This is the easiest pasta salad ever: Mix 3/4 lb cooked pasta with 1 batch Best Dressing, 1 cup cherry tomatoes (halved), and 3 scallions (thinly sliced). Perfect pool party food!
As kids, the one thing my sister and I wanted during summer was a pool. (Ok, that’s a stretch. We also wanted a dog. And a cat. And a boatload of Fla-vor-ice freeze pops to eat, and a backyard “fort” to camp out in.) But really, we begged and pleaded with my parents for a pool for as long as I can remember.
Now that her kids are all grown up and moved out, my mom made an announcement this year: she’s getting a pool. What she didn’t realize is that now that her kids are all gone, her free labor is gone with it and she’ll have to tend to the upkeep herself. (One of the biggest arguments my sister and I had when we were trying to convince our parents to get us a pool was that we’d take care of keeping it up ourselves, and they wouldn’t have to do anything but enjoy it.) Somehow I doubt she’ll mind though, especially as she’s leisurely floating in her new pool enjoying a cold beverage on a scorching hot day. But, the good thing for my sister and I is that we can enjoy using the pool without having to worry about taking care of it. The tables have turned, lol.
Here’s a quick list of ideas for putting together good food for a pool party…you could even make it pot luck-style and ask people to choose a dish to bring.
Drinks
- Punch or fruity drinks, like Strawberry Spritzers or Peach-Strawberry Fizz
- Lemonade
- Cold-Brewed Iced Tea
- Cold-Brewed Iced Coffee
Appetizers
- Heirloom Tomato Bruschetta
- Homemade Everything Crackers with cheese, hummus, or any dip you like
- Veggie Tray with Vegetable Cream Cheese Dip, Roasted Carrot Red Lentil Dip, or any dip you like
Salads and Veggie Side Dishes
White Bean-Roasted Red Pepper Salad
Bean, Pasta, and Potato Salads
- White Bean-Roasted Red Pepper Salad
- Lemony Olive & Black Bean Relish
- Succotash-Style Pasta Salad with Roasted Garlic Dressing
- Deviled Potato Salad
- Herbed New Potato Salad
Main Dishes
- Shrimp Burgers with Scallion Mayo
- Pizza Burgers
- Cheeseburger Pie
- Grilled Chicken with Homemade BBQ Sauce
Cherry-Vanilla Cheese Danish Cupcakes
Desserts
- Cherry-Vanilla Cheese Danish Cupcakes
- Strawberry Shortcake Cupcakes
- Lavender Shortbread Cookies
- Red, White, & Blue Sorbet Sundaes
- Sparkling Frozen Strawberry Lemonade
- Grilled Peaches with Orange Blossom Syrup & Pistachios
And here are a few more delicious looking recipes from around the web that would be perfect for a summer party:
- Almond Joy Brownies by Cinnamon Spice & Everything Nice
- Berry Popsicles by Jeanette’s Healthy Living
- Brownie Batter Frozen Yogurt by Chocolate-Covered Katie
- Caponata, a Summery Sicilian Vegetable Stew by Food to Glow
- Deviled Shrimp by Sunset
- Grilled Endive Caprese Salad by Healthy Green Kitchen
- Grilled Chicken with Tarragon-Mustard Marinade by Kalyn’s Kitchen
- Grilled Turkey Burgers with Greek Yogurt-Based Sauce by Epicurean Mom
- Lamb Burgers by Southern Living
- Lemony Potato and Pea Salad with Mint by Savory Moments
- Toasted Walnut Spinach Pesto Pasta by Family Fresh Cooking
- Tofu Burgers by Real Simple
- Watermelon and Feta Bites by Yummy Mummy
- Whole Wheat Pasta Salad with Beans, Capers, and Balsamic Yogurt Dressing by Cookin’ Canuck
- Zucchini with Ricotta and Mint by Katherine Martinelli via Everyday Maven
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I’m Faith Gorsky, the writer, cook, and photographer behind An Edible Mosaic. My goal is to inspire you to get in the kitchen and try something new! Feel free to 
Rosa says
June 19, 2012 at 5:48 amWonderful food, indeed! I particularly like the cheeseburger pie.
