This is a great time of year to invite your friends over for a leisurely lunch. The weather is still nice, the kids are in school, and everyone can take a deep breath and relax before it’s time to start concentrating on the holidays.
Go all out and make it really special. Make pretty place cards. Pick up some fresh cut flowers. Make sumptuous foods and decadent desserts. Wear something cute and get out of those jeans for a while. Turn on some fun, upbeat music. Serve lunch outdoors or in, but make an afternoon of it.
You can even get the blender going and make fresh fruit smoothies or other refreshing drinks, such as alcohol free daiquiris. Instead of Mimosa, try a shot of pulp-free, ice-cold orange juice topped off with cool ginger ale. You can make exotic, festive drinks without using alcohol and they taste great and add to the fun.
Try some of these menu ideas:
Cobb Sandwiches
Lay a slice of pumpernickel bread on a salad plate. Top the bread with shredded lettuce and thinly sliced Muenster cheese (or cheese of your choice). Next, stack thin layers of finely shaved ham, turkey, and roast beef. Drizzle with ranch dressing. Sprinkle on a bit of dill weed. Garnish with bite sized chunks of bleu cheese and cantaloupe wedges. Serve with knife and fork.
Easy Chicken Cordon Bleu
Prepare breaded boneless, skinless chicken breast tenderloins according to package directions. Top with shaved honey baked ham and then with provolone cheese. Heat until cheese is melted. Garnish with a cluster of red seedless grapes.
Wrap Sandwiches
Prepare breaded, boneless, skinless chicken breast tenderloins according to package directions. Set aside. Warm burrito size soft flour tortillas (toss into preheated, un-greased skillet, flip and remove, or separate them on a plate and nuke for about 30 seconds). At the top center of the tortilla, place romaine leaves and slivers of red onion. You may add paper-thin slices of cucumber and tomato if desired. Top with the chicken tenderloin. Drizzle with ranch or bleu cheese dressing and sprinkle with freshly ground pepper. Fold the lower half of the tortilla upward but don’t cover the chicken entirely (it should peek out). Then, fold in both sides of the tortilla and secure the folds with a pretty pick. Garnish with small watermelon triangles.
*Check back for more ideas.