Shower Food and Recipes

The Baby Shower Menu was a big hit....

Most of these recipes come from my sister Jenni, cook and baker extraordinaire. She is on a blog hiatus which is sad for the blog world, but one she needs. Her site is full of deee-lish recipes. She comes out of blog hiding once in a while and posts something. If she takes the time to post it... I recommend you take the time to try it.

Here are the Cheese Cupcakes (recipes and full menu below)

The Fresh Berries at Costco are at their peak of perfection.

More of the Cheese Cupcakes with the Lemon Bars(recipe to follow) on top. These tiered trays are from Costco. How in the world did I ever entertain before Costco? They help to make a beautiful presentation and can be used in a number of combinations, heights, etc.

The All American Chocolate Cake from.... Where else... Costco! You know... the one that is too large for you to justify purchasing even though would like to try to eat it all at once. For a store-bought bakery cake, this was fabulous.Hummus with Gourmet Multi Grain Crackers and Flat Bread Crackers, not shown.
Bruschetta with Nonni Italian Toast
All from.... Costco and all delicious. I think this Hummus is better than my homemade. Let me just say... there were no leftovers of either.
My Famous Chocolate Fountain with a buffet of dipping choices. I think I took this photo before the party started and before I had this table organized and in place, but you get the idea. Santa gave this Chocolate Fountain to me a few years ago. I am quite confident he shops at Costco also.

Menu
Raspberry Lemonade (In my Embossed Glass Beverage Jar)
Hummus with Gourmet Multi Grain Crackers and Flat Bread Crackers
Bruschetta with Nonni Italian Toast
**Summer Chicken Salad with Mini Croissants
Chocolate Fountain with Strawberries and various other dipping choices
**Lemon Bars
**Cheese Cupcakes
All American Chocolate Cake

Favors:

Jelly Belly Jelly Beans in small white boxes tied with Pink and Green Ribbon.

I used the boxes as decorations, also. I love functional decorations.

**Recipes

Summer Chicken Salad

Marinate 3-4 Cups of Chicken in the following for 3-4 hours or overnight:

6Tblsp Olive Oil

6Tblsp Fresh Orange Juice

6 Tblsp Cider Vinegar

3 tsp Salt (more or less depending on taste)

Mix the following in a large bowl:

1-2 Cups Cooked Rice, cooled (I have made it without the rice, either way is good)

1 1/2 C Green Grapes, Chopped

1 1/2 C. Celery

1 13 oz can Pineapple tidbits

2 small cans mandarin oranges

1 C Slivered Almonds

1 1/2 C Hellmans Real Mayonnaise (more or less, depending on tast)

Add the chicken and toss together. Chill. Garnish with orange slices and grapes. Serve with orange rolls, muffins, or croissants. ( I like it alone or on crackers, also)

Generally, I do not like any mayonnaise based salads, but this is different. I love this and so will you.

Cheesecake Cupcakes

3- 8oz Packages Cream Cheese (softened, do not use low fat or no fat)

5 Eggs

1 C. Sugar

1/2 tsp vanilla

Mix together until smooth. Fill cupcake papers 3/4 full. Bake at 300 for 40-45 minutes. Take out of oven and wait a few minutes for them to "fall". Then put icing on:

1 C Sour Cream

1/2 C Sugar

1/2 tsp Vanilla

Mix together and pour a small amount over each cupcake and bake another 5-7 minutes. Makes about 36-40 cupcakes.

I topped the cupcakes in the photo above with fresh berries, but this is not necessary. They are delicious alone.

Lemon Bars

1C Soft Butter

1/2 C Confectioners Sugar

2 C Flour

1 tsp salt

Mix together well and press crust in to a greased and floured 9x13 baking dish. Bake at 325 for 20 minutes.

While crust is baking, mix the following:

4 Eggs, beaten

2 C Sugar

1/4 C. Fresh Lemon Juice

1 Tbsp Fresh grated Lemon Rind

Pour this over baked crust and immediately return to oven and bake antoehr 20 minutes at 325. When slightly warm, curt in to squares. and sprinkle with Confectioners Sugar. Let cool completely before removing from pan.

Enjoy!