Summer Birthday Fun

One of the best thigns about a summer birthday is that it can any way you want it to go.If you want a outdoor soiree  then so be it. If an indoor brunch is your dream party, then go for it. Another facet is the food, Unlike cooler weather dos , you can have a grilling good time too.

Summer parties can have all sorts of theme. If the celebrant is a big seafood lover you can throw a backyard clambake for them. Lobster , tilapia , salmon and even oysters can be roasted over hot coals.  Whip up a big batch of old fashioned cole slaw (the kind with mayo and carrots) along with grilled ears of corn as sides. A nice extra is old fashioned easy to make scratch biscuits and serve them with lemon butter. The birthday cake doesn't have to be a cake , instead serve  a peach pie or blueberry crisp with fresh whipped cream. For the Paleo types have a traditional meat cookout. Start with tasty sausages and peppers and end with steaks and ribs. What to serve with all this protein? Tomato salad with fresh tomatoes, garlic and basil or a  grilled Caesar salad. This last is easy to do- simply  brush oil on  Romaine lettuce leaves and then place on the grill until they are slightly charred and wilted. The dessert should be the perfect warm weather treat -ice cream cake. You can have your favorite ice cream shop make it or make it yourself.

Theme parties can be fun  too. Hot weather begs for a luau and a birthday one is extra special. You can always roast a pig although this is labor intensive, especially for novice barbecuers. Think about a suckling pig which is usually twenty five pounds compared to an adult that can reach two hundred!An alternative is grilling ham and serving it with a pineapple barbecue sauce or char sui, a Chinese dish popular on the islands. This is roasted pork tenderloin brined in a sweet spicy sauce and served with fresh pineapple on those yummy Hawaiian sweet buns. Feature island fruits such as papaya and mango in salads. The birthday cake can be the traditional haupia cake which features a filling of  coconut cream.Another sweet treat is Hawaiian shaved ice which just requires a block of ice , a scraper and  different syrups.You can go completely opposite and have a summer tea , much like the Crawleys would do on Downton Abbey. Start with serving a variety of different teas, from the citrusy  Lady Grey to the the robust Irish breakfast. You can even make a  tea punch  using strong black tea , lemonade and seltzer or ginger ale. Sandwiches can be the traditional watercress or chicken salad. For variety you can also have thin shaved ham or minced shrimp. The birthday cake can be a series of petit fours that have lettering spelling out "HAPPY BIRTHDAY"  or cupcakes doing the same thing. If you do want alcoholic drinks then think about mimosa, a light bubbly mix of champagne and orange juice.

The best birthday is a summer one. There are so many ways to go to celebrate, whether with a clambake or an English tea, or a luau  or a good old American cookout. Any way is a fun way to  party, enjoying good company, good food and good gifts!