Grad Party Cheese Board & Candy Platter

It’s that time of year again! These platters I made for my niece and nephew’s dual grad party – one graduating from college and one from high school.

This crudite/cheese board I made with a homemade white bean dip (on my blog) and a store-bought red pepper dip (from Trader Joe’s). Honestly, the entire platter was created from items/veggies I bought from Trader Joe’s. One main idea to keep in mind is to create a color balance, in this case: yellow, orange, red/purple, cream, and tones of brown. I stayed within the confines of those colors and added some greens for an earthy and organic vibe. This platter was a HUGE hit. I wish I added a bigger fig jam because it vanished so quickly. I did a small amount of cheese as this board was outside. I also have a mesh canopy attached to it to keep out the flies. I hope this inspires you to create a cheese board for your next party or gathering. Everyone LOVES to snack!

I made another veggie board for a pool party that I posted on Instagram and the Oprah Magazine commented on! Apparently they think Oprah would love this spread. I am beyond flattered and commented that I would happily make Oprah a platter any day!

Next, for this yummy candy platter. I had a red/pink theme as you can see here. I combined all sweet treats including some delicious sweet strawberries and raspberries. Hand-dipped chocolate strawberries would have been a great addition too, provided the platter stays inside. This candy platter was a great idea, because everyone snacked on it through out the entire evening. I combined some faves like Swedish Fish, cherry licorice tied into large knots, strawberries some cut in half to show the gorgeous inside, raspberries and the Pocky candy sticks that I found at the Asian market. The thyme added an earthy vibe and coordinated well with the green stems of the strawberries. I hope this sparks your creativity!

Father’s Day Brunch

Happy Belated Father’s Day to all the dads and granddads. I am sharing my families’ brunch and also my birthday breakfast, as this year Father’s Day and my birthday were the same day.

This was very yummy! I made homemade hash browns. I used Yukon potatoes and shredded them along with a white onion. Added to that some eggs and seasonings and sauteed in a pan. I made it flat and kept pressing it so it cooked through, then flipped it. The eggs are salsa scrambled eggs with mexican cheese. You can do egg whites too. I made some homemade gauc as a side with avocado, red onion and sea salt.

The sliced melon and organic orange juice from Trader Joe’s rounded out the meal along with some Norwegian crackers. If you haven’t been to Trader Joe’s it’s a must go! My sister and I meet at the one in between our homes and shop. They have such good prices!

I hope everyone enjoyed their Father’s Day! Be sure to check out my blog for any new recipes like: Cauliflower Risotto with Mushrooms, Baked Stacked Parmesan Zucchini, Sweet Potato Salad, Cucumber Pomegranate Salad, Peas and Orange Salad, Peaches, Mini Heirloom and Mint Salad with Burrata, Lemon and Thyme cake with warmed Blueberry Blackberry Sauce, my Blueberry Cake and much, much more!!!!

xo