A great graduation party requires great party food. Here's a round-up of easy to make, easy to serve recipe ideas, perfect for a graduation buffet celebrating the accomplishments of your new, sophisticated college or high school grad. Pick an assortment from each category, add some well-iced drinks and enjoy!
An assortment of big, fabulous salads adds dazzle to your buffet table. Grade schoolers may favor iceberg lettuce, but chances are your older teen or new college grad will have more sophisticated tastes. Do Caesar, not ranch, or try some of these possibilities:
A honey ham or platter of thin-sliced roast beef, salamis and other cold cuts make an easy entree, when accompanied by a basket of rolls and sliced baguettes, and assortment of spreads and mustards. Or you can fire up the barbecue and grill something wonderful:
Cookies, bite-sized brownies or cheesecake bars, and cupcakes - especially chocolate cupcakes with peanut butter frosting - are all great buffet fare. Click here for more gourmet cupcake ideas, including brown sugar angel food, lemon curd and chocolate espresso versions. Tip: To frost a lot of cupcakes quickly, put the frosting in a large size, freezer style ziplock bag - snip off a corner and insert a large star-shaped frosting tip - and pipe a fluffy mound atop each little cake.
1. Fabulous Salads
An assortment of big, fabulous salads adds dazzle to your buffet table. Grade schoolers may favor iceberg lettuce, but chances are your older teen or new college grad will have more sophisticated tastes. Do Caesar, not ranch, or try some of these possibilities:
- A Caprese Salad: Arrange sliced, ripe tomatoes and sliced fresh mozzarella on a platter. Strew julienned basil leaves over the tomatoes and add a drizzle of good olive oil and a splash of balsamic vinegar.
- Greek Watermelon and Feta Cheese Salad: A vibrant mixture of bright red watermelon, crumbled feta, red onion and balsamic vinegar.
- Or an orzo pasta tossed with sauteed vegetables and a light vinaigrette.
2. Great Main Courses
A honey ham or platter of thin-sliced roast beef, salamis and other cold cuts make an easy entree, when accompanied by a basket of rolls and sliced baguettes, and assortment of spreads and mustards. Or you can fire up the barbecue and grill something wonderful:
- Shish kebabs of well-marinated chicken, prawns, beef or lamb.
- Flank steak with pesto - use your favorite dry rub, grill till nearly done, then slather on purchased or homemade pesto and grill a minute or two more.
- Sliders - tiny gourmet hamburgers, such as ground turkey with a cilantro mint chutney - also make perfect party fare.
3. Delicious Desserts
Cookies, bite-sized brownies or cheesecake bars, and cupcakes - especially chocolate cupcakes with peanut butter frosting - are all great buffet fare. Click here for more gourmet cupcake ideas, including brown sugar angel food, lemon curd and chocolate espresso versions. Tip: To frost a lot of cupcakes quickly, put the frosting in a large size, freezer style ziplock bag - snip off a corner and insert a large star-shaped frosting tip - and pipe a fluffy mound atop each little cake.