I love summer entertaining.
Eating outdoors, long evenings, no school, and the laid back attitude that accompanies summer entertaining totally suits me.
Summer cooking is my favorite and I always look forward to the bounty of produce that shows up this time of year.
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Cocktails and cool drinks infused with fresh herbs or seasonal fruits. I love the cute patterned cupcake liner turned upside down with a hole punched in it for the straw….figures it is a Martha Stewart idea.
Rose and Whites.
I have some go to recipes that have been in my summertime rotation for years.
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This first recipe always make people question my sanity.
The dish is called Indiana Blueberry Pork. Blueberries, onions, tomato and pork. Huh?
I swear it’s delicious and I have only heard raves about the dish.
I got it from an old issue of Midwest Living and I love that the recipe was taken from the Marshall, Indiana Blueberry Festival.
I loved Amanda Hesser’s, “Cooking for Mr. Latte”. I was dating and falling in love with Adam around the time the book came out so I related to many of the stories. One recipe from the book that I go back to over and over is her Green Bean Succotash Recipe.
For summer desserts I am a Strawberry Shortcake gal. I love it when it is made with a scone like biscuit and globs of fresh whipped cream and berries.
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I like to send people off with a little gift when I entertain. An idea I’ve used on a number of occasions is to give each guest a little flower-pot with their name on a place card stuck into the pot with a flower card holder (you can get at your local floral supply company or florist) or plant marker. An all-purpose item…place card/table decor/and parting gift. And it’s green too.
And if you are a guest at a dinner party, here’s a great hostess gift. I am stealing this for sure!
Outdoor lantern, cocktail fixings, adorable straw & napkins.
What are your summer entertaining ideas? Please share!
xoxo Carrie
Top Photo: Peter Dunham/Hollywood At Home