Summer is all about entertaining! Fire up the grill, get out the oversized games, and don’t forget the perfect patriotic tablescape. We share ways to help transform your backyard into a great spot to gather with friends.
CREATE A GREAT GATHERING PLACE
It’s America’s birthday so the table needs to reflect the party! Simple additions and can a big impact like swapping out plates and napkins, a table runner and use items that can transition to everyday use too. Stick to the theme of stars and stripes, flag and of course everything needs to be red, white and blue.
Macy’s has everything you need for a patriotic table! Saro Lifestyle has US Flag Charger Plates to a whole Stars and Checkered table. We paired the American Flag runner and with the Patriot Stars Napkin Set and then accented it with Star Napkin Ring Set. Plus the Villeroy & Boch Manior Dinnerware Set is perfect to transition your table for every season.
The summer is a great time to GO Big! And games is no exception. From Yahtzee to Uno and Sorry, we love how Macy’s has giant versions of our favorite classic games. Each are a unique take on the games we grew up playing and sometimes get a little more competitive in the giant size. Macy’s is also home to our favorite toy store growing up, Toys R’ Us. So whether you need some games for your backyard party or a birthday party gift, Macy’s has such a great selection.
TAKE THE GUESSWORK OUT OF GRILLING
A backyard BBQ screams holiday weekend. Whether you are cooking a variety of meats or vegetables, there can be a lot of guesswork that goes into grilling. We love Traeger Grills because they make grilling easy for everyone. A Traeger grill will transform the way you cook because it creates consistent results, every single time with it’s precision temperature which allows for endless possibilities. You can grill, smoke, roast, bbq, braise and bake. All Traeger Grills feature WiFire Technology, which lets you command the grill and monitor food from anywhere. This is especially helpful when you are entertaining and want to enjoy conversations with guests.
Traeger invented the wood-fired grill 30 years ago and they continue to innovate in this space.Their latest is the Ironwood series. It features the Traeger FreeFlow firepot + Super Smoke Mode which keep fresh smoke flowing over the food to ensure the highest possible quality of wood-fired flavor. Ironwood also has Smart Combustion technology which maintains consistent cooking temperatures while fully insulated dual-wall construction reduces temperature fluctuation when it’s cold outside. And if you need inspiration, Traeger features a library of free recipes. We recently tried our hand at the bacon cheeseburger and smoked corn on the cob ones. We couldn’t believe how flavorful everything was. And once you decide what you want to make, don’t forget Traeger’s signature rubs, sauces and pellets to make all of your dishes even more flavorful.
TWIST ON TRADITIONAL MENU
From burgers and hot dogs to side dishes, get creative and put a little twist on the traditional menu. The Butchery sources the highest quality meats and ingredients available from the finest Farms, Ranches and purveyors in the West. The have four locations in Southern California — Brea, Crystal Cove, Costa Mesa and Del Mar — their butchers are trained and highly skilled, giving you the best cuts for your money, but also know they know their stuff when it comes to recommending the right choice for you and your family. We love going to the One Paseo location with it’s specialty meats like dry-aged beef and wagyu, as well as exotics like bison and venison. It has locally-made sausages, ground beef prepared in house, and a full deli case.
As far as twists go, start with your protein and more, like bacon on your burger or tri tip to your nachos, display all-american dishes with firecracker flair and combine with patriotic produce sure to impress. Shop The Butchery Quality Meats online or in store.
PATRIOTIC PRODUCE
Our kids love fruit from Yasukochi Farms. When the CSA box arrives, I have to remind them not to eat all of it at one time! I have enjoyed watching them be a part of food prep. From washing the produce to cutting the fruit, when they help prepare the food, they are often more inclined to eat it. One of our favorites is taking strawberries and blueberries and creating a flag. We also love grilling up our veggies. Corn on the cob, zucchini and peppers are just a few of our favorites from our CSA box.
Yasukochi Family Farms makes it simple by delivering fresh produce to your doorstep in their CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) boxes. Each week a box of farm fresh produce grown using responsible farming methods and full of freshly picked produce grown by Yasukochi Family Farms located in Oceanside and other local partner growers provides all the produce and fruit needed for our family. From juicy watermelon to sweet strawberries, zucchini, brussel sprouts, peppers, potatoes and more, the seasonal selection is full of staples as well as some unique items to add to your recipes.
Each box will contain 11-15 different produce items and then there are add-on items like eggs, honey, flowers, fruit and more. You can add on extras of favorites like strawberries, corn and more. They rotate seasonally.
