One of my favorite summer dinners comes together in about five minutes. (Coincidence?) Pulling ingredients from the pantry, fridge and freezer, then loading them onto the cutting board is equal parts handy (chop those peppers right here, slice the cheese too) and festive — like a cheese tray with extensions. Set the whole thing in the middle of the table and let everyone dish up exactly what they like.

Salami, cooked shrimp, leftover roast chicken, turkey or ham deli meat rolled up like a cigar, prosciutto

Sliced bell peppers, cucumber coins, cherry tomatoes, baby carrots, sugar snap peas, radishes

Grapes, strawberries, apple slices, dried apricots, fresh pineapple wedges, watermelon cubes, melon

Serve  hummus, ranch dressing combined with a little plain yogurt and extra dill, or any cream cheese spread. If you have a few minutes, make Ina Garten's Sun-Dried Tomato Dip, which is amazing.

Choose any combination of Monterey Jack, cheddar, Colby or Swiss: sliced, cubed or cut into cute shapes (use a veggie slicer).

Crackers, dinner rolls, toasted baguette slices, a loaf of whole-wheat take and bake, hearty sourdough

Not every dinner can please everyone, but with so many variations and so many options available, this one comes pretty darn close.

Charity Curley Mathews is a mother of four small kids, a contributor to The Huffington Post and the founder of Foodlets.com: Real food for Toddlers & Kids. She lives in North Carolina with her family, and when she’s not unloading the dishwasher, she’s loading it.