Throw a Summer Party, Entertain Like a Champion

Guys, I love Summer. I love the extra daylight. I love the abundance of fresh food at farmer's markets. I love heading to cookouts with friends. It's just a fun time of year. In spite of the fact that it rained for a month and now it's sweltering hot the next month, I was determined to make the best of it by throwing a superbly smashing Summer soire! We have been grilling a lot lately so I thought I would switch things up and go with a a more finger foods oriented dinner. This dinner party was going to be fantabulous. To beat the heat? We went the "fresh" and "cool" route.

Lay's was kind enough to help me throw this basha by supplying me with some yum yums and this awesome and surprisingly fresh Black Bean Corn Bites recipe. I would usually make a layered Mexican dip full of cheese and heavy stuff when I whip out the Tostito's but this corn bites recipe is full of fresh ingredients and is extremely refreshing on a hot Summer day (and yes, the Northeast has been hella hot). How can you go wrong with such yummy, fresh ingredients?

I'd also wanted to make a healthier version of a ranch dip, to accompany my Classic Lay's potato chips. This is always a hit for those wanted to nosh on something tasty. I reached to my old tried and true recipe from Gimme Some Oven, a Homemade Ranch Seasoning mix with greek yogurt. So simple! You just combine all dry ingredients (for your seasoning) then combine with yogurt and top with some chopped chives. So simple, easy and a healthier option than mayo or sour cream.

• 1/3 cup dry buttermilk
• 2 Tbsp. dried parsley
• 1 1/2 tsp. dried dill weed
• 2 tsp. garlic powder
• 2 tsp. onion powder
• 2 tsp. dried onion flakes
• 1 tsp. ground black pepper
• 1 tsp. dried chives
• 1 tsp. salt
• 1 cup plain Greek yogurt
• fresh chives for topping

Frito-Lay has the perfect summer snack for however you celebrate, whether you’re relaxing and unwinding at home with Lay’s® Classic potato chips or celebrating summer with Tostitos® Scoops!® tortilla chips at a backyard party. So in order to help you throw your next partaaaaaay, Lay's is offering one of my readers a $50 AMEX Gift Card to get the goodies so  you can snack like the best of them. Just use the Rafflecopter below. Giveaway open from July 29th until August 5th, 2013. Good Luck! xoxo

a Rafflecopter giveaway

*I participated in this sponsored campaign for One2One Network. I received monetary compensation and product to facilitate my post, but all opinions stated are my own.