Memorial Day weekend is the kick off to summer for many, so
why not ring in the next season with family and friends in tow? If you haven’t done any celebrating so far,
one trip to the grocery store can turn that around.
A summer menu is easy-prep comfort food all the way. If you grill out, set up a burger and hotdog
bar so everyone can have just what they want.
Use a series of trays and bowls to hold toppings galore. For simple sides, keep the build-your-own theme
going by providing paper cones, which you can purchase or roll and tape
yourself using craft paper, along with paper cups or dessert plates. Then pick your side or sides: French fries,
sweet potato fries, tortilla chips, or kernel corn. Offer up toppings like seasonings, grated
cheese or cheese sauce, diced onions and tomatoes, hamburger meat, melted
butter, sour cream, garlic mayo, and so forth.
Allow guests to pick and choose for an appetizing party meal, outdoors
or in.
You don’t need to go overboard with trying to provide every iced
down canned drink under the sun. Try a
different route and mix up a large batch of lemonade. Serve it out of a glass drink dispenser with
ice, mason jars, and paper straws at the ready. With a twist on a coffee house
bar, line up flavored syrups and frozen or fresh fruit slices for custom drink
flavors and additives.
For dessert, skip the vast array of a fruit tray and serve
summer-ready watermelon slices on ice.
Keep it simple with a big plate of chocolate chip cookies or
brownies. If you haven’t had your fill
of options just yet, offer a dessert popcorn bar. From candy and cookie pieces, nuts and
seasonings, oils, and grated cheese, dropping your own choices into paper bags
filled with popcorn can create custom mixes and sweet or salty treats.
You can pull out any 4th of July décor you have
if you’d like to keep it patriotic with red, white, and blue. Or grab bright summery shades of paper plates
and napkins and straws. This is also a
good excuse to pull out those seasonal melamine serving dishes you have stashed
away. What really matters is spending
some relaxed time together as we turn the page on the school year and welcome
in those toasty months ahead, full of outdoor fun and adventures, even without
leaving home.
Happy Memorial Day!
DesignInMind column; appeared in the Valley Morning Star May 25th.
