Here are five ideas to make your outdoor event green or greener. It can also help to make family and friends more conscious of what can small steps can be taken to help the environment.

1. Use All Natural Charcoal
Cook with natural charcoal. One brand to look for is Lazzari natural mesquite charcoal. Made from ecologically harvested wood, it is a carbon neutral alternative that provides better flavor than briquettes. You can purchase it online. Also check out Hardwood Lump Charcoal. Here’s why it’s better than briquettes.

2. Serve Refreshing Green Drinks
Serve eco-friendly beer, and make your Mojitos from organic rum, organic limes and crushed organic mint (you can grow it in your garden, though not in time for this Memorial Day). Check out The Organic Spirits Company, which sells organic gin, rum, vodka and scotch.

3. Use Sustainable Serving Ware
Buy heavy-duty paper plates: They’re biodegradable. If you must use plastic, look for sustainable plastic plates. Susty Party Plates are made from recycled plastic and can be reused. Also check out the Bambu line of biodegradable bamboo plates. Put a “Recycle Your Utensils” bin next to the trash can so plastic flatware can be washed and used for the next party (it usually can be put it in the dishwasher).

Use paper plates and cups, not plastic. Photo
courtesy Creative Converting.

5. Bug Off With Citronella
When the sun sets, nothing ruins an outdoor party faster than mosquitoes! Try all natural citronella torches like these Big Dipper Wax Works. Made from bug repellant beeswax and soy candles with essential oils, they burn for eight hours. Then, you can pop another one into the reusable bamboo base. Beeswax is 100% natural and a renewable resource that actually cleans the air by emitting purifying negative ions.

 
 
Want to plan greener parties? Start with the best-selling The Green Bride Guide: How To Plan An Earth-Friendly Wedding On Any Budget. Any event can be made greener with its guidelines.

Sara Snacker Cookie Company, an artisan baker with nostalgic-themed cookies, makes its own, far more elegant and delicious, lemonade cookie.

A round of lemony shortbread—made with real lemonade—is topped with a tart lemon icing. The sweet-and-tart effect is delightful.

Attractive white bags of 12 cookies are $8.00. Here’s a store locator; the company will sell them to you online in three-bag quantities.

The cookies are all natural, certified kosher by Star-D, and yummy. Would Dad like a bag for Father’s Day?
 
 
Find more of our favorite cookies and cookie recipes in our Gourmet Cookies section.

How many types of cookies are there? Check out our delicious Cookie Glossary.

Don’t let your liqueurs sit on the shelf when you can turn them into warm-weather refreshers. Simply add club soda (soda water) to create a spritzer, or adult soda.

Coffee lovers can start with a Kahlúa soda. Kahlúa liqueur blends Arabica coffee with rum for a very adult way of enjoying your java…or a sophisticated glass of coffee soda.

RECIPE: KAHLÚA SPARKLER

Ingredients Per Drink

 
Preparation

1. Fill a tall glass with ice. Add the ingredients in order.

2. Stir lightly (so as not to break the bubbles). Garnish with the lime wedge.

KAHLÚA & COKE

If you enjoy a Rum & Coke, try a Kahlúa & Coke—it’s rum, coffee and coke.

Add 2 parts of Kahlúa to an ice-filled highball glass and top with 3 parts cola. Stir lightly and enjoy!
HOW ABOUT ORANGE SODA?

Do the same with Grand Marnier or other orange liqueur (Combier, Gran Gala and triple sec, for example).

Take an inventory of the other liqueurs you have and plan an adult soda party. You can ask friends to bring a bottle from their collection and put together a sampling of apple soda (apple schnapps), cherry soda (kirsch), lemon soda (Limoncello), peach soda (peach schnapps) raspberry soda (framboise)—the whole soda fountain!