Simple Summer Fun: Host a Food Festival in Your Own Backyard!

Check out my ideas for simple summer entertaining from Talk of the Town in Nashville... I suggested a summer food festival right in your own backyard complete with food stations, games, a parade... simple summer fun. Our party theme was a Peach Festival with Chilton County peaches from my great state of Alabama but you can also center the party around your summer favorite: tomatoes, watermelon, blueberries, BBQ, ice cream... you name it!

GET THE RECIPES:

FRESH PEACH TARTS

FRESH PEACH SANGRIA

FOR SUMMER FOOD FESTIVALS, RECIPES AND GREAT ALABAMA FOOD CHECK OUT THE YEAR OF ALABAMA FOOD... LOTS OF GREAT FOOD FROM MY HOME STATE!

FOLLOW ME ON MY QUEST TO BECOME FOOD NETWORK STAR!

Wedding or Party Decorations: Easy Paper Lanterns

Need a fast, simple, and cheap table decoration for your wedding or party? Make these paper lanterns- they are so simple and add a pop of color to your table. You can use scrapbook paper, heavy wrapping paper, craft paper, or any stiff paper that will stand. Color coordinate with your party theme; you can personalize with stamps, punch a decoration, or ribbon trim.

EASY TABLE DECORATIONS: SCRAPBOOK PAPER LANTERNS

Scrapbook paper sheets

Double sided tape or glue stick

Mason jars or other jar, vase, etc

Candles: floating candles, tealights, or other light source

These lanterns are so easy to make and can really dress up a table or customize any party for very little money! Since scrapbook paper comes in all colors and patterns, you really have endless options. Here's the how to:

Get a sheet of scrapbook paper. If it is thick, you'll want to cut in some designs so light will shine through. If the paper is thin or you use vellum, you don't need to cut in a design. You can use a hole punch or a paper cutter- or a utility knife. Use a glue stick or double faced tape along the edge of the back side of the paper to form the paper into a cylinder.

Put the light source into the jar. LED lights work great but you don't want to see the clunky base through the paper so use a dense paper with a design at the top. You won't even need a container if you use the LED lights. If you opt for candles, including tealights or votive candles, make sure to put some sand or salt in the bottom of the vase, glass, or container to keep the candle off the bottom of the jar so that it does not get too hot. A great use for canning jars, you can cut the paper to different lengths to stagger the height of the

This is a great use for floating candles or even glo-sticks!

Place the paper cylinder over the jar.... and you have a customized lantern!

Design your paper lantern so light will shine through using a punch or create your own design!Use LED lights or flameless candles for long-lasting light! Put them in a clear canning jar or vase so the wind does not blow them over!

Talk of the Town Nashville Summer Special: Recipes & How-To Tips

Happy 4th of July!

For those of you watching our TV special on Nashville's Talk of the Town, here are links for some of the recipes and ideas we showcased today! Scroll all the way to the bottom to see the how-to video from the show.

Infuse your summer with flavor!INFUSED LEMONADE

Take your lemonade from ordinary to extraordinary when you infuse the simple syrup with flavor. Get the recipes:

VANILLA BEAN PLANTATION LEMONADE

INFUSED SIMPLE SYRUP

For even more lemony fun, make a lemonade station for your party with lots of mix-ins and libations! Get the how-to...

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Popsicles and ProseccoPOPSICLE-PALOOZA!

Hi-tech, low tech, and low tech ways to make your own frozen treats for kids and adults this summer.

POPSICLE HOW-TO

POPSICLES AND PROSECCO

Once considered just a kiddie treat, the popsicle has gone exotic! Whether you make your own popsicles or buy them, this elegant presentation takes popsicles to a whole different level. The perfect way to end a summer dinner party or wedding reception.

Some other great homemade popsicles to make include:

STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE POPS

S'MORES POPS

16 HOMEMADE POPSICLE RECIPES

Watch our how-to video from Talk of the Town!

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BACKYARD CAMPING PARTY

This one is so much fun for just about any occasion... birthday party, neighborhood party, team get-togethers, and more. It is even a fun date night. Watch the video...

This is a super inexpensive "stay-cation" for those staying home this summer. You'll feel like you went away... and best of all, your bed and the air-conditioner are just steps away!

Here's the simple recipe for the hobo packs that you can throw right on the fire or grill:

LOW COUNTRY HOBO PACKS

This is a similar taste to a one pot boil but even easier. Since shrimp cooks faster than the potatoes and the corn, it is best to pre-cook those so that you don't overcook the shrimp.

For 6

1 pound medium shrimp, peeled and deveined, tails on

1 large onion

3 ears of corn

12 medium red potatoes

Old Bay Seasoning

2 lemons- one cut into wedges for serving

1 Beer (you can substitute water if you like)

butter

salt and pepper to taste

Parboil the potatoes and corn for a few minutes on the stove in boiling water. Do not cook completely. You just want to give them a bit of a head start so that all of the food in the pack has an equal cooking time. I usually cook the potatoes for 8 minutes and add the corn. Cook 4 more minutes and remove from the heat.

Tear large squares of aluminium foil to make the packs. Layer the potatoes, onion, corn, and shrimp. Add a dot of butter, salt, pepper, and a dash of Old Bay seasoning. Turn up the edges and add about 1/4 cup of beer to each package. Squeeze some lemon juice over the top and seal the packs well on all sides. Cook over medium coals for about 10 minutes until the shrimp are cooked. You can put these directly on the edge of a campfire, too.

