May 11th, 2012 
Planning and upcoming Mother’s Day or graduation party? Spring parties can be somewhat tricky to cook for, since the weather could be either cool or warm, and there are so many different events to plan for. It can be tough to find foods that will please all of your guests, appeal to a variety of age groups, and be healthy and light enough to grace the season. If you are having a party planning conundrum, I have found a few recipes that are healthy, fun, and both lighthearted and light in calories. I think these would be perfect for your upcoming spring events, and that are kid friendly too.
Photo Credit: Mark O'Meara
The first one I found is actually a twist on the old cucumber sandwich, and much healthier. They are cucumber rounds, without the bread and with more nutritional ingredients, such as alfalfa sprouts and avocado dip. Cucumbers are first sliced, and then you place healthy and tasty toppings on the cucumber. No toothpicks needed, so this light appetizer is safe for the kiddos at the party. Even better news–it only takes 10 minutes to prep these beautiful cucumbers. The recipe, from Taste.com, includes recommendations for making this gluten free too.
If you are looking for fun and whimsical, try the avocado tuna sushi sandwich rolls, also from Taste.com. These small and quirky sandwiches are not only healthy, but they are in the shape of sushi. For the vegetarians in your group, you could also substitute quinoa or soy chicken for the protein in the tuna. These snacks are not only beautiful, but they are perfect for people of all ages, and make a great party food.
Photo Credit: Rob Palmer
And lastly, there is the dessert. One of my all time favorite baking blogs is Baker Bettie. I love her work, and her food photography, and she was one of the first and only food bloggers I put on my bloglist. This lemon curd and raspberry treat is perfect for spring. Lemons are light and fresh, and some climates are starting to see berries pop up. If you go to your farmer’s market, you might also find a replacement fruit to top the tea biscuit with that is in season in your area. Not only are these treats the perfect size and shape for a quick taste of delicious, but they are bound to please almost all of your guests.
Photo Credit: Baker Bettie
Hopefully you can keep these ideas for your mother’s day and graduation parties. If you try just one, or even all of these fun and healthy spring treats for your upcoming parties, let me know how they go over- I am excited to try making them myself!
All these look delightful