With the weather warming up and promises of a hot summer on the way I say ‘get out of the kitchen!’ Nothing beats cooking on the grill and dining Al fresco style in the backyard. I always have a few favorite recipes that I can whip up on a whim as long as I keep some staples in the fridge and know what to shop for in a hurry.
Chips and salsa are a summer staple. I also try to keep avocados and lemons on hand to whip up guacamole in a hurry. I keep frozen hamburgers and chicken burgers in the fridge at all times and always have fresh tomatoes, cucumbers and varieties of pickles, hot peppers and onions available to add spice to easy burgers. Keep the pantry stocked with juices and the fruit bowl filled with oranges, limes and pineapple so that whipping up a refreshing sangria or fruit punch will require little effort. I also keep an assortment of teas on hand and can make a tasty iced tea with ease; make sure to keep plenty of ice in the freezer.
Dedicate a cupboard to outdoor dining. In my storage area you’ll find a full set of elegant plastic dishes, well, maybe not elegant but certainly dressier than paper plates and a lot more environmentally friendly too! I have several sizes of whicker baskets to hold napkins, buns, and cutlery. A tin ice bucket, citronella candles, hurricane lamps and a plastic table cloth are readily available so that when the weather calls for heat we can easily entertain outdoors.
Decorating the outdoors for a backyard party requires little effort thanks to Mother Nature. Planning ahead, with the planting of perennials, planned to bloom throughout the season makes a stunning backdrop for any outdoor affair. No garden, no problem head for the grocery store and pick up ceramic pots and pre-planted gardens that will last all summer long. Don’t forget lighting, which can be as simple as candle glow or as elaborate as patio lanterns.
Keep in mind that weather plays a crucial role in outdoor entertaining so be sure to have a back-up plan with either a rain date set aside or a moveable feast easily transported indoors.
