4 Fun Ideas For Easy Entertaining This Summer
Build A Spritz Bar
Everyone loves a spritz in the summer and I specifically love to create a help-yourself bar. You don’t need a proper set-up or trolley. The edge of the table will do – or even a dedicated tray on the counter – but it’s a great way to draw the eye and set the fun summer party tone. I’ll slice up lots of citrus and berries and fill a few glasses with fresh orange, alongside a big bowl of ice, mixers and fizz and let people help themselves. People love an element of customisation and DIY, but it also frees you up as the host to finish off bits in the kitchen or enjoy a spritz too. When I’m entertaining a big crowd, I like to keep things easy for myself and love the Sainsbury’s Taste the Difference Orange Spritz which is particularly good finished with a few orange slices. Whether you go for the alcoholic version or not, I find the Sainsbury's Taste the Difference Monterey Jack & Pickled Jalapeño Hand Cooked Crisps are the perfect accompaniment.
Go For Sharing Dishes
I love serving lots of little bits and always choose a majority of things that can be enjoyed at room temperature or chilled. I tend to go for a mix of homemade and shop-bought to keep the work light for myself and ensure everyone gets a bit of what they want. I love the Sainsbury’s Taste the Difference Chicken Gyros – they come with a garlicy tzatziki which is delicious. I’ll pair them with homemade pitta chips which are just wholemeal pitta bread, torn and tossed with olive oil and salt before being baked in the oven until crisp. The Sainsbury’s Taste the Difference King Prawns, Sunblush Tomatoes & Pesto Sainsbury's are another winner – think king prawns with semi-dried tomatoes and a green pesto sauce – as are the Sainsbury’s Taste the Difference Crunchy Fried Rollitos with Pickle Ranch Dip. Chorizo and gouda coated in crunchy breadcrumbs with a tangy creamy dill pickle dip? Yes please.
My other summer favourites are the Sainsbury’s Taste The Difference Chorizo & Burrata Arancini with Creamy Cheese Sauce which are almost sinfully good. They only need a quick stint in the oven and bring an elevated and incredibly morish element to hosting. My final signature move is to put together a big crudité platter decked with baby carrots, radishes, fresh sugar snap peas and fennel. It brings a bit of colour to the table too. Plus, with a Nectar card, you can shop these on the three-for-eight-pound deli deal.
Layer Up
I talk about layering a lot when it comes to setting the table but it’s a good thing to think about when putting together more relaxed sharing platters too. I love to roast some vegetables ahead of time. It could be cauliflower tossed with a few spices, it could be aubergine and tomatoes. I love to add a bit of chilli and then off set it with a cooling creamy base. Whipped ricotta is my go-to. Just whip it with a good pinch of salt, some lemon zest and or finely grated garlic. But my latest hack is to go with a base of the Sainsbury’s Taste the Difference Labneh with Wild Garlic Pesto & Pine Nuts. I swirl the whole thing together and spread it on the biggest platter I can find before piling it high with roast veg and finishing it off with fresh herbs and some more toasted pine nuts or almonds.
Take Inspiration From The Mediterranean
The Med does al fresco very well and there’s nothing quite like aperitivo in Italy. What I admire most is the dedication to ingredients. Rarely are there frills and fuss when it comes to the cooking or the table. The food itself is usually what brings the colour and sense of occasion the evening. I’m a big fan of the Sainsbury’s Taste the Difference Pesto, Tomato & Mozzarella Focaccia. I’ll pile up soft pillowy pieces Jenga-style to bring a bit of drama to the table. Pops of red, basil green and crispy hot out of the pan golden brown.
Meanwhile, table decoration is usually limited to a single flower in a glass stem vase or perhaps a central ceramic bowl filled with leafy lemons. When it comes to decorating the table when summer hosting less is more. Flowers tend to wilt faster during the summer, so I love to lean on produce and the menu itself. A pile of on the vine tomatoes piled high brings a dramatic but equally effortless focal point to the table.
For more food picks, inspiration & recipes, visit SAINSBURYS.CO.UK
DISCLAIMER: We endeavour to always credit the correct original source of every image we use. If you think a credit may be incorrect, please contact us at info@sheerluxe.com.
/https%3A%2F%2Fsheerluxe.com%2Fsites%2Fsheerluxe%2Ffiles%2Fwebsite-images%2F2025%2F03%2Fsign-up-pop-up.jpg?itok=zlMvamfa)
