With the arrival of spring comes new beginnings such as engagements, weddings and baby showers, all bringing joy and excitement to many.

Whether you are hosting, or attending, be sure to offer your family and friends a variety of delicious appetizers and meal ideas, using products from Summer Fresh!

Décor

• Whether you are hosting in your own home, in a hall, or restaurant, keep a consistent theme throughout.

• Pick two complementary colours that can be incorporated into wall hangings, place settings and takeaways.

• Pick a theme and ask your guests to come dressed according to that theme.

• Have a playlist of current music on a portable music player or computer, and play it softly throughout the shower.

• Hang mesh loosely from the ceilings in a “criss cross” pattern. This can be found inexpensively at fabric stores in the “ends” bins.

• Throw a paper “table cloth” over the tables and have guests write meaningful messages to the happy couple.

• Use heart shaped cookie cutters as napkin rings.

Games

To keep the fun going, organize a few interactive games to entertain your guests.

The Purse Game – Pick a list of 5 common (or not so common) items found in the average purse. One by one, ask each guest if she is carrying any of these items in her purse. The first guest to pull out an item from the list wins a prize! You can continue on with your list for second and third place.

Guess the Jelly Beans – An oldie, but a goodie! Fill a large jar with a specific amount of coloured jelly beans and have guests write their name and their guess of how many beans they think are in the jar. The closest number wins the whole jar!

Win the Centerpiece – Host a game that allows the guests at each table a chance to win the centerpiece. While all guests are standing, start music and have each table pass around a cloth napkin. When the music stops, the person holding the napkin is out of the game and has to sit down. Repeat this until the last guest standing (at each table) wins the centerpiece.

Famous Couples – Hand each guest a piece of paper and have them write down as many famous couples as they can think of in a specified amount of time. The person who thinks of the most, wins!

Food

After your guests are comfortable, played a few games and shared some laughs, it’s time to break out delicious dishes, and tempting appetizers.

Maple Walnut Cheese Ball

Roll 250g of cream cheese and 2 cups of shredded cheddar together and refrigerate for up to one hour. Shape into ball and coat with crushed walnuts. Place on serving tray and drizzle with Summer Fresh Maple Walnut Cheese Topping. Serve with an assortment of crackers or flatbreads.

Serving Tip! – Create a Maple Walnut Cheese Ball for each table, or try using different nuts for the coating including pecans or almonds. IMPORTANT: Make sure to ask ahead of time about any nut allergies!

Spicy 4 Cheese & Crab Dip

Spread 227g of Summer Fresh 4 Cheese & Crab Dip into a rectangular casserole dish, and layer with spicy salsa, shredded cheese, diced tomatoes and jalapeno peppers. Garnish with fresh shrimp if desired.

Serving Tip! – Place all ingredients in a casserole dish and bake until cheese is bubbly. WARNING: Hot!

5 Cheese Potato Bites

Boil desired amount of mini red skin potatoes, drain and cool. Cut potatoes in half and arrange sliced side facing up on a baking sheet. Dollop each potato with Summer Fresh 5 Cheese Dip and sprinkle with bacon bits. Place in oven (on broil) for 5 minutes and serve.

Serving Tip! – Try Summer Fresh Spicy Artichoke & Asiago Dip instead of 5 Cheese Dip.

Spicy Cheesy Caprese Pasta

Pour Summer Fresh Caprese Pasta Salad into a casserole dish and top with shredded mozzarella cheese and crushed chili peppers. Mix together and bake for 20 minutes.

Serving Tip! – Serve family style to each table

Easy Bruschetta Pizza

Brush olive oil over prepared whole-wheat or white pizza crust, followed by Summer Fresh Bruschetta. Add fresh parsley or rosemary if desired. Bake until crust is golden brown.

Serving Tip! – Serve with Summer Fresh Roasted Red Pepper Dip as a dipping sauce.

Assorted Grain Salads

For a quick and nutritious dish, serve Summer Fresh Seven Grain, Multi Grain Quinoa, Greek Couscous and Tri Colour Chickpea Salad on a sectional platter.

Serving Tip! – Serve with baked chicken or salmon

Fruit Platter with Strawberry Vanilla Dip

Cut up a variety of seasonal fruit such as strawberries, grapes, banana and pears. Arrange on a large platter with Summer Fresh Strawberry Vanilla Dip & Spread for dipping.

Serving Tip! – Also try Summer Fresh Apple Cinnamon Dip & Spread

Vanilla Ice cream with Maple Walnut Drizzle

Serve any cake or pie with rich vanilla ice cream drizzled with Summer Fresh Maple Walnut Topping.

Serving Tip! – Also try Summer Fresh Cranberry Pomegranate Topping over ice cream.