When I first think of a garden party, my mind travels to a huge yard full of beautiful plantings and people walking around in airy, flowered dresses and big hats. Then I look at my small backyard that still holds the oak leaves that were blown into the corners last fall, and reality sets in. No, there won’t be any ladies lunching on cucumber sandwiches there – but there have been happy backyard get-togethers before, and there will be more.
A successful and enjoyable garden party should fit into your everyday lifestyle. Personalize everything to your taste and style, without worrying about trying to impress anyone – your friends are your guests and they will be much more comfortable when they encounter the person they know and love, not a nervous host with too many “what ifs” on their mind.
Thirsty?
Icy and fruity drinks seem to have a universal appeal. A couple of large ice-filled containers will hold soda, bottled water, and beer for the rest of the day. If there are wine connoisseurs in your circle, surprise them with a few bottles of a lovely local wine. Remember to separate any alcoholic drinks and keep them away from the younger set of guests. Always purchase a little more than you think you’ll need, as it is awkward for everyone if the beverages run out at a party. Any extras you have left over can be used at a later date.
From the Blender:
One of my favorite special drinks is quite simple: pomegranate juice blended with ice, poured into a clear plastic margarita or martini glass, and then splashed with some tangerine juice on top. This produces a bright, sunny-colored beverage that tastes wonderful, and can be enjoyed by adults and children alike. If pomegranate juice does not appeal to you, substitute with fruit punch, use orange juice instead of tangerine – the color scheme is the same, just use what you like!
Iced Tea:
The evening before the party set aside some time, and the room in the fridge for a pitcher, for old-fashioned iced tea. It is a very elegant and healthy addition to your beverage menu. Any black tea or green tea will work well. Use a large glass pitcher to steep your choice of tea, let it cool and then store in the refrigerator overnight. Serve it at the garden party with lemon slices, sweetener, and ice on the side.
Hungry?
I recommend serving meals that are simple to make, using ingredients you are familiar with and that you, your family, and friends enjoy. I like to make a couple of different entrees with salads on the side, and a desert or two.
Side Dishes/Salads:
This is a summer salad that my parents always made since I was very young – it has such a fresh and delightful mix of flavors – yet is so simple!
Cut a few large, ripe tomatoes into wedges, and slice an onion (either red, or sweet Vidalia, according to your liking) into very thin strips, and add basil (dried or fresh). Combine these with cannellini beans (canned, or boiled), enough olive oil to coat everything, and a dash of crushed sea salt. Mix gently and let sit at room temperature for an hour so that flavors meld. Leftovers should be covered and refrigerated, but taste best when allowed to come back to room temperature.
Another side dish/salad I would make is one that I came across while creating one of my “what do I have on hand” meals – and it turned out to be delicious!
Boil several red potatoes, with the skin on, in salted water until soft. Make sure not to overcook them. Cut the potatoes into medium to large-sized chunks and add marinated artichoke hearts, along with a small amount of olive oil, a tablespoon of lemon juice, and crushed sea salt, to taste. Gently mix everything and serve warm or at room temperature.
Both salads can be placed in large salad bowls allowing guests to serve themselves.
Grilled vegetables are a great side dish as well. Clean and slice zucchini, eggplant, asparagus, red, green, and yellow peppers, brush with olive oil, and grill for a few minutes on each side. (The eggplant should be sliced thinly.) You can do this earlier in the day or right during your garden party, and they make a lovely addition to each dish.
Entrees:
My favorite meal is one that we have used many times – a skewer of large shrimp, cooked on the spot, since they are done in a flash. A nice amount is about 5 large or jumbo shrimp per person. Though it is simple to do, cleaning shrimp can be time-consuming, so if time is short and your budget allows, buy the shrimp already cleaned and de-veined, with the tail on. (It serves as a handy way to grip the shrimp off of the skewer stick.) Sometimes however, the price of cleaned shrimp is nearly twice as much as those you have to clean yourself – when it comes to this, I’d rather take a little more time if it means I can serve a few more shrimp to my guests!
