Which cooking techniques does Natasha Nicholes use for summer entertaining?

For summer entertaining, I lean hard into anything that keeps the house cool and lets everyone mingle instead of hovering over a stove.

For the meals you’re asking about, I focused on:

1. Grilling – Cauliflower “steaks” and other mains go straight on the grill.
2. No‑bake desserts – Like a mango mint “cheesecake” that sets without the oven.
3. Simple assembly – Things like tostada BLTs that are mostly chop, grill, and build.

What kind of summer gathering are you planning—casual cookout, potluck, or something a bit fancier?