by Nidhi Punyarthi

It is late summer, which means that the weather outdoors is pretty much perfect. This is the ideal opportunity to spend time with family and friends enjoying warm breezes and delicious fresh food. You still have time to make this a possibility... by throwing an inexpensive and easy-to-plan garden party! Check out these tips to throw a hassle-free garden party your guests will love.

The Place

When organizing the location, think of space to move around, reach food and socialize. If you are taking your party to the backyard, make sure there is shade for your guests and the food. No overhanging tree branches to sit under? Invest in a large table umbrella: you’ll wonder how you survived the summers without it! Remember to run the lawnmower around the day before your party so the blades of grass won’t scrape at your guests’ ankles.

You can host a garden party anywhere: it doesn’t always have to be in a “garden”. If your living room is more suitable than your lawn or if you live in an apartment, simply open the windows or doors for the sights, sounds and airs of summer. Bring in a few potted plants or simple seasonal cut flowers for an outdoorsy decor.

The Taste

There are no hard and fast rules about the types of foods that you can serve at a garden party. Ideally, the garden party menu should reflect seasonal foods and produce. Consult your favourite seasonal cookbook for delicious healthy recipes. Summer is the best time to enjoy the wholesomeness of berries and greens (especially spinach, broccoli and green beans).

Keep the food preparation simple and aim for a light, healthy cuisine. Plan for five dishes for variety excluding drinks and desserts, but avoid large servings of meat as it attracts insects more easily. The 15-Minute Vegetarian has many unique and easy-to-prepare recipes based mostly on raw ingredients.

Some simple and colourful salad dishes that are sure to please:
*roasted red bell peppers in spicy marinade
*baby spinach salad with raspberries and raspberry vinaigrette (add crumbled feta cheese for an extra pop of flavour)
*minced carrot salad with lemon juice and cilantro
*cucumber slices with tzatziki dip

Once you have your salads figured out, you can easily add variety to the menu: *toss canned chickpeas, diced zucchini and your favorite salsa in a skillet for a crunchy treat
*prepare soft tortilla wraps with cream cheese, deli meat slices, and finely chopped peppers (slice the rolls and secure them with toothpicks)
*add pesto sauce and peas or sautéed mixed vegetables to cooked wild rice
*Pasta dishes made with fusilli or rotini are best for scooping onto plates

Complement your summery menu with seasonal drink and dessert options:

Photo creds: Randy Mayor, RestaurantsInOslo

*Iced tea, fresh fruit punch, fresh-squeezed lemonade and Sangría
*fruit compotes, nanaimo bars, and tropical sorbets

Special Considerations

Insect control is key to enjoying your garden party, and you can take simple steps to reduce your worries and protect your food. Saran-wrap your dishes until your guests are ready to eat, or pick up a few transparent plastic covers from the dollar store to ensure the freshness of your food throughout the party. Leave enough space on tables so that guests can maneuver with the covers and their plates.

The Waste

Make cleaning ten times easier by setting a plastic tablecloth and keep a roll of paper towels handy to deal with spills. Make sure that guests can see the garbage bin for used plates and glasses. If you’re not using disposable utensils, designate a tub/tray to collect them.

Enjoy these last lazy days of summer! Have any sure-fire tips to share?

Nidhi is a ChickAdvisor member and writer. She is completing her law degree at the University of Ottawa. When she is not doing her homework, she loves to research health, beauty and fashion, do yoga, and of course, shop.