Summer weekends are notoriously busy--summer vacations, festivals and fairs fill up calendars fast! Weeknights may be the only time you can reconnect with family and friends during these busy months--what are your best tips for weeknight entertaining?

I always have a package of siljans on hand and I fill them with some cream cheese and top with dill or minced red pepper and lemon zest. I also have a mix of crackers to serve with basil jelly or jalapeno jelly. I keep cherry tomatoes on hand, cut them in half, remove the seeds and fill them with tuna or crab meat and top them with a little parsley or cilantro. I make sure that I always have grapes and strawberries on hand to serve with vanilla yogurt dip.

Well, I just don't entertain on weeknights!

I make the time to do it on weekends when I have the time to plan and execute menus, dress up the patio a bit, etc.

keep it simple.