One of the great joys in life is entertaining at home for friends and family. With BBQ season in full swing, we’re excited to fire up the grill, serve up some refreshing cocktails and share some yummy summertime fare with those we love! From good ol’ homemade apple pie to salads and burgers, great food is meant to be enjoyed with great company.

Check out some of our favorite dining and kitchen gadgets for pulling off the perfect lunch or dinner get-togethers in your backyard this summer.

1. Lenox Tuscany Classics Beverage Pitcher

2. Echo Design Latika Seafoaf 4-Pc Place Setting

3. Vitamix CIA Professional Series

4. Dansk Classic Fjord All Purpose Serving Bowl

5. Gorham That's Entertainment Bar Set

6. Riedel H2O Classic Bar Long Drink 2-Pc Set

7. Lenox Chip & Dip Serving Plate

8. Le Creuset Bistro Grill

9. BIA Cordon Bleu BIAmboo 4-Pc Salad Plate Set

10. BIA Cordon Bleu 2-Pc 3-Section Server Set

11. Spiegelau Beer Tall Pilsner Glass Set

12. Emile Henry Le Grande Pie Dish

For a refreshing summer treat for the whole family, try this delicious smoothie recipe from Vitamix®!

Citrus Smoothie

Ingredients:

1 orange, peeled and quartered

¼ lemon, peeled, quartered and seeded

½ cup fresh pineapple chunks

¼ cup fresh mango chunks

1 cup ice cubes

Place all ingredients in the Vitamix in the order listed. Start at Variable 1 setting and turn on the machine. Slowly increase the speed to 10 then to High. Blend for 1 minute or until desired consistency is reached. Enjoy!

Is mom a big fan of a nice cup of Joe every morning? Why not give her the gift that keeps on giving: her personal barista at home! The Bodum Bistro Pour Over Coffee Maker isn’t just impressive in its sleek, modern design, but in its smart function as well.

Check it out in action on the DIY Network show "I Want That":

With everything mom does during her oftentimes hectic days, give her the first piece of kitchen appliance she’ll gladly reach for every morning. The Bodum Bistro Pour Over Coffee Maker brews her favorite cup of coffee before she even has a chance to finish her morning paper. We think it has “awesome gift” written all over it!

Attention all kitchen connoisseurs!: With your $200 WÜSTHOF ® purchase, you can claim a full year’s subscription to Food & Wine magazine! This offer is valid from now until December 31, 2012.

Check out our WÜSTHOF collection for those early holiday gift purchases, housewarming presents, or that much-needed cutlery upgrade for your kitchen! Just click on the form in every WÜSTHOF product page, print, fill out and mail with your proof of purchase to receive your FREE one-year subscription!

Now you can achieve gourmet stardom in your culinary circle with WÜSTHOF and Food & Wine Magazine!

From the WÜSTHOF Classic Ikon Collection

Since 1832, Waechtersbach™ has been producing high-quality ceramic tableware and kitchen accessories manufactured in Germany. Known for its vibrant colors and luminous glaze work, Waechtersbach prides itself on adding color and beauty to the lives of customers worldwide. Red glaze is a particular specialty, and Waechtersbach's bright, saturated red is world renowned.

Check out Waechtersbach ceramics on Zappos.com to liven up your dining experience!

For the mom who loves to work her magic in the kitchen, a gift of a fabulous kitchen gadget is not only thoughtful; you reap some benefits from it, too!

Mom’s culinary talents will shine even brighter with a few quality kitchen essentials in her arsenal. Maybe she’ll even whip you up a delicious treat for giving her such a great Mother’s Day gift!

