Summer Dinner Party -

An impromptu Summer Dinner Party doesn’t have to be stressful and make you feel like you’re losing your marbles.

Now, I say that and I LOVE cooking and entertaining and throwing a party. But seriously, there’s no need to go crazy and feel like you can’t whip something up at a moment’s notice. All you need is about an hour and a half and you, too can throw a quick dinner for your friends!

I quickly gathered a tray from our family room to corral things on the table. Cloth napkins (that weren’t even ironed – they looked casual and relaxed just the way the were), some bowls for the salad, plates for the crostata and raided the fridge for some extra produce to use as a centerpiece.

A couple of ears of corn, a tomato, zucchini, a lemon and a faux artichoke that totally fooled everyone! Oh, and a small pot of basil, too. That’s all it took to make this meal feel special served on our back deck!

The Tuscan Tomato Artichoke Salad literally took 5 minutes to toss together. I made that first and let the flavors marry and served it at room temperature.

The Zucchini Crostata took the most time, but that’s only because the dough needs to chill. And that was easy to make, too! Let the food processor do all the work!

The Tuscan Tomato Artichoke Salad literally took 5 minutes to toss together. I made that first and let the flavors marry and served it at room temperature.

The Zucchini Crostata took the most time, but that’s only because the dough needs to chill. And that was easy to make, too! Let the food processor do all the work!

That’s it! It all came together quickly and the food was delicious, too! So, don’t be afraid of an impromptu gathering – make it casual and relaxed and enjoy the time with your family and friends!

Zucchini Ricotta Crostada – Zucchini Ricotta Galette

Tuscan Artichoke Tomato Salad – ShortGirlTallOrder

Below are links to beautiful serving trays for your next dinner party!

Rachel Ray Wood Cutting/Serving Board