A Summer Party Menu

When I plan a party, I always start with the food. I love what seasoned entertainer and cookbook author Amy Thielen recently wrote in Saveur:

"Fixate all your obsessions on the food, and let the rest of the details slide."

Amen! If you have plenty of great food being eaten by great friends, everyone will have a wonderful time, even if you stink at making tissue paper balls and icing cupcakes in perfect swirls (like me). I like food that isn’t too precious or fussy—food is enough on its own; it doesn’t need to be color-coordinated to your party theme.

I recently had the chance to throw a baby shower for a dear friend. After lots of browsing food blogs and flipping through cooking magazines, I decided on a menu that could be made mostly ahead and took advantage of all the delicious produce available this time of year. These dishes work great together, or you can choose just one or two as an easy summer dinner.

Israeli Couscous with Vegetables
This is one of my favorite summer dishes. It keeps very well in the fridge, so make a big batch and enjoy for lunches or dinners. It’s a delicious side for any grilled meat. Get the recipe.

Grilled Peaches with Shallot Vinaigrette
I make this simple salad all summer long. The prep is minimal and since it doesn’t require turning on the oven, it’s just the thing on hot days. Add a little goat cheese to make it more substantial. Get the recipe.

Watermelon and Cantaloupe with Mint
The mark of a made-for-summer recipe is when the ingredients can be counted on one hand. The directions are just as simple as the ingredients for this refreshing salad: cut up a watermelon, cut up a cantaloupe, sprinkle with chopped mint, and a squeeze of lime juice if you’re feeling ambitious.

Grilled Bread with Avocado
I love serving grilled bread at parties because it’s an economical and simple way to feed a crowd. Like everyone else in the country, I’m a big fan of topping said bread with smashed avocadoes, but anything (or nothing) goes great with smoky, salty, olive oily bread (sliced tomatoes, herbed ricotta, roasted garlic, etc.). Get the recipe.

DIY Strawberry Shortcakes
Strawberry shortcakes are a nice change from ubiquitous cupcakes (as wonderful as they are). Plus, they’re much easier. Make some biscuits (recipe here; increase the sugar by a tablespoon), add a few spoonfuls of sugar to a bunch of cut strawberries, and whip a little cream (I add 2 tablespoons of sugar per cup of cream).

Pink Lemonade Shortbread Cookies
How cute are these? The glaze is dyed pink with a single raspberry, which also lends a delicate flavor. Get the recipe.