Plan the Perfect Alfresco Dinner Party

Brought to you by  

Spring serves up some of the prettiest evenings of the year. So why not take advantage of the balmy weather and serve up your own outdoor dinner party? Kick off the fun mood by including your family for party preparations. Keep it simple — and keep your guests happy — with this menu and décor planner.

Tasks to Tackle on Your Own:

• Plan your menu. When considering an entrée, keep in mind your guests’ tastes. Part of successful entertaining involves making company feel not just welcome but really pampered, so plan to serve an entrée that spoils them.
• Do they prefer traditional dishes, grilled entrées or international cuisines?
• Are they vegetarian or do they have other dietary considerations you should plan for?
• Some simple, single-dish entrées include rosemary pork roast tenderloin (which cooks well on the grill), pepper-crusted London broil with crumbled bleu cheese or an Asian stir-fry over rice.
• Bring indoor elegance outside and use your china, cutlery and stemware to set the table. Pair them with pretty cloth place mats or a patterned tablecloth to complete the look.

How to Get the Whole Family Involved:

• Keep your sides simple with mixed green salad and crusty bread — kids can easily prepare these.
• A few simple touches can make your deck or patio the perfect setting for a dinner party. Try these decorating ideas that everyone can help with:
• For understated elegance, go with a monochromatic color scheme, such as all white blooms.
• For a bold look, mix it up with contrasting foliage and flowers.
• Consider a few small pots of herbs, as well — rosemary, thyme and mint — for a hint of outdoor fragrance.
• The warm glow of candlelight is perfect for outdoor dining, so stock up on tapers, pillar candles and floating votives. Candles make an intimate circle of light around guests when clustered with the centerpiece and on tables around the patio.
• Stringing white lights is another charming way to illuminate your setting.
• Buffet serving is easiest for you and your guests, so if you have an outdoor table for that purpose, use it! If you don't, check your garage or basement for an old card table or desk that could be transformed for the purpose. Drape it with a pretty cloth and add candles, and you have a beautiful buffet station.

More than anything, guests react to their host's and hostess's moods, so don't forget to enjoy yourself! Leave the dishes until after your guests have gone. Linger over coffee and dessert, and experience the pleasure of good company in your beautiful outdoor setting.

Visit www.pgeverydaysolutions.com for more information.