This Ultimate Summer Entertaining Guide is sponsored by Juicy Juice. All opinions are my own. Thank you for supporting the brands that make this blog possible.
Alright, who’s got their entertaining game prepped and ready for summer?
If there ever was a time to gather with friends, the long, warm days of summer are it! But before you get even a teensy bit stressed about the thought of it all, allow me to convince you that hosting a summer get-together is really pretty simple.
Tip #1: The warm, relaxed nature of the season means as long as you take the party outside, you’re halfway there!
I’m a firm believer that you don’t need to slay all day in the kitchen to make a good meal. In fact, sometimes, less is more, like buying some really high-quality favorites so you can spend less time cooking and more time enjoying the party. That’s why I’m excited to once again be partnering with Juicy Juice to spread the word about their newest drink, Juicy Juice Fruitfuls Organic, which is 100% in the spirit of easy summer entertaining.
Their new, all-organic juice has 45% less sugar with the same great taste that Juicy Juice is known for so you can feel good about serving it to your kids and guests without the sugar overload. We all know how important it is to stay hydrated during the hot summer months and the Fruitfuls Organic juices come in new multi-serve bottles in fruity flavors like Apple, Grape, and Fruit Punch–perfect for serving a crowd.
Read on for my ultimate summer entertaining guide. What are your easy, warm weather party ideas? Leave me a comment below, I’d love to know!
Al Fresco Bagel Brunch
Super hot afternoons gives us the perfect excuse to get together earlier in the morning when the weather is nice and cool. Setting up a bagel brunch is one of my favorite ways to entertain because the cooking is minimal and everyone gets to make their breakfast exactly how they like it.
Bagel Brunch Menu
- Freshly-Baked Bagels in multiple flavors
- Cream Cheese
- Fruit
- A Simple Salad
- Hard-Boiled Eggs
- Lox and Prosciutto
- Coffee and Juicy Juice Fruitfuls Organic Grape Juice
Tip #2: Don’t worry about fancy flower arrangements. A row of fresh-cut blooms down the center of the table sets the perfect, laid-back tone of summer.
Summer Grilling Party
A dinner under the stars is summer heaven in a nutshell. Cooking everything on the grill means very little clean up too. These two-ingredient Grilled Green Mole Pork Chops are the essence of simple and still huge on flavor.
Summer Grilling Party Menu
- Grilled Green Mole Pork Chops
- Vegetables grilled in a grilling basket (peppers, onions, and zucchini tossed in olive oil, salt, and pepper)
- Quinoa with Sweet Corn and Scallions
- Guava Cream Pie Pops
- Juicy Juice Fruitfuls Organic Fruit Punch
Ceviche Tostada Bar
Tossing together a few different types of ceviche takes almost no actual cooking. Make sure you hit up your local seafood market for the freshest selection and make a batch of our Cauliflower Ceviche for non-meat eaters. Fill in the menu with a tall stack of tostada shells for serving and you’re all set!
Ceviche Tostada Bar Menu
- Scallop Ceviche with Tomatoes and Avocado
- Shrimp and Melon Ceviche
- Cauliflower Ceviche
- Homemade Guacamole
- Juicy Juice Fruitfuls Organic Apple Juice
Tip #3: Serve ceviche on platters of ice to make sure everything stays fresh and cold. Buy a few bags and store them in a cooler so they don’t take up precious freezer space.
The Beverage Station
Any party you throw this summer needs a beverage station to make sure everyone stays hydrated without you having to lift a finger.
- Tie a paper straw to each glass so guests can help themselves.
- Make flavored water by filling a beverage dispenser with fresh fruit (I used sliced oranges), fresh herbs, or vegetables like cucumbers then top with ice and water.
- Stock up on Juicy Juice Fruitfuls Organic Juices
One last thing…
What do you think? I want to know! Leave me a comment and snap a photo for Instagram! Tag @holajalapeno so I can see your beautiful creation! Your feedback is super important to me.
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One of the things that I miss the most about living in SoCal is eating al fresco. In SoFla we do it but only between December and April… from May to November is really humid… plus we have mosquitoes!
This is amazing Kate! Great ideas, I agree with you about taking the party outside, we have a picnic in our front yard and use it as much as we can.
Love all the ideas2 And your pictures and style always amazing!
This is fantastic! Love all of these ideas. The bagel brunch is my kind of brunch. 😛