Drinks for the neighbours

[Squirrel]

I’m hosting garden drinks for our neighbours next week and I’m quite excited about this, although very out of practice post Covid.

It’s mostly about the drinks and chat but I’ll do some food too. Subject any dietary requirements that I don’t know about yet, this is the plan. What do you think?

It needs to be straightforward to make in advance or minimal last minute fuss, and easy to eat.

- Sausages on the BBQ, from the local butcher
- puff pastry tart, I’ve made a version of this tomato one before which was lovely
https://www.waitrose.com/ecom/recipe/mi ... se-tartlet
- green salad
- potato salad, I like the herby one from this page
https://www.olivemagazine.com/recipes/c ... cipes/amp/
- maybe corn fritters?
- another salad?
- anything else?
- crisps, olives
- choc brownies & berries & fresh whipped cream
- another sweet thing? I’m not good with puds.

Drinks:
- beer
- wine & fizz
- I like the look of this - it says to serve with Prosecco, soda and raspberries. Has anyone tried it?
Pimm's Sundowner Raspberry & Redcurrant Flavoured Aperitif
https://www.sainsburys.co.uk/gol-ui/pro ... ritif-70cl
- what other soft drinks? I only drink tea, water and alcohol so this is a blind spot.

[Squirrel]

Reviews for the Pimm’s are mixed

[Epponnee Rae]

I wish I were your neighbour, squids! It already sounds lovely. I’d be all over corn fritters.

For some reason mini caprese bites on cocktail sticks jumped into my mind. Easy to make and eat. There a halloumi and corn salad with giant couscous that was posted on here a while ago that is one of my favourite things to eat in warm weather.

[Squirrel]

Oh yes I’ve made that halloumi salad! It was gorgeous. I had to Google caprese bites, that’s a great idea, much easier to eat than a tricolour salad.

[Pippedydeadeye]

What time do you want me?

[emma_p]

Paul really can't spell! So I don’t trust his review Maybe you could do gin and tonic or aperol spritzes?

For soft drinks how about fresh lemonade? Maybe with lemon slices, sprigs of mint or basil? George had some in a restaurant the other week which had a strip of cucumber which was a nice touch. Or you could add raspberries for pink lemonades. Elderflower cordial is nice this time of year too, with lemon slices and mint.

What time are the drinks? I'd probably do more snacky/picky food than salads if it's later on? Will there be any children there?

I'd definitely add some baguettes to the list and cheese.

[emma_p]

That Alison Roman halloumi fregola salad is such a good one. We have it on repeat all summer

[absley]

Savoury (mini) muffins? I love these - easy to prep in batches and use them as an excuse to escape for a minute to add liquid and make a fresh batch

[Squirrel]

Thank you everyone these are excellent ideas, I knew you would help me .

Fresh lemonade YES PLEASE, that’s ideal!

Emma, it’s at 7pm and no children. I’m hoping mine will go to bed . It does mean that as it’s a school night we’ll have to reschedule if the weather’s shit though. The neighbours are all either older than us with grown up children, or child free.

[Morganna]

I'm going to a garden party tomorrow (NWR) so will report back.

[Lily]

I wish I'd seen this earlier! I'm having my housewarming this weekend with about 40 people and I fled to Aldi in a panic this lunchtime. This food sounds astonishing.

I would suggest getting a bucket filled with ice so you can keep the drinks cool. :helpful: I think just plain strawberries and cream, or even an Eton mess, always goes down well.

[Squirrel]

Yes we’re doing that too , I need to remember to make extra ice.

[Epponnee Rae]

Please please buy bags of ice!

[Squirrel]

Is there a reason I should buy ice and not just make it? we have an ice maker and a spare freezer.

[Epponnee Rae]

Mainly for time saving and having one less thing to do. But I was assuming average levels of ice making capacity, when it sounds like you have loads. So ignore me!

[Lily]

I was just envisaging you taking out and refilling trays of ice cubes.

You can get nice (cheap!) bamboo cutlery which will mean less washing up.

If you want to make the pudding a bit more special: strawberries in brandy snap baskets? You can buy them anywhere and they look so cute.

[Squirrel]

We also have a dishwasher, but thank you .

[SunnyMum]

These food suggestions sound wonderful.

Not food, but I HATE bamboo cutlery, I find that it gives food a horrid taste.

[Squirrel]

You can get supposedly compostable corn starch cutlery that feels like sturdy plastic. I much prefer the feel of it over bamboo but i never believe that these things are a straightforward case of being “better for the environment” as they may rot down but who knows what resources go into the production, packaging, transport etc.

[ParisGal]

Yep, better than plastic (probably), but disposable cutlery is terrible generally and not even necessary. Plates could get broken in the garden, but cutlery is pretty much indestructible.