Q: I am hosting a family picnic in Wisconsin the 2nd week of June. Some kids but mostly adults. I'm living in California now and am much more of a foodie than my Midwestern family. I'd love some family-friendly and "not too foodie" ideas for a picnic. We won't have a grill, so all the dishes will need to be made ahead.

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This week I've been sharing a spring dinner party for six I hosted in my small Brooklyn apartment. I bought a bunch of pretty lilacs and tulips, strung a few lights, and rearranged my living room to create an colorful indoor garden party where my friends could sip cocktails, snack on appetizers, and then sit down to a vegetarian meal over candlelight.

Today I'll show you the full party and how it all came together, from the pre-party prep to serving the food, from the table setup and decor to my makeshift cocktail lounge. It really was a delightful night, topped off with an impromptu jam session after dessert. (Roasted strawberries inspire singing, in case you didn't know.) 

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When Cambria asked Faith and myself for some help coming up with a main course for her Spring Vegetarian Dinner Party for Six, at first we couldn't decide. Faith thought it should be creamy and green. Cambria wanted a vegetarian dish that wasn't just another platter of pasta. I advocated for something satisfying and hearty, but still light enough for a spring meal. The final vote was unanimous: a pureed soup of peppery spring watercress served with warm goat cheese dumplings. Done and done. This recipe is a winner.

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A few months ago we launched a new monthly series, Gatherings from The Kitchn, showing you the real-life parties we host in our homes, large and small. We started off with Faith's cozy Italian polenta party, followed by Anjali's charming book club brunch. This week I'll be sharing a spring dinner party I hosted in my small Brooklyn apartment. You'll read about my light, fresh vegetarian menu — centered around soup, not pasta! — the simple ways I arranged a few bouquets of store-bought flowers, and how I transformed my living room for the occasion with some clever rearranging and a few twinkling lights.

Are you in the mood for a sparkling spring dinner for six? Then come along to mine!

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Q: I love grilling pizza and want to host a grilled pizza BBQ in the next few weeks. I have thought about precooking the dough on one side before the party, and then putting it back on olive oiled parchment paper so people can either build their own pizzas, or I can top several and have them ready for the grill. 

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I love brunch, you love brunch — I think we're all on board for a good weekend brunch, yes?! The one problem with brunch, however, is figuring out how to make it without having to get up at the crack of dawn to start cooking. This is why we're bringing you a round-up of all our favorite make-ahead brunch recipes today, just in time for Mother's Day — or whatever plans you may have next weekend.

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It's Cinco de Mayo this weekend! The perfect reason to grab a bunch of friends, open the windows (hopefully...), and dig into some good food and drink. If you haven't started planning your fiesta yet, it's not too late: here's a menu plan that will help you put together everything from the guacamole to the margaritas.

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Do you own a fryer? Did you know it has magical abilities to bring people together? It's my best kept entertaining secret because it gets people involved with the meal no matter what their culinary preferences. And it's the perfect frugal entertaining companion! Want to know how I put it to use?

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I was perched on the couch the other morning, catching up on food blogs and sipping a mocha when all of a sudden the urge for a warm, toasted baguette smothered with melted chocolate and a drizzle of fruity olive oil hit me. Sometimes good ideas strike at the oddest of times. This early morning craving for chocolate and bread inspired my most recent party idea: a gathering where everyone builds their own dessert!

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