Folks, it's spring and you know what that means? Picnic season is right around the corner. If you entertain like I do with food sitting out buffet style while kids and dogs run around, then these new containers might be something you'll want to watch out for!

I have never been to the Kentucky Derby, but every year my family and friends celebrate it as if we were racing heirs from Lexington. Our standard menu includes everything from ham biscuits, hot browns, and homemade Derby pie. A few rounds of Mint Juleps, of course, are a must. This fresh take on the classic, with pineapple chunks, spicy ginger syrup, and a sprinkle of black peppercorns, will be your go-to from now until summer meets its final days.

There's really no point to cleaning your place top to bottom right before guests arrive. If they're any fun at all, they're going to make a bit of a mess, right? But you want them to think your house is clean, even if you just shoved those yet-to-be-unpacked suitcases under the bed seconds before you opened the front door with a smile. This is how I clean my house in ten minutes or less.

At our house we entertain — a lot. Asian-inspired dishes like Thai curry, Vietnamese Bahn Mi sandwiches, and sushi are often on the menu.  Sriracha is our condiment of choice, and while we enjoy cold beer to tame its heat, the search for the perfect cocktail to pair with it has finally come to a very happy ending with this week's drink.

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?

A few years back, some friends and I got into a real Saturday night routine. We'd gather at someone's house, order Chinese food, and bring out the games — Settlers of Catan, Risk, Monopoly (old-school!), you name it. When the food arrived, we'd take a break and fill up our plates. I'm thinking it's time to bring back these Saturday game nights — but this time, I'll do the cooking!

Who says you have to have a crowd to entertain? Sometimes a day, a week, or a personal milestone deserve an event for one — a night out with you, your thoughts, and something delicious. Use these simple recipes to plan your own personal dinner party.

When it comes to dinner parties, everyone wants to weigh in. From where to sit to what's fair game for topics of conversation, lots of famous folks —  Dr. Seuss, Oscar Wilde, Ina Garten —are on the record talking about dinner parties. Here are a few memorable quotes:

Kids know how to party! Check out the latest festive celebrations from the Apartment Therapy's Family channel, which posts kids' parties every day. We'll be bringing you a roundup of these inspiring parties every week.

• Eleanor's Black, White & Bright Party
• Evan's Train Party
• Nora's Olivia the Pig Party
• Eliot's Superhero Party
• Jake's Donut Party