In a day and age of gadgets, gourmet personal chefs, and designer baby clothes, it's funny that sometimes the best pleasures in life are simple and basic.

The best backyard summer food is not fussy. Old time lemonade, frosty watermelon wedges, BBQ chicken from the grill, corn on the cob, homemade potato salad with plenty of mayo and onion and platters full of fresh summertime fruit such as strawberries and blueberries.

Take old metal buckets, fill with ice, and park some light beers and bottles of old time root beer for the kids.

Forget the tablecloths for this event. Find yourself a nice park bench, or use a backyard table and leave it bare. White paper napkins, and white study paper plates are all that is needed for this batch! The decor comes later..

For dessert, have everyone take turns hand-cranking ice cream in an old ice cream-making machine. Kids love doing this, and it helps burn some excess energy.

Decorate the tables with Old Fashioned Candy - even if you don't like these candies, someone will and they will illicit fond memories of happy summers.

Here are some Favorites that will be a big hit:

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