Summer Party Ideas!
 |
|
| Can’t Afford Lobster? Try a Shrimp Roll Instead! |
It’s mid July in Washington DC and Northern Virginia. What better time to throw a last minute get together for friends who have not yet abandoned you for beach and mountain escapes! As a caterer I frequently get last minute calls for events with summer party ideas, although not typically for a wedding reception. We did have an eleventh hour call last week for a surprise party at Cabell’s Mill in Centreville VA, a quaint historic property tucked into one of the Fairfax County Parks and Recreation rental properties www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/hprs/cabells.htm
Too Hot To Cooke?
When it’s 90 plus degrees and you do not want to turn on an oven, choose a chilled or room temperature menu. Craving a “lobstah” roll but don’t have the budget? Try substituting with shrimp. You do not need to break the bank with the largest size, just cook-chill-cut into chunks and mix with a dollop of mayo and a splash of Sryracha and piled into your favorite soft roll or bun. Your welcome.
 |
|
| Sliced Turkey Wraps |
Do you need other summer party ideas?
Easy to assemble and quick to disappear, Turkey Wraps with lettuce-scallion-black bean and corn. Assemble with a tomato basil flour tortilla as well as regular flour tortillas for contrast, some with cheese, some without.
 |
|
| Southwestern Turkey Wrap |
Make a day ahead and slice before serving. Not a fan of smoked turkey? Substitute with ham, roast beef or your favorite deli meat. A vegetarian option could include roasted red bell pepper hummus.
And speaking of a vegetarian option, easy to assemble Caprese Skewers with Fresh Mozzarella Cheese, Basil and Grape Tomato. Again, easy to assemble and can do a day ahead. Clean and refreshing for a summer evening.
 |
|
| Skewers of Fresh Mozzarella Cheese, Basil and Grape Tomato |
Need a quick and easy summer party idea?
Another quick and easy menu idea is Toasted Pita Crisps served with Hummus (any flavor..there are currently so many options of hummus on the market right now!). Purchased pita bread is cut into chip sized portions, tossed with some olive or vegetable oil into a roasting pan along with seasoning of choice – we did two options, one with Garlic Salt, and one with Zaatar. Toast in a 350 degree oven till crispy, taking care not to brown. These can easily be made a day or two in advance. Zaatar is a Middle Eastern spice blend with sesame, oregano, thyme and sumac that will intrigue your guests and elevate your cool factor.
 |
|
| Tropical Mango Salsa |
Other summer menu ideas include Tropical Mango Salsa with Tortilla Chips. If you don’t have the time, simply purchase your favorite store made salsa and add chopped fresh mango and keep the secret to yourself! When we cater with this menu item, we provide small disposable glasses so guests can have their own personal stash which minimizes spills. Bonus points for fun bowl to serve the salsa.
Then there is the question of Sweet Treat?
 |
| Dessert Bites |
Here at Catering By Teatime, there are ALWAYS various sweet treat options. After all, we also go by the name of Teatime Delicacies, Inc.! The key is to offer bite sized portions. Guests do not want to feel like they are over indulging, but a bite – how much damage can that do? We served bite sized Cream Cheese Brownies, Blondies, Russian Teacakes, (and not shown) Apple Bavarian Torte Bites and Chocolate Fudge Truffles. For the home entertainer, buy what looks good at the bakery and cut into small portions. Ice Cream Sandwich bites sounds like a plan I could support.
If all this still sounds like more than you can pull off for this weekend, by all means give us a call and we will do all the work for you! Call us today.
www.cateringbyteatime.com