By Bethany Kandel
Summer is just around the corner and with it comes a bounty from the garden, perfect for a seasonal baby shower. Think simple finger foods so your guests can easily mingle and munch at the same time.
Incorporate all of the garden-fresh fruits and vegetables that you’ll find in the supermarket, farmer’s stand or even your own backyard this time of year. Not only will it look colorful and mouth-watering on your table, but it is sure to whet the appetites
of everyone, especially those eating for two!
Here are some ways to use the seasonal abundance:
- For a plate that screams “summer” you don’t need to get fancy. Just cut up some juicy local tomatoes, top with thick slices of pasteurized mozzarella, large basil leaves and a sprinkle of olive oil, sea salt and balsamic vinegar.
- Or skewer it. Make easy nibbles by layering crisp cucumbers, olives, tomatoes, feta and a sprig of mint, cilantro or basil on a toothpick.
- Mint it is. Use handfuls of mint to garnish your decanters of homemade lemonade, to serve atop your fruit salad. Or puree it with a little olive oil, sea salt and a squeeze of fresh lime juice to make a paste you can slather on chunks of fresh baguettes,
served with an assortment of gooey pasteurized cheeses.
- Cut up any fruit you can get your hands on – pineapple, peaches, plums, nectarines, blueberry, raspberries, strawberries, papaya, mango, kiwi and more. Add chopped mint and pomegranate seeds for a refreshing side, dessert or meal in itself.
- Another option with some of the same ingredients is to make layered yogurt parfait cups. Layer fruit with yogurt, fruit puree, nuts and granola in individual parfait cups so everyone can grab and snack.
- Buy the biggest watermelon you can find and cut it in half; scoop out the insides and cut up to add to the fruit salad that you’ll serve inside the scooped out rind for a decorative touch. Or just fill with sliced up watermelon, add some cute toothpicks
and let everyone help themselves.
- Make your own smoothies. Set up a smoothie bar with yogurt, fruit, fresh-squeezed juices and crushed ice. Let everyone make their own, or have a few friends volunteer to take turns as smoothie queen.
- For dessert, fill tiny pastry shells with custard, and top with sliced strawberries, raspberries and other sliced fruits. Make individual cheesecakes, mini muffins and anything to which fruit can be added.
- In advance, drop slices of strawberries, blueberries, kiwi and mint into ice cube trays, add water and freeze. Add to glasses of water, seltzer or pitchers of non-alcoholic punch for an extra blast of color and flavor.
- Have a favorite recipe? Make your goodbye gift a do-it-yourself at home treat. Fill a cute bag with the measured out staple ingredients (flour, baking powder, etc.) along with the recipe so everyone can make it at home and bring back memories of a great
celebration.
Image : Getty
