Party Trays And Entertaining

Outdoor summer parties are a great time to serve large Fruit and Dessert platters. Mainly because when it's hot here in Texas, I personally would rather eat fruit than anything else. Light and juicy, the addition of fruit and bite size desserts make the entire food selection that much more appealing. Encouraging an atmosphere of what I like to call 'casual welcome'. Allowing everyone to dig in and serve themselves. Now I Like THAT!

Fresh Fruit Platter

The most important thing about making a fruit platter is choosing ripe, seasonal fruit. After that, it's just cutting and arranging. I know from experience, this is the first platter to be emptied at parties, ALWAYS...without fail.

INGREDIENTS

For 10 to 12 people this is what I prepare:

•  2 small ripe Melons, cut in half, peeled, deseeded and sliced
• {I like to use one Cantaloupe and one Honeydew melon}
• 1 Pineapple, peeled, cored and sliced
• 2 bunches of Grapes
• 1 pint Raspberries
• 1 pint Blueberries
• 1 pint Blackberries
• 1 pint strawberries
• 1 pint Figs, in if season
• 2-3 Kiwis, peeled and sliced
• 1 Papaya, peeled and sliced

WHAT TO DO

These are my fruit choices, they may not work for you. Your tastes may be totally different than mine or this selection of fruit may not be readily available to you. What ever you serve make sure to buy your fruit fresh a few days before your party. Wash everything except blueberries, raspberries and blackberries. You can go through your pints and make sure there are no leaves or stems. Make a base of lemon leaves on your platter. Organize your fruit into groups and arrange them on top of the leaves. A fruit platter can be assembled the day before your party and kept in the fridge.

  With summer’s abundance of fresh and delicious fruits, you can be creative in your choices. Be sure to include a variety of colors and tastes. Your guests will be delighted with this delectable array of the season's best.

Dessert Platter

This is THE EASIEST Platter to arrange! Now you will see WHY I keep

little homemade gems in the freezer.

 WHAT TO DO

 I pull an assortment of cookies, brownies, lemon bars and pound cake from my freezer and place them in the fridge to thaw out over night. The day of your party, as with the fruit, organize your desserts into groups and arrange on your platter. You can use lemon leaf as a base if desired but not necessary. AGAIN, serving what I like, HOW I like it, I make sure my brownies, lemon bars and so on are all cut into small portions. I love bite size desserts because I don't have a sweet tooth. If you are not serving a separate fruit tray, you might like to add fruit here with your other desserts. If you do not keep desserts in your freezer, this tray can be quickly put together with items from your local bakery. This dessert platter will be lovely and appreciated no matter how it's prepared, homemade or store bought, dessert trays are always a big hit.

Serving fruit and dessert platters at an informal gathering of much loved friends and family is an excellent idea. Encouraging everyone to feel welcome and serve themselves. Your friends will enjoy great food, enticing conversation and much laughter with their feet under your table. Remember our motto, 'Be Prepared', and prepare in advance.....ensuring that not only your guests enjoy an evening under the stars but the Host and Hostess as well.

Thanks for taking the time to stop and read awhile.

I do appreciate the notes of encouragement. Keep them coming! Thanks again and as always,

ENJOY!

The Domestic Curator

~Ronda