Easy Backyard Entertaining

Serve Sweet, but Not Rich, Summer Desserts

• Forgo a lineup of rich, buttery desserts in favor of fruit and good store-bought cookies (the ones that come prettily nested in their own paper cups are especially easy).
• What’s more refreshing on a hot night than a bowl of ripe strawberries? Their biggest virtue: zero prep time (OK, you’ll have to run them under the tap).
• Minimize the confusion of orphaned drinks by sticking labels on glasses and writing guests’ names on them.