The graduation party food is usually the most expensive part of the event and, to some, the most important part. Discuss the menu with your graduate. One way to personalize the event is to serve some of their favorite foods.
I suggest serving food that makes your graduation party unique so you aren't serving the same food your guests have had at every other party. Picking a theme for the party, such as a Caribbean party, sports theme, an Italian or Greek theme, or a Mexican Fiesta, and then decorating and serving food that follows your theme, can make for a very fun event.
Here are some graduation party main dish menu suggestions:
\"homemade Pizza\"
- Lasagna and/or other pasta dishes (purchased or homemade)
- Pizza buffet (use pizza ovens, rather than heating up the house with your regular oven) Pizzas can be homemade, "take and bake," pizzeria pizzas, or frozen pizzas.
- Barbequed, shredded turkey, shredded roast beef, or pulled pork sandwiches served on buns
- Roast beef sandwiches served on buns
- Hot or cold turkey sandwiches served on buns
- Hot or cold ham sandwiches served on buns
- Meat and cheese platters served with bread or buns
- Dessert buffet
- Barbequed hamburgers, hot dogs, chicken, pork chops, ribs, and/or steaks, depending on how many guests will be attending and how much you are willing to spend.
- Brunch (This could include egg bake dishes, bacon, sausage, fruits, breads, pastries, etc.)
Some ideas for salads are:
- Chicken salad
- Tuna salad
- Gelatin salads
- Lettuce salads
- A salad "bar"
- A vegetable tray of cut-up vegetables with a ranch or spinach dip
- A fresh fruit medley
It is best to offer several salads for a variety of tastes and colors. Pre-make enough of every salad before the open house to keep the kitchen clean and to save time. Refill salads from extras stored in the refrigerator. If friends or relatives offer to bring a food item to help you with the event, suggest a salad. They are free to make a salad of their choice, which adds variety to your table. These salads would not be refilled; just remove the dish from the serving table when the salad is nearly gone.
Strawberries dipped in chocolate or almond bark is both beautiful and delicious. Keeping the strawberry stem on, thoroughly wash the berry. Dry the berries on waxed paper or with paper towels. Then dip each berry in the coating, shake slightly so excess drips off, and lay strawberry on waxed paper covered cookie sheet to harden. After 10-15 minutes place cookie sheet of berries in the refrigerator to harden further. Once the chocolate or almond bark harden on the strawberries, they may be kept a half-a-day on a counter until ready to serve. Serve on a glass tray or a 3-tiered tray to highlight the delicacy.
Decaf coffee goes best with evening open houses; regular, caffeinated coffee works fine for morning or afternoon open houses.
Soda pop can be served from coolers filled with ice. I suggest 2-3 coolers, depending on the number of guests invited. The soda and the ice can be put together in the coolers in the morning of the open house and allowed to chill. Soda names from the cardboard soda containers can be cut out and taped on the top of the cooler in which that brand of pop is being stored or label coolers some other way. If you're serving 4-6 brands of soda, put 2-3 options in each cooler. Allow a little over 1 can per person as some will have 1 or 2 and others will not have any.
Bottled water is an easy way to serve water for those guests who choose to drink water. The water can also be kept in a cooler with ice. Use similar label identification so guests know in which cooler to find the water.
An ice ring for a punch drink will keep the beverage cold throughout the hours of the open house. One can be made by freezing a fruit-flavored beverage in a ring gelatin mold or freeze the fruit juice in ice cube trays. To remove, set the mold or trays in a sink with hot water almost to the brim for 30 seconds and then turn it upside down in a punch bowl before adding the ingredients for the punch. Regular ice cubes can be used to keep the punch cold, but as they melt the beverage will be diluted.
Once you have determined your graduation party menu, you are well on your way to the best graduation party ever!
Laurie is an author of several how-to books based on real life experiences.
For free mini e-course "Planning the Best Grad Party Ever" go to: http://www.bestgradparty.com
Tags : Pizza Recipe BBQ Recipe