This is the perfect time to entertain. The balmy days, colorful flowers, luscious fruits and vegetables give me reason enough to celebrate. I often think of summer as the season for indulgence and spontaneity, a time for casual get-togethers with the food itself becoming the focus of every festivity. It’s hard to compete with food’s vibrancy of colors and intensity of flavors against summer’s backdrop, but I am definitely up for the challenge.

Whether you are planning a graduation extravaganza, a company picnic or a casual poolside barbeque for family and friends, it takes very little effort to enjoy the amazing tastes of summer. This allows you to spend more time visiting with your guests, something we can all appreciate.

Even though the temperatures are getting warmer and the days longer, you don’t want your entertaining repertoire to become tired and dull. An enticing dessert will easily capture the essence of the season and your guests’ appetites. The possibilities are endless with the availability of fruits of the season, but I have settled on Raspberry-Lemon Tartlets to kick off a long procession of delectable summer treats coming out of my kitchen.