The dog days of summer are upon us, which means it’s time to savor the warm weather, fresh produce, and fun outdoor activities that come with it. One way to commemorate the season is with a festive dinner party. So, head to the farmers market, gather your friends, and prepare vibrant plates that will end summer with a bang.

The Menu

When it comes to summer flavor, it’s all about fresh produce. One great way to gain inspiration is to head to your local farmers market to see what’s in season. Think ripened tomatoes, sweet corn, and fresh figs. You can also chat with the vendors to see if they have any favorite recipes. For a fun and festive menu item, consider preparing this vegetable enchilada pie from Food & Wine. With layers of tortilla, spiced tomato sauce, and fresh summer squash, this dish will have guests asking for seconds and thirds.

Summer Cocktails

Raise a glass and cheers to a great summer season with a creative libation! Nothing screams summer quite like fresh strawberries and margaritas. Therefore, whip together a batch of strawberry basil margaritas. This recipe from Liquor.com mixes muddled strawberries and basil with tequila, maraschina liqueur, and Cointreau. Or, try this blackberry mint julep recipe from Food & Wine that utilizes fresh herbs and berries.

Commemorative Activities

Summer is always filled with fun memories. Therefore, celebrate the highs of the season by doing a round robbin of everyone’s favorite summer events or happenings. This will spark fun conversation and you may also hear interesting stories from your guests. To add a visual aspect, make it a craft night and put together photo albums or collages of favorite summer memories.

Are you looking for a new apartment to host dinner parties in? Contact the Lincoln team today and we would be happy to arrange a tour at one of our welcoming communities.