Trenton’s Extension Patio (www.extensionpatio.com) offers a wide selection of upscale patio, garden, pool, porch and deck furniture made to withstand even the harshest climates. They also offer a large selection of patio, garden and market umbrellas, which are great for guests to hide out under during a sweltering heat wave.

The options are endless when it comes to planning a summer soiree, which may sometimes seem a bit overwhelming. Don’t get too caught up in making sure your patio furniture is spotless or worrying about what will happen if an unexpected storm causes your summer shindig to go south—sit back, relax and cross your fingers for a bright, sunshiny day!

Shannon McLaughlin is Bucks & Montgomery Living Magazine’s Editor-in-Chief.