I love to entertain at my home but I also love to get most of the work done before the party so I can enjoy my time with my guests. I love it to be easy with a Summer Party Plan. I hosted 12 family members at my home for my youngest daughter’s birthday. Aldi offered to sponsor the party with one of their easy Summer Party Menus. Since I already love Aldi, I could get everything in one spot, and they even helped with the menu planning, I was all in. I just love Easy Party Planning!
I chose the Sip and Savor party menu plan since it looked yummy and easy to make. With this party menu, you serve and enjoy refreshing seasonal beverages from ALDI. Bright hues of lemonade squeezed from fresh lemons and sangria topped with apples, oranges and limes will help to get the party started. The fresh USDA Choice meats served with vibrant fruits and vegetables provides the perfect complement.
Table of Contents
Easy Summer Party Food
You can download the shopping list yourself here. (The prices are from 8 years ago and no longer valid)
Summer House Parties Sip & Sizzle Shopping List
Since the day of the party was also the day of my daughters’ dance recital, my mother in law and I prepped most of the food in the morning before the recital. That way after everyone came to the house, we could all start enjoying ourselves. We sliced the cheese, cubed the chicken, made the cucumber salsa, sliced the baguette, and got out all the serving trays.
Once everyone arrived we started with sangria and Prosciutto Panino, cheese and crackers and the Hummus sampler. I absolutely love the Savoritz Six Cracker Assortment. It costs just $2.69 for entertaining crackers. Similar crackers at other grocery store cost double this. I always keep these on hand in order to be ready for a quick appetizer with cheese if people stop by. The Prosciutto Panino was so tasty and looked pretty on the plate. This is on my buy list for any upcoming parties. My guests love the appetizers and literally cleared the plates.
While people were finishing up the appetizers, we fired up the grill for the Grilled Chicken and Pineapple skewers. I tripled the recipe since we had 12. The recipe is below or you can grab it from the Aldi website. I use Metal Skewers
similar to these and if you are grilling kebobs often they sure come in handy. I also served the flirty bird wine and the kids had lemonade.
We served the chicken kebobs with a fresh green salad, the cucumber salsa, and a sliced baguette which were from Aldi. The cucumber salsa was the prefect compliment to the chicken and I loved that it was all prepared before the party even started.
Since it was my daughter’s birthday, we had to have a great dessert. She opted for a sundae bar. I absolutely love the Breton’s Kids waffle bowls from Aldi. They are such a fun treat. We also had carmel and chocolate syrup, mini chocolate chips, gummi bears and sprinkles. Aldi carries all these as well. The kids enjoyed making their own concoctions.
Overall the party was a HUGE hit and I paid less than $100 for everything for 12 people. I loved having a meal plan ready to go that I could just follow. The Aldi ingredients and meal plan was fantastic and I assure you that your guests will love it. My guests were shocked that everything come from Aldi. If you are planning an upcoming get together for a few or a crowd be sure to consider this easy party plan .
Grilled Chicken and Pineapple Skewers with Lemon-Cucumber Salsa
Ingredients
- 1 pineapple
- 2 tablespoons Carlini Vegetable Oil
- 1 teaspoon Stonemill Essentials Iodized Salt
- 2 teaspoons Stonemill Essentials Ground Black Pepper divided
- 1.75 pounds Kirkwood Fresh Chicken Breasts diced into 1-inch pieces
- 1 lemon supremed
- 1 cucumber diced
- ½ red onion diced
- 1 tablespoon SimplyNature Organic Wildflower Honey
Instructions
- Soak 8 wooden skewers in water for 15 minutes.
- Heat grill to medium-high heat.
- Remove rind from pineapple and dice into 1-inch pieces.
- In a small bowl, combine oil, salt and 1 teaspoon pepper. Add chicken and pineapple; toss to coat.
- Alternating chicken and pineapple, pierce onto skewers.
- Grill for 8 minutes each side, or until chicken is cooked thoroughly.
- In a medium bowl combine lemon, cucumber, onion, honey and 1 teaspoon pepper.
- Serve lemon-cucumber salsa over cooked chicken skewers.
- TIP: Supreme citrus fruit by cutting off the top and bottom of the fruit, then cut away the peel and pith, leaving no white on the outside of the fruit. Slice each segment into wedges by cutting toward the center of the fruit along the membrane.
More Summer Party Ideas
Disclosure: Aldi provided me with gift certificates to purchase the party food and supplies. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Tonya says
Looks like you had a great day, relaxing with family after the recital. I’ve never thought of chicken/pineapple kabobs before but they sure look delicious. I think I’ll add them to our menu for our next cookout.
Melissa says
They really were tasty. I forgot to get a picture of the cucumber relish but it was delicious with the kebobs.
Mimi says
We don’t usually have big get togethers, but I’m hoping to change that. Those skewers look delicious. I also dig those waffle bowls for ice cream!
Melissa says
I love having big get togethers and it was so easy with this party plan. Entertaining doesn’t have to be hard or expensive.
Kimberly Grabinski says
Wow, everything looks so good! We shop at Aldi, I love their growing organic line!
Melissa says
I love the organic line too. I am so glad that they have expanded it throughout the store.
Nina Say says
Everything looks so delicious! I’m especially amazed by the waffle bowls, I need to find those NOW.
Melissa says
We love these too. These are usually a seasonal item so I stock up now for the next few months.
Melinda says
those skewers look amazing.
Melissa says
They were plus they are so simple to make which is my favorite type of recipe.
Shop with Me Mama (Kim) says
Wow, yum! Looks like a fun time at your house! I love all the yummy food and especially those skewers! MMMM!
Melissa says
Thanks so much!
Kecia says
Our town got an Aldi about 3 years ago and it has become one of our favorite stores. You can find so much of what you normally buy there, for much less money!
Valerie Remy-Milora says
Wow! May I come over please? This all sounds fabulous and for less than $100 that’s amazing! I’ve never heard of Aldi before but my 13 year old has a birthday coming up and I would love to surprise her and invite her closest friends for a BBQ and sleep over… I think I’ll serve everything you’ve prepared 🙂
Melissa says
I think the sundae bar would be perfect for a sleepover birthday party and your money sure will go farther at Aldi!
Angela S says
That’s a great party! The kabobs and the Sangria look great right now.
Jennifer @ Mom Spotted says
Girl, you had me at Sangria!
Lisa @ Crazy Adventures in Parenting says
You had me at sangria… until the waffle bowls OMG!! Can I come to your house? 🙂
Melissa says
I know … I think I could live off of sangria and ice in waffle bowls. LOL.
Audrey at Barking Mad! says
When we have cookouts, I don’t know why, but it never occurs to me to prepare ‘kabobs! These look so yummy, and simple as well. Definitely going on the menu for our next cookout.
Melissa says
Audrey – I know kebobs seem like a bit of work but it is really all just chopping whicg you can do before the party even starts. I LOVE kebobs for parties since they are fun AND easy to prepare.
Lisa says
Can’t wait to try these!
Naomi says
Looks like a great menu and a great party! The price for it is fabulous! Aldi’s sure has great prices!
Rachel @ Following in My Shoes says
What a PERFECT summer party — the kebobs look SO GOOD!
Michelle says
Oh I love the sound of those skewers! I’m going to add those to my must try list!
Chelle @ Oh Just Stop Already says
Such a simple meal plan that allows for you to enjoy your time with your family and guests. Love it.
HilLesha says
Sangria is one of my few favorites!
Allyson @ Southern Sunflowers says
The chicken and pineapple kabobs sound delish! Thank you for sharing at #HomeMattersParty.