Entertaining poolside is always enjoyable, but there is a special appreciation for the quiet conversation with good friends and great wine.
Few things are more intimate than a warm summer evening gathered around your pool with the perfect balance of friends and food. Backyard entertaining can be simple and elegant. But you don't have to stress over the preparations. Remember, you should be able to enjoy the evening as well. Here are a few tips to make your backyard entertaining extra special.
Adding some white linen to your everyday decor adds elegance without a lot of fuss.
Cover a few tables with white pressed linen tablecloths. Add some tall vases with limes or pears for added greenery and place a candle in each for subdued lighting.
Melamine is back in fashion with colours to match any decor, but white is always a winner. Let your food be the inspiration for the infusion of summer fresh yellows, vibrant reds and luscious pinks. And if you plan your menu right, cutlery is unnecessary.
Fruit, always in season and ready to serve.
Watermelon and apple, pear or melon cut into rectangles sprinkled with sweet toasted coconut and chopped pistachios and drizzled with a really good balsamic vinegar blended with a bit of honey make for a very tasty and elegant fruit salad that you can eat without a fork.
A shot of red velvet
Cupcakes - easy to make and everyone loves them. Here is an elegant twist that makes guests think you had a private caterer. Use a red velvet cake mix and bake the cake on 2 deep sided cookie sheets so it doesn’t over flow and that the final baked layer is about 1 inch thick. It will bake faster, about half the time, so toothpick tests it often. Once cooled remove from pan onto parchment paper and put a layer of frosting over the entire surface of one. Trim the second layer so its even thickness and place the second cake layer, bottom side up, on top of the frosting. Take s shot glass size cutter and cut your cake into individual servings, add small dot of frosting to the top to complete your dessert. Serve on a paper doily for bite size elegance; add shaved chocolate on top for added brilliance.
Water cooler chicken
You can never go wrong with chicken being a party favorite and it's an easy dish to make but it can be cumbersome to eat on a stick. Prepare your favorite chicken dish, just cut into cubes rather than long strips and serve it in paper water cooler cups for easy finger food.
Meatloaf has never been more sophisticated
Using a pound of extra lean ground pork and a box of stove top stuffing, rolled to a fine crumb, mix together and add finely chopped baby spinach. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 -40 minutes in a shallow pan with meatloaf no deeper than 2 inch depth. Cut in 1 inch round shapes with a cookie cutter and served on a bed of baby spinach leaf with a slice of cherry tomato. Arrange on white platter and sprinkle with fresh basil for colour and aroma.
Don't forget the simplicity of a cutting board. Use it as your serving platter for cheese, vegetables and cured meats. It will look great and keep you moving among guests.
NOJITO - REFRESHING & ALCOHOL - FREE
- 20-30 fresh mint leaves
- 2 lemons
- 2 tbsp. sugar
- 400 ml of Sprite/Soda (if using Soda, double the amount of sugar)
- Chop up the fresh mint leaves.
- Slice the lemons down into thin wedges, removing all the seeds.
- Drop the mint leaves and wedges into a jar/glass.
- Add the sugar.
- Using a spoon/muddler, mash up everything.
- Ensure if everything is combined.
- Pour in the Sprite/soda.
- Pour yourself a glass and enjoy!
