An easily executable summer dinner party

• to drink: vino verde and beer

• Pre dinner snacks: marinades olives with feta from the bar at the grocery store, salt and vinegar chips, roasted chili pistachios

• Dinner is greens with Gotham greens green goddess dressing, the pasta recipe linked here, and smitten kitchens grilled chicken recipe with the lemon herb vinaigrette - grill while your guests are hanging and snacking. I did boneless breasts and thighs and it turned out great.

• For the kids, a box of Annie's Mac and cheese, the grilled chicken, strawberries

• Dessert is Alison Roman's blueberry cornmeal tart with vanilla ice cream

Easy to execute - I made the tart and vinaigrette in the morning. Pasta is truly a 30 min to plate situation, made it right before guests arrived and just left in the pot and warmed for a few min before serving. Had 4 adults and 3 kids with plenty of leftovers.