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Ready to make some summer memories? You need this Easy Guide to Summertime Outdoor Entertaining with tips, ideas and easy recipes!

I love cooking out and being outside in the summer. Ok, let me rephrase that, I like cooking out and being outside during the summer in the later afternoon and evenings. haha. My happy side is near the water and I’m content sitting on the beach or by the pool.

Put me near water, cook dinner on the grill and hand over some frozen treats and you’ll make me one happy girl. Now cooking out doesn’t need to be some extravagant event though, it can be simple and fun. No need to stress out over a cook out or outdoor entertaining.

Here are some of my tips and ideas for easy summer outdoor entertaining!

Frozen Treats are a must!

My number one rule for outdoor entertaining, you MUST have something cool and refreshing for everyone there.  If you’re going to be out in the heat of the summer, even in the evenings, you need to keep yourself and everyone else cool.  Make sure you have lots of ice cold drinks, lots of water and my favorite, frozen treats like these Froozer fruit pops.

I have my freezer stocked with these healthy fruit snacks right now and they’re great for when the temperatures start to rise. Taking them to a cookout? Just make sure to keep them packed in ice in a cooler. They’re perfect for snacking on poolside!

Not only are these pops a tasty treat but they’re also healhty, all natural, dairy-free and they’re made with no preservatives! So you can feel good about nibbling on one of these frozen fruit snacks! Plus, they’re made with 100% fruit (no added sugar, juice or concentrate) and they’re only 35-40 calories per serving!

I think that the tropical sunset flavor might be my favorite.

Want to grab some for yourself? You can find out where to buy them here!  

Plus I’ve got a coupon for you here.

Great food gets the party started!

Now when it comes to outdoor entertaining I don’t go crazy with decorations or anything like that but I do pay attention to the food. Food is what brings people together, it gets them talking and makes people connect in a wonderful way.

So when I’m getting ready for a cookout and an evening of outdoor entertaining, I start with the menu. The Food, Health, and Happiness cookbook from Oprah Winfrey has been the cookbook I’ve been flipping through the most this summer. This cookbook is filled with 115 on-point recipes for great meals.

Now, no need to be super fancy when it comes to dinner with the family! I mean of course you can if you want too, but while I do focus on the menu I don’t want to spend the entire evening worrying about food. I want to enjoy the time with friends and family too.

Look for recipes that are easy to cook and some that are easy to keep warm or cool during the cookout. You don’t want to spend the entire evening cooking. If it’s a dish that needs to be cooked, make sure it’s something that doesn’t need constant attention.

Now we don’t use the grill every time we’re by the pool or every time we eat outside on a summer evening but I do love it when we grill out.

Check out the recipes in Food, Health, and Happiness for:

• Grilled Shrimp Lettuce Wraps
• Grilled Asparagus with mimosa dressing

Want your own copy? You can buy it here.  

Make outdoor entertaining easier with these cooking tools

This Superior Non-Stick  Pam Cooking spray is great for prepping and cooking food. The easy pump is great for portion control.

Now if you’re cooking on a grill or with a gas-oven, don’t spray this directly onto or near a flame BUT it’s perfect for spraying on pans, grilling tools and food itself.

Spray a little onto baked potatoes, and sprinkle them with a sea salt before baking or grilling for the perfect baked potato.  It’s also great if you want to roast a few tomatoes on the grill.  Spray a grilling pan with cooking pam cooking spray, sprinkle the tomatoes with a little salt and pepper and place the entire grill tray on the grill until the tomatoes are roasted to your liking.

Want to buy Pam Cooking spray for your next cookout? Click here to get more information and find out where to buy it. 

If you’re grilling out, you need the right grilling tools. This True Value Grill Zone 3PC Stainless Steel BBQ Tool Set is one of our favorites.  These Sleek stainless steel grilling tools are good quality and easy to use.

The 3 piece tool set from True Value includes a basting brush, tongs, and 4 in 1 spatula.  The 4 in 1 spatula is a turner, meat tenderizer, bottle opener, and knife edge all in one.

This Grill Zone 3PC Stainless Steel BBQ Tool Set is a True Value exclusive and compares to national brand quality but costs less!

Want to grab you’re own set of great grilling supplies? Click here to get your own set!

So I’m going to throw in a little recipe/grilling tip for y’all!

Ready to make the best grilled corn for your next summer outdoor gathering? Let me tell you how it’s done.

So what you need first is corn, obviously. Peel the husks down all the way without removing them. Pull off all of that corn silk and toss the silk in the trash.  Then spray the corn with a little Pam Cooking spray or brush on a little melted butter.

Next, sprinkle some seasoning salt all over the corn.

Pull the husks back up over the corn and use the long pieces of husk to tie the end closed.

Now stick that corn on the top rack of the grill and let it grill for about 30 minutes while you’re working on the rest of the food.

This corn is the perfect side dish to anything you’re fixing on the grill.

We cooked steaks at our cookout but you can obviously change that up to whatever you like.

Ps. here is another outdoor entertaining tip! Line the grates of your grill with foil before cooking for easy clean up!

Need some ideas for the grill?

Check out a few of my grilling recipes:

• Grilled Pork Chops
• Grilled Fruit Kabobs
• Grilled Corn with Herb Butter
• 40 Cookout Worthy Kabob Recipes 

I also made a large bowl of mixed fruit and marshmallow dip for our cookout. I love serving fruit when we’re entertaining outdoors in the summer because it’s light and fresh!

Are you ready for some Summertime Outdoor Entertaining? Get out there, have a cookout, relax and spend some great time with your family and friends! You’ll make tons of memories to last you a life time….. or at least enough to get you through the winter! 😉

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