Favorite Summer Recipes and Outdoor Entertaining Ideas..

 

Happy Friday and Happy Memorial weekend friends!

Summer is almost here! Well, summer actually arrived weeks ago here in East Texas with our first near 100 degree day! Today I thought I would pull together a collection of all of my favorite summer outdoor entertaining ideas and recipes that I have shared over the last three and half years on the blog. Hopefully, you’ll see an idea or recipe to add to your summer to do list.

I know many of you are looking at buying outdoor furniture to spruce up your patios and backyards for summer fun and I wanted to share this post that I shared last May where I turned an inexpensive potting bench from World Market into an outdoor bar:

I am really excited about this because World Market has come out with the exact same potting bench here this spring! I know so many of you tried to find the bench last year after it sold out. So the bench is a steal at $139.00 because it’s a pretty good size. For details of what I did to the bench to make it cocktail ready, you can check out that post here.

By the way, in August last year, I shared a similar project where I took the same World Market coordinating outdoor console table and turned it into a food buffet:

 

 

That exact table is not available this spring but there is a lighter colored console table available here.  If you do not like the color, it could always be painted.  Would be fun to do it in a turquoise or coral color. There is a similar darker colored (industrial looking) one available here.  I have been very impressed at how well these inexpensive pieces have held up through the winter.  They both look brand new!  For more details on the buffet, you can go to that post here.

If you’re looking for a new tasty summer cocktail to try, be sure and take a peek at my recipe for Cayman Rum Punch.  This is by far my favorite summer cocktail and it instantly makes me feel like I’m sitting on the beach in the Caribbean somewhere!  It’s really easy to make (you can make it w/o alcohol too) and out this world:

 

By the way, that same post has a recipe for my Coconut Shrimp Fritters that are really delicious and perfect for a summer gathering.  I warn you, you can’t eat just one!

Speaking of gatherings, last summer, I also shared how I make quick and beautiful cheese and fruit trays in minutes.  If you’re looking for a great appetizer idea this summer, this tray is always a big hit when it’s hot:

 

 

Our family lives off of salads during the summer and cold pasta salads are my favorite.  For those of you that have been hanging out with me awhile, I’m sure you have noticed that I have shared so many salad recipes since I started blogging.  Again, when it’s hot outside, a big salad just hits the spot and these three are by far our favorites:

Toulouse Chicken Pasta Salad:

 

 

Easy Greek Pasta Salad:

 

 

 

Chinese Chopped Chicken Salad:

 

 

 

For a great summer sandwich recipe, be sure and check out my knock of recipe for  Cranberry Chicken Salad Sandwiches:

 

 

 

I am really looking forward to summer and trying some new recipes and getting my patio pool area finally finished.  We have been working on our backyard area for two years now and this summer we will finally finish it with some new outdoor furniture pieces and landscaping.  Of course, I will be sharing each project along the way.

I hope your summer is wonderful friends!!

Cheers!

Cyndy