Summer hospitality

I grew up in a house in a neighborhood that was a gathering place for my friends. Mom made grape Kool-Aid with extra sugar and let us all come and go from games of flashlight tag. 

I’ve always wanted my home to be where the teenagers hung out. And now that I have two teenagers, I’m thankful they do. When we moved to the country a decade ago, I wondered if this would impact our social life, but it hasn’t. So far this summer, we’ve planned parties, welcomed friends on a whim, and hosted my Bible study girls. I’ve fed college students, hosted our golf team families, and caught up with friends. 

These are the days I’ve longed for in so many ways.

Of course, there is grief I didn’t expect and valleys I didn’t see coming. 

But life is best on the porch with our people, especially with our new string lights. 

Recently, another mom who was at our house said she is friendly to her neighbors but doesn’t necessarily want to be friends with them. I appreciated that she knows that about herself. Meanwhile, fill my pool up with the kids and let me make some macaroni and cheese to feed them. 

Now, I don’t say this because it’s the only way to do life. I just wanted to share how we do summer hospitality. And, truthfully, know every summer doesn’t look the same. 

Serving ware

I used to almost exclusively use paper plates when we had multiple extra people over, but, honestly, I just got tired of spending money on something that would be thrown away. I got a whole stack of these cheap, plastic plates and expanded my Fiestaware collection, thanks to the Peddler’s Mall. And that’s what we’ve been using. In fact, I had to buy more forks because I think sometimes even the “real” forks end up in the trash! 

But, please hear me, if paper plates work for you, use them. If you have a cabinet full of plasticware leftover from take-out meals, use it! I’m definitely NOT a fancy host. My house looks lived in because, well, we live here. 

Meals 

I love to cook for people. I don’t bake much, but I love to make dinner. I don’t cook complicated meals, and I have some go-to recipes for serving a crowd. 

• Joanna Gaines’ Chicken Spaghetti – It’s from one of my favorite cookbooks! I don’t think I’m a better chef than Joanna, but I do tweak this recipe a bit. I leave out the mushrooms and green pepper, add zucchini, and don’t measure the sweet peppers or onion (the more the merrier)! I also don’t usually use white cheddar. 
• The Best Chicken Marinade – I found this recipe during the social-distancing days of COVID-19 because we were craving meal inspiration. This is our go-to marinade for grilled chicken, and we make it often. I buy chicken breasts, cut them into smaller portions, like often into sixths, and then Greg grills them. We’ve perfected this and usually make more than we need because it’s great leftover in salads, quesadillas, or however else you want to use it. 
• Mac & Cheese – Remember when recipe exchanges were email chain letters? Well, a friend sent me her family’s Baked Mac & Cheese recipe, and it’s become our family recipe. It’s so good and makes a ton!
• Chicken Salad – I like to loosely follow this Chicken Salad Chick copycat recipe!
• Taco Bar – This way, everyone can pile on whatever they prefer – chicken or beef, rice or sweet potatoes, salsa or guacamole, shredded cheese or queso. My favorite additions to the taco bar are Chuy’s copycat Jalapeno Ranch and Pioneer Woman’s restaurant-style salsa. 

Of course, cooking for a crowd isn’t always an option, so carry-out and potluck are good options too! We do a lot of parties where we provide the main course (think burgers & hot dogs!) and drinks, and others bring sides and desserts. 

Soda Bar

Dirty sodas are popular right now – and I like the concept! Give me a Dr Pepper Zero with sugar-free coconut syrup and coconut creamer, and I’m happy gal. Throw a lime in for good measure too! Or choose whatever other flavors you love! We had a Dirty Soda Bar for my daughter’s 19th birthday party and it was a hit. Sometimes we make them just because. Here are some of the ingredients we love to have on hand for these fun drinks! 

Game Nights

We have a Nertz-playing group of friends. We have other friends who will play any game that’s in front of them. My favorite kind of Game Nights are when the adults have a game going at one table while the kids have another game going. We have lots of favorites and go through seasons with them, but here is some inspiration. 

Pool Party

We have a pool, so that’s the summer attraction for sure. But my youngest is enjoying the simple fun of a hose and some soap on the trampoline. On Memorial Day, she and her friends used all the soap in my house. Literally. Every foaming hand pump and all the bottles of dish soap. So now I stock up on cheap dish soap for her. 

Another summer day, my college girl and her friends made themselves into a slip-and-slide by wearing trash bags doused with soap! A tarp is always fun on the hill in front of our house. 

Inviting others in doesn’t have to be complicated or fancy, and, in fact, I’ve learned people like ordinary hospitality. We all like to be seen and known. We like to be fed. We like to be invited. 

*****

Here are more ways to open your home & your hearts in any season as inspired by my book, Bringing Home More Than Groceries: Stories About Gathering & Nourishing People.

God authors the stories on our porches – in every season, wherever we are. If you haven’t already, please subscribe to  #PorchStories emails to receive them about every other week.