Check out a few of our favorite kitchen helpers that mom will surely love:

1. Wusthof Gourmet 7-Piece Block Set, 2. Le Creuset 5-Piece Signature Set, 3. DeLonghi Hand Blender Set, 4. Higbury Bistro de Paris 4-Piece Bowl Set, 5. Le Creuset 4.5 Qt Casserole, 6. Kitchenaid Artisan Stand Mixer

Now that all those indulgent holiday meals are history, it’s time to get back on track with sensible eating. When it comes to whipping up healthy home-cooked meals, a little bit of help in the kitchen sure goes a long way! Check out some of our favorite kitchen essentials to start off 2012 on road to healthy eating:

1. Joseph Joseph Salad Bowl w/ Servers: We love the clever and modern design of this generously-sized salad bowl! It’s perfect for dinner parties.

2. Calphalon Contemporary Nonstick Bronze 12” Wok: Cook perfect stir frys without using a ton of oil in this essential nonstick wok.

3. OXO Little Salad & Herb Spinner: Making salad for two? This handy tool makes sure your salads are restaurant-perfect every time!

4. Cuisinart Elite Collection® 14-Cup Food Processor:  Talk about versatility! This powerful machine makes creating an entire meal fast and simple.

5. Kitchenaid 5-Speed Metallic Series Blender: This not only makes perfect smoothies, it’s also great for homemade soups and sauces!

6. DeLonghi Indoor Grill/Broiler: We love this for grilling up chicken and seafood for delicious salads.

With the holiday season just around the corner, we’re inevitably starting to think about one of the most anticipated traditions around—holiday dinner parties!  From homemade pumpkin pies to turkey dinners, these get-togethers with family and friends never fail to bring back the warm, fuzzy feelings of the holidays!

Check out some of our favorites in housewares to make those dinner parties that much more special:

1. Emile Henry Le Grande 12” Pie Dish: Those signature pie recipes will look spectacular when baked in this lovely pie dish.

2. Le Creuset Rectangular Stoneware Casserole: Save yourself the extra cleanup with this durable casserole. The interior is virtually nonstick, making it ideal for serving your masterpiece recipes right from the oven.

3. Riedel Ouverture Magnum Red Wine Glasses (Set of 8): Enjoy the full complexity of your favorite reds with these durable glasses.

4. All-Clad Stainless Steel Turkey Forks: Let this Thanksgiving essential do the heavy lifting!

5. Le Creuset Fruit/Pasta Bowl: Add a splash of color to the dinner table with this beautiful enamel serving bowl.

6. Emile Henry Lion’s Head Soup Bowls (Set of 4): These are perfect for French onion soups and other hearty soups.

7. Vera Bradley Cocktail Party Napkins: Dress up any table setting with these delightfully printed cloth napkins!

8. OXO 11-Piece Barware Set: Treat your guests to pre-dinner cocktails with the help of this all-in-one bar essential.

9. Highbury Square Lacquer Serving Plates (Set of 4): Add a contemporary feel to your presentation with these modern plates.

10. Zwilling J.A. Jenckels Twin® Gourmet 2-Piece Carving Set: For the pièce de résistance, this high-quality duo will make easy work of carving and serving any roast or turkey.

Got a housewarming party to attend, but a little unsure about what gift to bring? There’s no need to go on an endless search at your department store when you can peruse through our awesome houseware selection from the comfort of your home. When it comes to perfect housewarming gifts, look for items that the new homeowners can use for entertaining, as they’re likely going to be doing more of it in their new place.

Here are some fabulous housewarming gift ideas that will surely make your hosts happy: (clockwise)

Waring Pro Professional Roaster Oven: From turkey dinners to pot roast, they’ll love using this roaster oven for those big holiday get-togethers.

Wusthof Gourmet 18-Piece Block Set: All the essential cutlery that every kitchen needs, all in one high-quality set.

Home Source International Microcotton® Luxury Bath Towel Set: Plush and superbly luxurious towels are always a great staple.

Riedel Happy “O” Wine Tumblers: These elegant stemless wine glasses are perfect for kitchens with tight cabinet spaces. The colorful glass bottoms add to the relaxed, elegant feel.