“ I love tasting new foods and the best way to do this is to have each guest bring a dish.

“ Make “Bloody Mary in your nuts” by combining Bloody Mary mix with nuts in tin foil and roast on the grill for a few minutes.

“ Everyone enjoys a bonfire and, for the kids, you can roast marshmallows and make smores.

“ Take the party outside, and enjoy the great weather. Everyone has a great time and it keeps the mess out of the house.

“ For a larger party I order part of the food and make a few side dishes.

“ For my son’s 2nd birthday party, I created my own themed water bottle labels to go with the “Down on the Farm” theme.

“ Peppers are not the only way to add heat to a dish. Try extra diced garlic in your bruschetta dip to bring up the flavor.

“ Anything involving the kids is always more fun with pigs in a blanket. Just a simple cocktail weenie wrapped in a crescent roll and baked. If I am feeling a little extra “daring” I put a little cheese inside.

“ When I am hosting a gathering in my home, I like to spend my time on my guests and not in the kitchen, so I prefer to either prep the day before or serve easy-to-make snacks and desserts.

“ Add a few frozen appetizers to the menu to give yourself a little relief .