Farm Fresh: Easy Backyard Entertaining

Summer is prime time for entertaining in the Berkshires of western Massachusetts, where Robin and Michael Tesoro live with their daughter, Francesca, 8, and son, Nicholas, 6. The couple relishes any opportunity to invite friends over for a meal outside on the patio. "It's all very informal, both the food and the decor," says Robin. Simple dishes, like summer minestrone and a rustic vegetable tart, highlight local produce.