You don’t have to wait for a birthday or anniversary to gather your favorite people for good food and drinks. But if you do feel like you need an excuse to get together, here’s one: Now’s the time to celebrate the last days of summer while welcoming the arrival of fall. And whether you do it by whipping up a date-night dinner for two or hosting a cookout for half a dozen friends, this advice can help you make every occasion special.
You want to leave dishes out long enough for guests to grab seconds or even thirds, so avoid using ingredients that oxidize quickly, like pesto in your pasta salad or avocados in anything. Try Stacy’s® Parmesan Garlic & Herb Pita Chips with Roasted Mushroom and Swiss Chard Dip, which won’t turn brown on the buffet table like guac will. Grilling burgers? Skip the plastic bottles of ketchup and mustard and put the condiments in pretty little saucers instead, along with unexpected options like pickled jalapeños, crumbled blue cheese, and caramelized onions. Another fresh idea: Set up a corn-on-the-cob bar with cotija cheese, butter, chili powder, and chopped fresh cilantro, plus cute corn holders (the kind with the stainless-steel prongs) so your guests don’t get greasy hands.
Most recipes yield enough for four people and are halved easily. But date night will feel more special if you whip up a couple of single-serve soufflés in individual ramekins or splurge on scallops or a pricey cut of steak (a Porterhouse is the perfect size for two) that you might not buy for a bigger meal. If it’s date number anything-but-one, try preparing something together—like gnocchi, which you don’t need a pasta machine for—or recreating your favorite takeout, whether it’s pad Thai or beef and broccoli. You can also go for an all–finger foods menu by making your favorite appetizer (any recipe that serves six equals a perfect main meal for two) and capping it off with Stacy’s® Cinnamon Sugar Pita Chips dipped in chocolate for dessert.
Free yourself up for mingling by premixing a big batch of blood orange sangria, watermelon margaritas, or three-ingredient negronis made with Prosecco, Campari, and vermouth. Serve your signature cocktail in a pitcher or swing-top glass bottle, and put beer and wine in a tub or bucket filled with three parts ice to one part water so you can free up your fridge for food. You’ll want four or five hors d’oeuvres that include a variety of flavors, temperatures, and textures. Pair crunchy Stacy’s® Fire Roasted Jalapeno Pita Chips with a creamy Pecan-Basil Cheese Ball (watch the video below to learn exactly how to make it), for a flavorful combination guests are sure to love.
Most public beaches have bans on alcohol, but that doesn’t mean you have to limit your options. Bring a covered pitcher of homemade basil lemonade, or pack a bottle of drinking vinegar (you can buy it premade or blend your own from fruit, sugar, and white wine vinegar) and mix it with three parts seltzer water. As for food, steer clear of ingredients that release water when they sit for more than a few minutes, like cucumbers and zucchini. Instead, go for sturdy grain and kale salads, or make pressed sandwiches: Scoop out the inside of the top half of a ciabatta loaf, layer the bottom half with hearty ingredients, wrap the whole thing in plastic wrap, and weigh it down with a large heavy skillet until you’re ready to pack up your picnic basket. And don’t forget a small cutting board and knife with its own sheath for slicing soft cheeses, which pair nicely with Stacy’s® Multigrain Pita Chips.
Elevate an alfresco dinner by focusing on the little things rather than trying to orchestrate a big-deal, multicourse meal on your wobbly wrought-iron table. To make your guests comfortable, start by filling a basket with bug spray, sunscreen, and a few lap blankets in case it gets chilly. Using disposable dishware? Opt for the sturdy bamboo kind over flimsy paper plates, and skip the red plastic cups from your college days in favor of cute printed ones or inexpensive plastic tumblers—then keep whatever’s in them cold with flavored ice cubes (just pop berries, herbs, or even edible flowers into an ice cube tray before filling it with water and freezing). Finally, give old favorites a special spin by swapping in an unexpected ingredient, like Stacy’s® Simply Naked® Pita Chips as the base for tuna melts or baked with ground beef and shredded cheddar for nachos, or Stacy’s® Cinnamon Sugar Pita Chips pulsed with butter and sugar to make a cheesecake crust.