A graduation ceremony in progress.
Graduation is an exciting part of school life and is the most celebrated and cherished occasion for a student. Make it more special by having a spectacular dinner party for the graduate to mark this special time. Try to plan your menu with dishes that you can make ahead to save time. The recipes listed below are for a party of 20 people. Adjust the ingredient quantities as needed for more or fewer guests. Does this Spark an idea?
Appetizers
Plan on having some appetizers at the party that can be passed around while you get the entrees ready to serve. Here are some easy appetizer ideas:
Lay out crackers on a microwave-safe plate and stack them with slices of cheese or small scoops of cream cheese, a slice of tomato and a sprinkle of black pepper and garlic powder. Microwave on high for 2 to 3 minutes till the cheese is slightly melted.
Drain 2 cups plain yogurt overnight. Discard the liquid. Mix in ½ tsp. garlic powder, ¼ tsp. mixed herbs, 1 tsp. olive oil, and salt and pepper to taste. Serve this dip with vegetables, bread sticks or crackers.
Make an easy pate by blending together three cans of tuna, ¼ cup cream cheese, 6 to 8 black olives, 2 to 3 scallions, 2 tsp. vinegar, and salt and pepper to taste. Serve with sliced, toasted French bread. You can keep this refrigerated for up to three days.
Make a colorful salad using torn lettuce, dices of red and yellow peppers, sliced carrots, sliced cucumbers, cherry tomatoes, sliced mushrooms and any other vegetables that you like. Blend an easy dressing using 2 cups olive oil, ½ cup vinegar, 3 tbsp. fresh or dried herbs, and salt and pepper to taste. Serve the salad with dressing on the side.
Entrees
Plan on making two or three entrees so there is good variety of food for all guests. A barbecue is fun and easy to prepare for graduation parties.
Make a tasty rub by mixing together ½ cup kosher salt, ½ cup brown sugar, ½ cup paprika and 3 tbsp. black pepper. Store in an airtight container for up to four months.
For a delicious marinade for poultry, stir together 2 cups flat beer, ½ cup olive oil, 5 tbsp. chopped ginger and garlic, and 2 tsp. chopped orange peel. Marinate the meat overnight in a bag. Use the leftover marinade for basting the meat while grilling.
You can also bake chicken or steak and serve it with roasted or grilled vegetables, and mashed potatoes. See the Resources section for more ideas.
Dessert
Desserts add a grand flourish to any meal, and a graduation party is incomplete without one. A cake is a must to celebrate a graduation. Cupcakes are easy to bake, and you can frost them together to make a cupcake cake. Write a message on top or get alphabet candles to spell out your message.
Here is a quick recipe for one 13-by-9-inch cake, three 8-inch round cakes or 24 cupcakes. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Beat together 1 cup butter and 2 cups sugar till light and fluffy. Add 4 eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Add 3 cups flour and 1 cup milk, alternating and beating well each time. Add 1 tsp. vanilla extract. Pour batter into greased pans or lined cupcake pans and bake for 25 to 30 minutes, till a skewer inserted in the cake comes out clean. Cool completely before decorating, preferably overnight.
To speed up decorating your cake, use sweetened whipped cream that has been whipped till stiff peaks form. Spread over the cake evenly. You can add a few drops of food coloring to the whipped cream if you want to decorate your cake using school colors. Refrigerate the cake and serve at the end of your party.
Drinks
Drinks add to the elegance of any party, and a graduation party can have simple drinks that are popular with guests of all ages.
Iced tea is an easy drink that you can make ahead of time. Brew 8 to 10 tea bags with 6 cups water. Let steep for an hour and discard the tea bags. Add 1 cup sugar and ¼ cup lemon juice. Serve chilled over ice.
Fruit punch is a favorite with young and old. To make easy fruit punch, open and thaw a can each of lemon, strawberry and orange juice concentrate in a punch bowl. Add 8 cups water, 8 oz. frozen strawberries, if you like, and 2 cups crushed ice. The punch will become more flavorful as the concentrates thaw.
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