Land O'Lakes: Graduation Party Recipes

Graduation Open House

May is a month that celebrates achievements and recognizes the contributions of people who are important in our lives. We observe Mother's Day, Memorial Day and – Graduation. It's a time of new beginnings for the graduates but also an opportunity to honor all the people who have shared in their accomplishments. And what better way to gather them together than an open house?

A successful open house starts with food that tastes terrific but doesn't keep you in the kitchen. These delicious, low maintenance buffet recipes are ideal for easy entertaining. You'll find everything you need for an impressive buffet plus tips to keep the party planning simple and fun.

	CHEESE & TORTELLINI KABOBS An easy appetizer recipe that can be made several hours ahead.
	HOT PEPPER VEGETABLE DIP Hot pepper cheese and a few drops of hot sauce add zest to this colorful dip.
	MOST VERSATILE PLATTERS Serve assorted cheeses and meats as a low-in-carbohydrates option on your appetizer table.
	FOCACCIA HERO SANDWICH The flavors of this hero sandwich can be varied by using different dressings.
	ITALIAN PASTA & TOMATO SALAD Choose vine-ripened tomatoes and fresh zucchini to pair with penne pasta in this flavorful pasta salad.
	OLD-WORLD POTATO SALAD Carrot slices, green pepper and sour cream add a touch of difference to this creamy potato salad.
	STAR-STUDDED FRUIT BASKET Become the "star" at your next picnic with this fruit-filled, watermelon showpiece.
	DIPLOMA COOKIES A spring cookie recipe perfect for the graduate. Surprise them with diploma cookies containing fortunes you can print from the link below.
	MARBLE SHEET CAKE This easy cake recipe is a perfect dessert for a special celebration when you will feed a crowd!
	BUTTER TOFFEE BARS These irresistible bars, with a shortbread base, melt-in-your-mouth like candy.
	PEANUT BUTTER BROWNIE BARS These chocolate-peanut butter bars are reminiscent of buckeye candies.
	RASPBERRY PARTY PUNCH Festive fruit, frozen in an ice ring, adds color to this sparkling punch.

Organize ahead of time so you’ll be relaxed at the party.
Identify recipes that can be prepared ahead. Itemize everything needed to minimize shopping trips.

Consider your serving arrangements.
Guests should have easy access to food and drink without reaching across others or crowding. Separate dessert and beverage stations help with the flow and create other areas for guests to gather. Try placing wrapped utensils at the end of the buffet to avoid having guests juggle these while serving themselves.

Make decorations personal and fun, not expensive.
Flowers can be from your garden or a farmers market. Think of photos or memorabilia that you might use to honor the graduate or the guests.

Graduation is a beginning, not an end.
Diploma Cookies make it fun to "predict" the graduate's future with the fortunes baked inside. We'll give you some ideas for these (look for the link on the recipe), for these but making your own will get the giggles going.

This is a day you'll want to treasure so take plenty of photos.
Place several disposable cameras around the room and encourage guests to take snapshots. Have a tape recorder or video camera handy for guests to share a special story.