Outdoor Entertaining Made Easy
Late summer is the perfect time to
entertain outdoors -- the weather is warm, but
not stifling, daylight lasts well into nighttime
hours, and gardens are in bloom for a beautiful
backdrop. Using your yard to entertain gives you
more space to throw an exciting and memorable
party.
“I love to entertain, but I
also know how intimidating it can be for a
host,” says Karen Duffy, spokesperson for
Authentic Cuervo Margaritas and author of “A
Slob in the Kitchen,” a cookbook recently
released. “One of the most important things
to remember is that your friends are coming over
to spend time with you, so having the time to
enjoy their company is a priority. I like to keep
things creative, but simple, so I have the time
to appreciate my own party.”
Duffy offers these tips for hosting
an outdoor party.
Participatory Meals
Minimal hostess involvement, maximum
guest enjoyment, and a main-course summer salad
make for a lovely party. Consider laying out
chopped salads, grilled vegetables, grated
cheese, marinated tomatoes, various herbed oils
-- things that can be made well in advance
affording you more time to spend with your
guests. Serve an olive oil foccacia bread from
the grill and let your guests slather, sprinkle
and top their own meal.
Keep Your Salads Fresh
Hot nights are death to crisp green
things. To keep a salad fresh, nest the bowl in
another bowl of well-salted ice and toss the
salad occasionally to keep it cool.
Setting the Table
Centerpieces can liven up any table
-- there are so many flowers, vivid greens, even
herbs this time of year. Use buckets or pails and
fill them with a wild array. Put stones in the
bottom of the pail to prevent them from tipping
over in the wind.
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