It’s Graduation Season! Millions of students across the country are walking across the stage to receive their hard-earned diplomas. Whether your grad is off to college or off to conquer the world, celebrate their accomplishments and toast their future with these fun and delicious recipes and DIY decorations!
Simplify your table with finger foods and single-serve dishes like these.
1: Toast them with some, well, toast…bruschetta in Italian! Lemony Zucchini Bruschetta are seasonal, tasty and oh so grown up! Find the full recipe here: http://www.marthastewart.com/340987/lemony-zucchini-bruschetta.
2. Food on skewers is a great idea!!! Check out this fun and fancy way to enjoy Caprese Salad!
Ingredients
- 28 Cherry tomatoes cut in half
- 1 lb. Fresh Mozzarella cheese – sliced to 1/4” thickness and then cut the slice into eighths
- 1 package of Fresh basil – remove stems, cut in half short-way
- 1/3 Cup Balsamic reduction (store bought or see recipe below)
- 1 Tbs. Olive Oil
- Salt and Pepper to taste
- Toothpicks
Directions
- Make the Balsamic Reduction:
- In a saucepan, add ¼ cup honey to 1 cup of balsamic vinegar
- Bring to a boil at high heat and then simmer for 10 minutes until the vinegar mixture has reduced to about 1/3 cup.
- Toss the tomato halves in olive oil and season with salt and pepper to taste
- Arrange the tomato halves sliced-side down on a serving platter
- Place a basil leaf atop each tomato
- Place cheese on top of basil
- Skewer with toothpick
- Repeat until all ingredients are done
- Drizzle balsamic reduction over the plate
3. Try this delicious Crispy Prosciutto-wrapped Asparagus recipe we found on nomnompaleo.com
http://nomnompaleo.com/post/3159900635/broiled-prosciutto-wrapped-asparagus-spears
4. Create a stunning table display with all your favorite veggies! Place the dip in martini glasses for a touch of elegance.
Don’t forget dessert. We are all about maintaining a healthy lifestyle, but graduation is a perfectly acceptable excuse to indulge…a little.
5. We love this idea – and you’re still getting fruit, right? Make it healthier with a wide selection of fruits, nuts and dried fruits for toppings, and dark chocolate for the fondue (love those antioxidants)!
We found this dark chocolate fondue recipe at http://www.bettycrocker.com/recipes/simple-dark-chocolate-fondue/f06715f8-519b-4d09-bf9b-6ac4910cf5e2
Ingredients
Fondue
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 3/4 cup whipping cream
- 8 oz mildly sweet dark chocolate, chopped
Dipper Ideas
- Banana chunks
- Apple wedges
- Orange sections
- Pineapple chunks
- Strawberries
- Pretzels
Topping Ideas
- Chopped Nuts (almonds, peanuts, pistachios…whatever, go nuts!)
- Orange zest
- Candied ginger pieces
- Toasted or dried (unsweetened) coconut
- Sea salt
- Cinnamon sugar
Directions
- In 2-quart saucepan, heat all fondue ingredients over medium heat, stirring constantly, just until chocolate is melted. Pour mixture into fondue pot; keep warm over low heat.
- Spear desired dippers with fondue forks; dip into fondue
- Top with your choice of toppings – we listed some healthier alternatives, but the choice is all yours.
Raise a glass of this bubbly and sweet Limeade recipe (original found here: http://www.marthastewart.com/332255/limeade. See our modifications below)
Ingredients
- One 1.25L bottle of Crystal Geyser Sparkling Spring or Mineral Water in Natural Lime Flavor
- 2 1/2 cups fresh lime juice (from 25 limes)
- ¼ to ½ cup superfine sugar to taste.
Directions
- In a large pitcher or beverage dispenser, combine the lime and sugar and mix until sugar is dissolved.
- Add Sparkling water to lime/sugar mixture and serve in mason jars.
Make it festive with customized graduate straws:
- To make them, cut a square out of construction paper and punch a hole through the center.
- Cut a long rectangular strip out of the paper, form it into the shape of a cylinder
- Glue it to your first piece to make a hat.
- Slip a straw through it and top it off with a tassel made out of embroidery string.
Whatever your celebration includes, the best recipe for great graduation memories is to enjoy the moment with family and friends.