Simplifying Summer Food

I am a member of the Collective Bias®  Social Fabric® Community.  These tips for Simplifying Summer Food with #SummerGoodies have been compensated as part of a social shopper amplification for #CollectiveBias and its advertiser.

 

What words evoke summer time for you? Laid back? Carefree? For me, it’s the word “simple.” If summer is anything, it should be simple. The kids are out of school. The weather is hot. Families are excited to break free of the house and spend quality time outdoors. We enjoy having friends over for food and conversation. Our family often experiences more “togetherness” with friends and family during the summer than we do throughout the holiday season. I like entertaining, and since having the boys, I’ve discovered ways to make our times together more simple. Combining easy decorations with quick food ideas will guarantee a time of food and fun that is, well, simple.

The crux of any family outdoor time is the food. Instead of limiting our choices to hotdogs and hamburgers, we’ve been grilling pizza. Jack’s Pizza Original Thin Pepperoni Pizza is awesome for the grill (and it has a Preservative-free crust!).

Twelve minutes over the burners and our pizza is ready to be devoured.

I then set out a platter with grab and go pizza bites. My kids have always been grazers, especially when playing outdoors. They like to eat a few bites and then play. Repeat. I cut the pizza into bite-sized portions that little hands prefer. I include little forks for the adults who want their kids eating with clean hands. I remember, three kids ago, when I used to be that parent, too.

A hard evening of playing needs a sweet treat. NESTLÉ® DRUMSTICK® CRUNCH® Dipped Cones are a crowd favorite at my house. I purchase them in a Vanilla Fudge, Vanilla Caramel, and Vanilla multi-pack. To get creative with my decor, I place the cones in my Americana star punched tin cans.

How do I keep the decor simple? I’m partial to repurposed projects, and these toilet paper napkin rings made with star shapes and empty toilet paper rolls are a quick and easy way to add to a tablescape. And they add an easy way to hide that fact that I’m using plain ‘ole torn off napkins. See how to make them here.

My kids are already having a blast in this warm weather. Two of my boys are walking, and I’ve never been more thankful to have a large yard for them to explore. My other little boy is content to sit on a blanket and hang out with mom or big sister. This tactic obviously has it’s advantages.

I purchased my simple summer food at Walmart after a night of working.

What ways do you keep your summer simple?