Summertime and the Living is Easy

With the Fourth of July often comes fun, outdoor celebrations with delicious food.  How do you eat all of the "difficult" foods while looking marvelously well-mannered? Take heart. Picnics, barbecues, and poolside spreads are necessarily casual affairs, and it is appropriate to eat with your hands.  Here are a few of the more popular foods served during the summer.  Let us know if you can think of others.

watermelon

When served in slices and with seeds, eat with your hands and drop seeds into a cupped hand and place on your plate or napkin.  If served cubed and in a bowl, then eat with a fork.

 

         corn on the cob

Butter and season only several rows at a time and eat with your hands.  Do not eat like an old-fashioned typewriter.  And do not butter the entire ear of corn at once - you will create a mess. 

     barbecued ribs

Another delicious food that is to be eaten with your fingers at outdoor parties.  We do recommend not licking your fingers.  Instead, use your napkin. 

If you are the hostess of one of a summer party, don't serve these foods when your guests will be eating indoors.  Rather, serve outdoors and provide finger bowls and extra napkins.  Your guests will be grateful.

When eating all of these - as a guest or a host - keep a sense of humor, and your napkin handy.  Happy summer everyone!