It鈥檚 the start of a holiday weekend. What you want to do most is kick back, relax, see some friends and enjoy summer. But you don鈥檛 want to cook and invite people over because it all totally stresses you out. Sound familiar?
OK, stop. Let鈥檚 be honest. You can do this. You really can. I鈥檓 going to take you through some basics of easy summer entertaining and help you get into the right mindset to stop all the worry.
Stress is a curse. I even wrote a book on this very subject. Many thought the title was a joke, but I meant it wholeheartedly. 鈥�鈥� is a book filled with tips and recipes that help you remember what it feels like to entertain without stress.
Let鈥檚 go through some of the most common stressors, point by point.
鈥業鈥檓 not a great cook!鈥�
OK, no problem. You don鈥檛 have to razzle-dazzle everyone. What you need to do is pick a truly simple menu where most (if not all) of the work is done ahead of time. Everyone wants to hang out, share some food and something cold to drink. No one is looking for a five-star restaurant experience. Turn on the grill. Make a salad. Buy some perfectly fresh, luscious berries and serve them with whipped cream or cr猫me fraiche. No complicated dishes!
Remember, simple is best.
Entertaining is about people sitting around a table sharing food and drink. It鈥檚 one of the most straightforward things possible; don鈥檛 overthink. Yes, I know I鈥檓 a professional who develops recipes and writes cookbooks and teaches cooking and food writing, but what I鈥檝e learned is simple is best. The best gatherings are the ones where the cook is present with their guests rather than fretting about in the kitchen sweating about presenting the 鈥減erfect meal.鈥� Perfect is not your friend. It has no place in your kitchen. Go for fun.
鈥業鈥檓 always so busy in the kitchen, I don鈥檛 have time to hang out with my friends when they get here.鈥�
Great observation. The reason you want to choose a menu that is made (and prepped) ahead of time is so you can be present when your guests arrive.
鈥�I feel like my house is a mess and I don鈥檛 have time to clean everything.鈥�
Breathe. Now breathe again. You don鈥檛 have to have a spotless house. Clean off the table. Or pull a table or blanket outdoors and spread a tablecloth. Use mismatched real napkins. Use whatever plates you like. Use (recyclable) paper products if it feels easier. Again, simplicity is the key. Forget about perfectionism. The reason all those food magazines make everything look so good (and let鈥檚 not even get started on Martha and Ina鈥檚 tables on their TV shows) is because they have a staff of many. You do not need to have a staff to make a nice table and a nice meal.
Ask for help. There鈥檚 no shame!
Back to my previous point. You don鈥檛 have a staff at your disposal. So when you call a good friend and invite them over and they reply, 鈥楥an I bring something?,鈥� don鈥檛 hesitate to say, 鈥淵es, please!鈥� If they鈥檙e not a cook, ask them to bring a bottle of wine, lemonade, or a good crusty bread from a local bakery. If they love baking, ask for dessert. If they have a garden or live near a wonderful farmer鈥檚 market, ask for a salad or side dish. Or simply ask for a hand once everyone arrives and has a cold drink. Put everyone to work, whether it鈥檚 snipping the ends off green beans, stringing peas, or chopping tomatoes for the salsa or watching over the grill. A fun, relaxed group party is one where everyone feels part of things.
鈥業 don鈥檛 have time to go to a million specialty shops.鈥�
Shop somewhere that inspires you. This time of year, I rely heavily on farmers鈥� markets and local farm stands for the best, freshest produce and fruit. If you see something that inspires you, you will be excited to cook it.
Summer is the easiest season.
Summer menus are, quite honestly, the easiest to put together. These summer months, we are gifted with locally grown fruit, vegetables, berries, and edible flowers. Rely on a few good seasonal ingredients to make your meal special. Even if you鈥檙e grilling burgers and sausages, you can have the best tomatoes to slice and serve, beautiful farm-fresh onions to grill, or make a simple potato salad with the season鈥檚 first new potatoes. For dessert, serve cobbler or citrus and berry pie.
Recipe ideas:
- How about a as a main course? Add crusty bread, cheeses, and salamis.
- ? Who would say no?
- Easiest summer entertaining? Fish, meat, poultry. Sure!
- Try a new dish.
- How about a pizza party? You can even !
- And although summer is just beginning, some ideas for !
- Cold Soup? Gazpacho? Tomato salad. !
- Sandwiches? Yes, when they have a .
- Use fresh for dessert or salad.
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