Cheers,
Rosa
Krista says
June 19, 2012 at 8:30 amFaith, you are a wonder. :-) You have SO many good ideas for summer, I love it. :-) My brothers and I hankered for a pool too – and actually got one for a couple of years at a rental we stayed in. We absolutely loved it. :-)
Erica says
June 19, 2012 at 12:05 pmI’m starting to make my menu for Kaylin’s birthday! Perfect post :) Great timing ;)
Diane says
June 19, 2012 at 2:05 pmWow, what a great selection of ideas and recipes as well. Diane
Jenn and Seth (@HomeSkilletCook) says
June 19, 2012 at 2:45 pmsuch great ideas for summer parties! love it!
Alyssa (Everyday Maven) says
June 19, 2012 at 4:45 pmThat is so funny Faith. Having a pool makes summer amazing – I miss that about the East Coast!
angela@spinachtiger says
June 20, 2012 at 12:02 amLove this post and every picture. I shouldn’t read blogs at night, now I’m so hungry for that bruschetta.
coco says
June 20, 2012 at 5:25 amlove this posts for party ideas! all the recipes sound delicious and easynto make! :)
Sanjeeta kk says
June 20, 2012 at 6:14 amWhere’s the party tonight…lovely-lovely ideas to kick start one soon!
Joanne says
June 20, 2012 at 6:54 amI LOVE these summer party ideas! And had to laugh about the pool and your mom…maybe now that you’ve all moved out she’s just trying to lure you in to visit more with the pool? :P
Nancy-SpicieFoodie says
June 20, 2012 at 8:18 amHi Faith,
I’m giggling at the pool story. Enjoy it:) All of the recipes in this roundup are perfect for summer. I love pasta salad with tomatoes in the summer.
P.S.
Glad to hear your book will also be available in Kindle format. Can’t wait to get my copy:)
Girlnapurpledress says
June 20, 2012 at 8:26 amAmazing post & ideas! I love your photographs, simply beautiful! Loving the cheese danish cupcakes! What a great idea. Your white bean red-roasted pepper salad looks really delicious. What a feast!
Angie@Angie's Recipes says
June 20, 2012 at 11:43 amDelectable! The pasta salad looks light, colourful and delicious and I love that cheese burger pie too.
Blond Duck says
June 20, 2012 at 5:20 pmI want a pool. And cheeseburger pie.
Catherine says
June 21, 2012 at 12:25 amDear Faith, you have presented a beautiful array of light and delicious dishes!! Everything looks like a delightful treat. Blessings my dear, your friend, Catherine xo
kellie@foodtoglow says
June 21, 2012 at 11:08 amYou are too funny about your Mom! You *will* have the best of both worlds :D And I love your round-up of summery recipes – the cheeseburger pie looks fab. And, I didn’t realise I was included in your links until I saw my name, so thanks so much!
Jeanette says
June 21, 2012 at 6:26 pmWhat a wonderful roundup of summer party foods. It is 92 degrees today so everything on this list sounds good! Thanks for including my popsicles.
Hannah says
June 22, 2012 at 9:24 amLoving each and every one of these ideas. I’ve been at a bit of a loss because the seasons switched over so quickly, but this aught to set me straight again! I’m all over the idea of a pasta salad that looks so good for so few ingredients. Just have to make that dressing first!
Jean (Lemons and Anchovies) says
June 22, 2012 at 10:53 amI think all the things you and your sister wanted as children were perfectly reasonable! I would have loved the same. :)
You’ve put together such a mouthwatering collection of summer foods. I’m drooling over each one. Great idea!
Katie {Epicurean Mom} says
June 26, 2012 at 2:22 pmThese all look SO wonderful Faith!! Thanks so much for the shout out! :)
Faith says
June 26, 2012 at 4:55 pmMy pleasure, Katie! Your burgers look fantastic! :)
Magic of Spice says
July 4, 2012 at 3:46 pmThese are all wonderful for summer time dishes and pool parties!
P.S. congrats on the no maintenance pool score ;)