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Scrapbook Paper LanternEASY TABLE DECORATIONS: SCRAPBOOK PAPER LANTERNS

Scrapbook paper sheets

Double sided tape or glue stick

Mason jars or other jar, vase, etc

Candles: floating candles, tealights, or other light source

These lanterns are so easy to make and can really dress up a table or customize any party for very little money! Since scrapbook paper comes in all colors and patterns, you really have endless options. Here's the how to:

Get a sheet of scrapbook paper. If it is thick, you'll want to cut in some designs so light will shine through. If the paper is thin or you use vellum, you don't need to cut in a design. You can use a hole punch or a paper cutter- or a utility knife.

Use a glue stick or double faced tape along the edge of the back side of the paper to form the paper into a cylinder.

Put the light source into the jar. For tealights or candles, I like to put sand in the bottom to keep the candle off the bottom of the jar. This is a great use for floating candles or even glo-sticks.

Place the paper cylinder over the jar.... and you have a customized lantern!

 Custom banner made of flags and ribbonCUSTOMIZED BANNERS

This is one of the easiest ways to dress up any area in your party colors.  Using flags, ribbon, or scrapbook paper, simply make a pretty line of color to decorate a fence, a tent, or patio.

For the paper banners, fold over to make a triangle. Fold over a piece of clothesline, twine, rope, or string. Secure with a piece of Velcro or double stick tape. I like using a Velcro dot so I can use these over and over again; sometimes in different color combinations! You can make these directional banners or signs, too by lettering them... lots of fun and very affordable.

FOLLOW MARTIE ON FACEBOOK FOR MORE GREAT PARTY IDEAS, RECIPES, COCKTAILS, AND FUN!

Replay: Host a Patriotic Memorial Day Party, Beer Can Chicken and more!

Since I'm on the road this week and my schedule is a little off; I completely forgot that Monday is Memorial Day! Since this post has been one of the most popular that we've ever done, I thought I'd rerun it for you in case you're like me and need a few last minute ideas for the weekend's festivities. 

In a salute to the troops and in honor of our country's struggle to get back on our feet financially, let's all fly the flag and throw a classic backyard Memorial Day party this year! I love going old school-- and although I love keeping up with the trends, I am really old school at heart. This backyard BBQ is a blast from the past. From the music, to the decorations, to the backyard games and the dogs and burgers on the grill, this one goes back to Memorial days past but with a few new traditions that you'll love!

To read more, go to our original blog post: Back to the Classics: Host a Patriotic Memorial Day Party!

If you want a real crowd-pleasing recipe and a great presentation, too, try my Beer Can chicken recipe. You can do two or three of these for a big crowd and they are great for a party because they require little effort... more time with your guests!

For more ideas and great supplies for your party, go to Oriental Trading Companyand for recipes, how-tos and more, try our great friends at MyRecipes.com 

Or try our Backyard Asian BBQ... it's a great way to entertain. Your friends will love it! See the slideshow or watch the video now!

Fourth of July Party Drinks: My Strawberry Basil Lemonade & more

Raspberry Lemonade from MyRecipes.comWell, like most people, I've been so busy that I let a major party holiday sneak up on me! We're less than a week away from the 4th of July and I just realized it today! Lucky for me, I have quite a few red, white and blue decorations left over from our 'Back-to-the-Classics' Memorial Day party. This one is perfect if you're looking for ideas for an old school BBQ with all the trimmings starting with Blue Cheese Burgers and Classic Potato Salad. All of the recipes for this one are from my great friends at MyRecipes.com.

Since it will likely be boiling hot all over the USA for the 4th this year, I am planning lots of icy cold drinks--- all of them lemonade based. Here's my lemonade line-up. Pick and choose for your party!

• Raspberry Lemonade
• Strawberry Basil Lemonade (recipe below)
• Arnold Palmer (half lemonade, half iced tea)
• Southern Sweet Tea
• Pomegranate Spiked Sweet Tea
• Pama Lemonade
• Kathy G's Mint Limeade

Serving Suggestions

Acrylic Beverage Dispensers from Pottery BarnGet large containers--- large glass apothecary jars (at Target under $20 each) work well for a big crowd. Try to find ladles with a hook at the top of the handle so they don't slide down into the container. These two gallon acrylic dispensers from Pottery Barn work really well and everyone always asks me where I got them. They're a great investment if you entertain a lot. Around $69 for the large one.

On a hot day, I make my drinks strong so they are not diluted by melting ice. And I always serve ice on the side, I don't put it in the container. This keeps drinks from getting watered down.

 Martie's Strawberry Basil Lemonade

I love fresh basil and grow it in my garden. Here's a new way to use it that is so refreshing! 

7 cups water

5 cups sugar

zest of 4 lemons

2 pints fresh strawberries, hulled, sliced

4 cups fresh lemon juice (about 10 lemons)

10-12 large fresh basil leavesFresh basil makes the difference in Martie's Strawberry Basil Lemonade

Make a simple syrup by combining 3 cups sugar and 3 cups water in a large saucepan. Bring to a boil then reduce the heat. Simmer until the sugar dissolves. Add the lemon zest; simmer two more minutes. Remove from the heat and let stand for 10 minutes. Bruise or crush four basil leaves and stir into the syrup. Let stand at least 10 more minutes.

Next, put the strawberries and the remaining sugar into a food processor or blender. Puree until smooth. Strain the puree into a large container or pitcher. Add the cooled simple syrup, removing the zest and the basil. Add the lemon juice and the remaining water. Stir well and taste. You may need to adjust to your taste. Just before serving, stir the remaining basil leaves into the lemonade so they stay fresh and bright green. Chill well and serve over ice. If you want, go ahead and cheat with frozen strawberries and lemonade from the store. It won't be the same but it will still be good.

Food ideas and recipes tomorrow!