Stylish Summer Entertaining.. Be Creative But Keep It Simple!
Sunday, June 26, 2011 at 01:07PM Our friend Yvonne with Stone Gable is hosting a link party, ... On The Menu Monday. Bloggers from all over the country will link up and share menus, party tips and entertaining ideas...anything menu related. We decided to join in on the fun...
We're sharing tips and recipes for Stylish Summer Entertaining ...
Entertaining is made simpler this time of year because beautiful fresh flowers and plants are just outside the door...
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Clip sprigs of lavender for glasses filled with ice water or fresh lemonade ...
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Fresh mint for flavorful iced tea.
Fresh herbs for recipes and garnish...
Fresh cut hydrangeas make a simple but beautiful centerpiece...
Love beautiful white dishes. I have two different patterns... perfectly plain for every day and casual entertaining...
As well as dressier scalloped edge plates from Anthropology...
Plain or fancy...it makes no difference. The real wow is in simple details that make a big impact...
It may be a pretty cloth or candles...
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A pair of runners across the table rather than a single placed the length of the table...These are just flour sack towels...but fabulous!
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Add collections to your table...these blue and white vases filled with tulips are stunning...
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How about clear jars lining the table with just single blooms from your garden?...
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How about a single line of lanterns?...
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This is fabulous due to repetition of the same yellow flower...From centerpiece to beverage to salad...
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Add pots of herbs, bulbs or succulents from your patio...
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Does it get any simpler than this?...yet, how beautiful?
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You're getting it ...
1.Take your queues from nature and create center pieces and garnish for your dishes from your own back yard...
2.Begin with a basic, like plain white dishes and add fun splashes of color or a particular theme with collected colorful plates, personal collections and even vintage finds...
3.An assortment of beautiful napkins is always great to have on hand , but you can never go wrong with a classic white linen...
Now For The Food...
I have to tell you that I'd much rather set the stage than prepare the food. It's hot outside so we'll keep it light and simple...
A simple Summer dinner for a few close friends...
Beverages:
Watermelon Cooler
or
Sangria Bianca
Appetizer:
Assorted cheeses, crackers and fruit...
For The Salad...
Vertical Pear Salad
You will not believe how easy this is...impressive looking , huh?
The Entree:
Grilled Balsamic-Garlic Crusted Pork Tenderloin
Pennette w/ Zucchini, Ricotta, Salata and Fresh Herbs
and finally dessert...
Chocolate Decadent Brownies
There are sooo many fabulous ideas out there. The possibilities are endless. We'd love to hear some of your entertaining tips and favorite recipes...
It's your turn. Let's talk.
A big thank-you to Yvonne at Stone Gable for inviting us to participate. Click here to hop on over and have your mind blown away by all the creativity and talent the blog world has to offer on Menu planning and entertaining.
Image Credits 1)Belgian Pearls2)Tumblr3)Cote de Texas4)Dcor de Provence5)Veranda6)Pinterest7)Cote Sud8)Unknown9)House Beautiful10)Griege11)All other images via Providence ltd. Design and Pinterest.
Reader Comments (26)
Beautiful ideas. I love the pear idea. How perfect for Autumn! I am visiting from stonegable linky!
Hi Mona.I'm bookmarking this post...love every single recipe! It sure looks like a lovely summer over here! XO Trish
Mona, Mona, Mona...that pear is absolutely to die for. I am definitely on to that. Beautiful presentations, as always. It is such a pleasure to come over here...and it even look cool. xx's
Mona-
Thanks for planning my next party for me! Wow, you did great job here. Love the menu!
The able settings are gorgeous.
have a great week.
Teresa
xoxo
What a wonderful collection of ideas, pictures and recipes! Even though it isn't summer here, I'm filing every one of these for a few months time!. Have a lovely week. x Sharon (PS I think that pear salad is the prettiest salad I've ever seen!)
Wow! I'd love to come to your house for that amazing summer meal! I'm off to check out the pear salad recipe too - that looks divine! Beautiful, fresh ideas here - you did a very nice job. :)
I didn't expect to get such inspiratin this early on Monday morning...but this post did that and more. Love the simplicity of the decor and table settings. I, too, am much more interested in making it all look pretty than preparing the food. Summer cooking works well for me b/c my husband loves to man the grill and take on a lot of the actual cooking.
I'm going to work some of these ideas into my upcoming long weekend!
Here's to a great week, Mona!
xo Elizabeth
I am with you--I would definitely rather set the stage and let someone else bring the goodies! These recipes are tempting, especially the sangria and pork! Wonderful gathering of decor ideas too-thanks! Linda
oh so many lovely ideas for entertaining for summer...
loved the ideas for using herbs and flowers as garnish and decorating..
and fabulous ideas for setting the table...
have a great Monday..
maureen
Mona, This is an exqusite post about entertaining. I kept saying from the beginning to the end of the post... "I have to remember that, I'm copying that, I'm saving that,Oh how beautiful..." I am more than thrilled you have participated in ON THE MENU MONDAY and brought all this beauty, inspiration and very very good entertaining advice! And not only great advice but good common sense! I love to entertain and make a fuss, but it does not have to be complicated. You showed us how! BEAUTIFULLY!
Yvonne
Lovely pics and totally adre the vertical pear salad!!
These images and the ideas behind them are just beautiful....wonderful post.....xv
What wonderful pictures and great ideas for entertaining! We had dinner at a friend's house last night and she had set her farm table with the flour sack runners as well and it was just beautiful! The recipes look great as well! Thanks for sharing!
SO much to
LOVE, here!
Got to start
pinning away....
Beautiful and
such inspiring
ideas...
xx Suzanne
Mona!!! Love love it all. The table ideas the food recipes. I pinned that pear salad on pinterest also, I love that and Pear and arugula salad is one of my favs!!! Great post sweetie I would love to attend any party that you were giving, understated elegance that is your signature!! xo Kathysue
Mona, Wonderful inspiration pictures. The pear salad is something I must try.
xo,
Sherry
Perfection.
(And I know this took a lot of thought and time!)
Now I have a lot of cutting and pasting and printing of recipes to do...
That vertical pear salad looks divine! I love white dishes too, I have a huge collection of creamware, some of it very old. It's just so versatile. This is such a great post Mona. Lovely ideas!
Such fun, flavorful and fabulous suggestions for a great summer outdoors!
xxoo
Gosh, what a lovely array of food. I could dive in the cheese tray alone and be a very happy person.
Sam
What an amazing post and beautiful images but heart skipped a beat with a seen the Cote de Texas dinning room. lovley!!
Not sure how I almost missed this great post!. Love all of your ideas that can be incorporated without a lot of fuss! The pear salad, brownie, pasta and pork tenderloin look wonderful. Saving the recipes.
dear friend.......what is the date of this party? i am rudely inviting myself!
never have i viewed as many ideas as this in one spot., ever. and it makes me want to have a party but my garden truly looks dreadful.......the cobbler shoe syndrome.
when i do, this is the menu, decor......sigh
xoxo
debra
Mona!
I love beautiful tables and you have highlighted so many beautiful ones. AND such yummies to put at those lovely settings!
XO
R
Mona! That pear is crazy cool!
I almost bought those Anthropologie plates last weekend. Their merchandising is so fantastic.
Thanks for the beautiful summer post,
Best,
Amy