Summer #BBQ Hostess Essentials

Playing hostess to family and friends this year with a big backyard bar-b-que? Here are a few things to make your hostess duties a cinch, and make you look fabulous this summer!

Summer BBQ Hostess by sweetstellas featuring plastic stemless wine glasses

When I think about playing hostess to a summer bbq, I think about making my guests feel at ease and relaxed. After all, it's summer!

Bring out the blankets to sit on the lawn if you have limited table seating, as well as chic plastic or melamine plates and drinkware.

Line the paths with citronella candles to keep bugs at bay {a huge thing for me...they devour me!} and place lanterns along the porch, deck and anywhere that your guests will be sitting.

Pick up a cute condiment tray like this one from Williams Sonoma. I always cringe when I have to put out the bottles and jars from the fridge and wish they could look a little prettier...so this caddy is perfect!

And what will you wear?? Well a pretty sundress and wedge heels are perfect. It's summery but not too fancy, girly yet laid back.

Above all, have fun! Bring out the washer toss games and bean bags, water sprinklers for the kids, and sparklers for night time!

Summer Recipe Roundup #recipe #food

Invited to a summer fete and not sure what to bring? Potlucks are awesome when you are a hostess {so long as people sign up for a certain type of dish in advance! There's nothing worse than not knowing what people are bringing and thinking great...9 bags of chips!} but when you are a guest, they can be overwhelming.

Clearly, you want to bring something delicious, but at the same time you probably don't want to spend a great deal of time or expense on your dish.

On the list to bring chips and dip? Up your game with this awesome Queso Blanco recipe from A Grande Life. Spicy and smooth, you won't regret taking this dip to the next potluck that you're invited to. Also...there are three steps to the recipe! Quick and easy!

Summer desserts can be a challenge with the soaring temperatures. Terrell Family Fun has a great recipe for pink lemonade cookies; a great flavor for summer, but used in an unexpected way!

The salad category on a potluck list can get a little boring. Greek, house and Cesar are the standards, but what about trying something new and equally yummy like this broccoli salad from Building Our Story?

And you can even trick your hostess into featuring healthy dishes at the potluck with these monster meatballs, recipe by me! Lean beef and oatmeal come together to create a healthier meatball, and you can certainly add in shredded vegetables for more flavor, texture and nutrients.

My favorite appetizer for a crowd is baked brie. It is one of those things that you can throw together really quickly, but is also really impressive in its presentation. This apple brown sugar baked brie that I created for Manilla is still a family favorite appetizer.

No matter what dish you signed up for, get creative!! Ditch the bag of chips and have fun!

Sweet Summer Cocktail, found on Pinterest

Still along the summer entertaining theme, do you have your bar ready for guests and bbq's? I mean more than a cooler of beer...something to really stand out for your guests and make them want to come back?

Source

I love this idea for a summer bbq! Mimosa's are super popular, and you can make them even more festive for the summer by using sorbet instead of fruit juice.

Orange sherbert
Lime Sorbet
Mango Sorbet

The possibilities are endless and you could even set up a DIY bar! Instead of filling your cooler with ice and beer, fill it with ice and sorbet tubs! Just add champagne {which is always a good idea!}

Beach Babe #raw #vegan #juice #recipe

After a few weeks of creating juices wit the same bases, it was time to branch out. I wanted to create a yummy summer juice recipe that would be awesome in cocktails, as well as delicious on its own.

2 apples
handful strawberries (rinsed and tops removed)
1 tangelo (rind removed, white pith left on)

Never heard of a tangelo? Neither had I but when I saw them in the citrus area of the produce section at the grocery store, I thought...when in Rome!

I juiced everything in the order listed above, no fancy this then that, then more of this and end with this. Straight forward and simple, this juice is sure to delight your tastebuds.

So...what's a tangelo? Well, upon doing some research it is a hybrid citrus fruit that is a cross between a tangerine and a grapefruit, which explains for the rich coral color of this yummy juice recipe.

Nutrient wise, you will be getting loads of antioxidants, fiber, vitamin C. You will also be getting potassium, vitamin A, and even some calcium!

Juice up a BIG batch (this recipe makes about 6-8oz) if you're throwing a backyard bash this summer, and set it out with lemonade, tonic water, vodka and rum to create the perfect juice bar! This recipe would also be excellent for mimosa's on the morning of a summer wedding!