The night before your party, prepare a freezer bag with a marinade of the juice of about two or three limes, two tablespoons of olive oil, crushed garlic to taste, a favorite spice such as basil or oregano, a few drops of hot sauce, and a good pinch of sea salt. You can also purchase a pre-made marinade at most markets, and use it the same way. Shake the bag gently to mix everything together, and then put all of the shrimp into the marinade. Securely close the bag, and then knead gently so that the shrimp become coated in the mixture. Keep this in the refrigerator overnight, turning it every once in a while so that the shrimp are evenly absorbing the flavors of the marinade. At the garden party, slide each shrimp onto bamboo or metal skewers, grill them until done (approx. 3 or 4 minutes on each side), and serve immediately. When we make these, they practically disappear and are enjoyed by all.
Another favorite is a chicken dish that I make earlier in the day. I’ll either use skinless, meaty pieces of chicken such as the thigh and drumstick cuts, or chicken breasts. The chicken is dredged in Italian dressing, and then covered in flavored breadcrumbs. This is cooked on a tray in the oven at 365 degrees for approximately 25 minutes, or until the breadcrumbs are toasty and the chicken juices run clear. After it cools slightly, it is stored in the refrigerator until serving time. The chicken breasts can be sliced, drizzled with a tiny bit of olive oil and lemon juice, and presented on a large platter so that guests can take exactly as much as they want.
Snacks and Bread
Whenever there are lively salads available, the need arises for a bit of crunchy bread to soak up the savory dressing. A cotton-lined basket filled with a variety of small, warmed breads is perfect next to the meals and salads, while bowls of thin pretzels and kettle-cooked potato chips are always welcome by the children.
Dessert, Anyone?
The basics:
You really can’t go wrong with a little bit of ice-cream or sherbet, topped with some berries. This is an easy, refreshing sweetness for the end of the meal.
A chilled fruit salad, such as sliced bananas, strawberries, and kiwis, dressed with lemon juice and sugar, is a very festive and pleasing dessert, perfect for your garden party.
What To Do?
Outdoor activities:
Since most of us are usually busy inside at computers, school, and housework, a garden party gives us the opportunity to forget the everyday and appreciate the beauty of the outdoors.
If there are beloved plantings or sculptures in your garden, why not give your guests a little educational tour? Later on, you can bring the gang together and teach them a “new” game, such as lawn bowling, or even horseshoe pitching – there are safe rubber sets of these and other outdoor games available at sporting goods stores everywhere. Having some old-fashioned casual competition and lots of laughter is a great way to keep the bonds of friendship strong.
The Décor
Set your tables with a combination of clear and colorful, unbreakable polycarbonate plastic dinnerware. There are so many choices available, from party stores to dollar stores and upward, you are sure to find something that fits both your style and budget. Some dinnerware items that might be a little more expensive but that stand up to dishwashing are especially useful, since they can be re-used many times – more garden parties!
I really love the look of small bowls filled with bright citrus fruits – have lemons, limes, and oranges blossoming out of complementary colored bowls, add some greenery, and they will be decorative and useful, if anyone wants to add some extra squeezes of juice to their meals!
Try to visit the garden centers in your area, and look for the most abundant plants, which are usually priced very well. I find that clustering flowers of similar color into several containers and using these to decorate the yard always brightens up an early spring garden, or adds a special touch to a summer garden bursting with its own blooms.
I always enjoy the sparkle of white lights strung on bushes and trees, or around porches and deck-railings. When the sun begins to set, the lights seem to add a magical quality to the air, perfect for lingering outside and enjoying the evening breeze.
Simple, delicate, and personal touches in everything from the meals to the décor bring a party setting together without being pretentious or stuffy, and allow you to throw a satisfying and relaxing garden party that you will appreciate as much as your guests.
Enjoy!
