There is nothing that says SPRING better than the ability to start dining al fresco. Granted, here in SoCal good weather occurs almost year-round, but outdoor dining is still something we tend to save for spring and summer. And now that we’re officially in April, it’s time to start hosting gatherings outside.
I used to think that the food I prepared for parties had to be extraordinary. But now I’ve realized that I would much prefer to do simple gatherings often rather than fancy gatherings never.
I’ve reduced so much stress by creating simple dishes that are fun and nourishing; and this makes it more likely that I’ll host more often. While not everything is picture-perfect, the important thing is that our guests have a great time.
So what’s on our spring BBQ menu? Nothing that can’t be purchased for $20 or less, and we fed six!
- Chicken sausages and whole wheat buns from Trader Joe’s
- Homemade red cabbage “slaw” with spring onions, apples and pepitas (tossed with our favorite sesame dressing)
- Chips and fresh salsa (brought by a guest)
- Homemade chocolate covered strawberries
- Iced water flavored with lemon and raspberries
A few notes on stress-free hosting…
Hosting gatherings can be a bit stressful without the right preparation, so here are a few tips on keeping things low-key and manageable.
- A great simple menu offers choices. As long as guests can choose from 3 diverse options and have enough to eat, they’ll be happy!
- Select a combination of pre-made items and homemade items. There’s no shame in purchasing hummus or using store-bought dressing. These easy crowdpleasers allow you to sit down and tuck in with everyone else rather than cooking frantically while they eat.
- Dress up something basic. Add nuts and fruit to a simple slaw, or lemon wedges to water. These touches take little time but can go a long way.
- Have guests bring the extras. Without putting on a full-on potluck, which can be a bit risky, ask your guests to bring snacks, appetizers, drinks or desserts. These pressure-free additions can enhance the meal without being too costly or complicated.
The best thing about creating a stress-free menu is that it means you’ll be relaxed. The times when I’ve enjoyed hosting the most have been when I had less to do, and more energy to chat and entertain.
And I’ve also learned that not everything has to taste exquisite or represent a stroke of culinary genius. I won’t serve anything I dislike to my guests, but I will let go of tiny imperfections and allow myself to enjoy the conversation around the table.
This spring and summer, I encourage you to try hosting a small group of friends if you haven’t already. You’ll likely find it easier than you expected, especially when you choose to keep it simple and stress-free!
What are your favorite foods for hosting? Do you plan to host outdoor gatherings this spring and summer?
Thanks Erin!! I really appreciate you stopping by! 🙂
This, in my head, is the IDEAL menu for a nice day out! All of my favorites in one. I’m loving your blog, Daisy!
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Thank you so much!! And yes, I know the feeling!
So much greatness in this post. With us moving and it being Spring I can tell my hostess muscles want to stretch. The food ideas and tips are GREAT. 🙂
Hahah yes pollen is so annoying, and speaking of which, I have a HUGE fear of getting stung by a wasp that’s after my bbq food… haha. And I used to be really stressed when I host… but as I’ve done it more and figured out a rhythm, it’s gotten easier. 🙂
Thanks Angelou!!
Yes I love turkey burgers too!! 🙂
Oooh you’ll love slaws once you make them yourself. I never enjoyed cole slaw either; also red cabbage (pictured above) or brussels sprouts make excellent slaw ingredients. And SOOOO good for you.
For me there is no such thing as stress free hosting! I am always so worried about how everything turns out! But i am super excited that it’s grilling season, now if all the pollen would just go away!
Love your ideas!
Yay BBQ season!! I love chicken sausages and am also a big fan of grilling turkey burgers!
Brooke
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TJ’s chicken sausage is so good. I’ve been wanting to get into making my own “slaws”. I never liked the traditional coleslaw that came as a side in restaurants, but I just thought all coleslaws were the same!
Thanks Shireen! Glad to hear it– I’m sure the kid party will be really fun! Kids also love decorating stuff, so pizzas or cookie decorating usually keep them entertained! 😉
Thanks Shelby! Yes, this was the first time I tried the sausages and they were amazing! A great substitute for the standard hotdog, which I don’t love. 🙂
Yes– YUM, love the patio too! We haven’t moved into our new place yet, but it has a patio, and I am SO excited about that!
Yeah!! I hope you enjoy hosting more Kiki! 🙂
Ooh yes, pesto is SO delicious, and always a great crowdpleaser.
So glad you can relate!! I used to put so much work into gatherings until I realized that it made me on-edge, and our guests would worry about my wellbeing. Definitely not the point! And the chicken sausages were really quite good, lots of cool flavors!
Thanks Christina!! So glad this resonates with you. A simple menu is key to enjoying ourselves!
Exactly!! Thanks for reading, Chelsea!
This post came at the perfect time, Daisy so thank you! I’m planning to host my little one’s first birthday party end of this month and am completely clueless on how to proceed. It’s a kid party but since we haven’t quite made many friends, it would be for close families only. These tips are perfect and definitely gave me some ideas!
Shireen | Reflection of Sanity
Great tips, those sausages from Trader Joe’s are so good and yet I have never had them on a hot dog bun! Love the stress free tips!
We LOVE dining outside, and we eat on our patio at least twice a week when it’s not too hot. I love everything on this menu. Yes, simpler is better! That slaw looks amazing!
This has me so excited for grilling and summer get togethers. Thank you for the stress free tips! How did I not think of things like that. I’m constantly doing things the hard way. (;
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Lovely! I love pesto in the summer. Great hot or cold, with pasta or veggies, and always tastes fresh.
This is my favorite line: “I would much prefer to do simple gatherings often than fancy gatherings never.” I was just reflecting on this idea over the weekend, and I wholeheartedly agree. As “fun” as it might be to be a dinner party kind of girl, I’m definitely a grilling out or eating pizza off of paper plates kind of girl. Thanks for these great tips! And I think I’ll need to head over to TJ’s soon to pick up some of those chicken sausages — YUM!
That looks like an absolutely delicious spread! I have been making the switch to serving more simple foods when we host as well, and it has been a game changer in the level of stress I experience by entertaining. I find myself being able to relax and enjoy the company so much more when I’m not worried about the menu as much.
Stress-free entertaining is the best because then you actually get to enjoy the people you are entertaining!
Thanks Nabihah!! And yes, I totally have struggled with that (and still do at times!). But I’ve realized that people have a great time regardless– especially if you keep it casual, other people feel more relaxed as well. 🙂
I love this idea of stress free entertaining – I know my mom and I are perfectionists so we need time to plan and entertain. I want to do a fun BBQ this summer but, again, I’m just stressed thinking about it! I think I want to take your approach to it and remember to have fun – not every single thing needs to be homemade and it’s okay to accept others’ offers to bring food as well!
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