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Entertaining Notions Sections:
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| Outdoor entertaining needn't be limited to the deck or even the garden. |
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Pack up the Boursin® and take it outdoors ... and beyond!
Entertaining outdoors doesn't have to mean roughing it (no, the red check tablecloth is not mandatory!). The garden party is a perfect excuse to take your whole dinner party outdoors. Show off your blooming tulips, drink in your fragrant peonies. Frame the colors of the fall foliage in your own backyard.
Feel free to complement Mother Nature's grandeur with your favorite tablecloths, floral china and ornate silverware. Set your table under a large oak tree or in among your garden beds. The perfect garden party is not intended to be a picnic. It is truly a full-fledged dinner party or luncheon with nature as your backdrop.
To accommodate your guests outdoors, be sure to bring out an ice tub and drinks, bring out your room temperature foods and cover them so bugs will not swarm. Pre-set your table so it will be an inviting tableau when your guests arrive.
Firing up the grill is often the perfect formula for a low-key summer get-together.
Grill fresh vegetables and Boursin burgers, and offer a cheese board with fresh fruit. Cut some crusty rolls and you're done!
If your outdoor party will extend into the evening hours, take a few simple steps to ensure your guests' comfort:
- Lighting:
Luminaries on steps are an inexpensive and easy way to light a path in a festive way. Citronella torches and candelabras with citronella votives serve dual duty - light and bug repellant.
- Bugs:
Be sure to remove any standing water a few days before the party to limit bug procreation. In addition to citronella, there are a number of very effective electronic devices that keep bugs at bay.
- Warmth:
If the evening promises to be on the cool side, be prepared to light a fire in an outdoor fireplace or offer shawls, sweatshirts or jackets to guests.
It's hard to resist the romantic beauty of brilliant fall foliage and a crisp autumn day.
So, dig out that well-worn picnic blanket and basket. Pack some wine, Boursin, a baguette and a gourmet chicken salad. Add some winesap or gala apples (or even a fresh pie) from a farm stand en route. And enjoy a fall afternoon without football!
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