Where has 2012 gone? It’s almost half over! But now is the time of year to kick off summer, throw a party and have friends over, and enjoy some great food and drinks.
These are all easy, no-fuss recipes that will please the party go-er’s and please the chef. Everything is no-bake or nearly no-bake and all are hassle-free.
Drinks
Peach Mango Pineapple White Sangria
Coconut Water Champagne Fruit Punch (Vegan, Gluten Free, Soy Free, No Sugar Added)
Horchata (vegan, GF)
Snacks, Sides, and Finger Food
Spinach and Artichoke Dip (no-bake, fat-free, vegan, GF)
Mango Basil Personal-Sized Tortilla Pizzas
Fresh Vegan Spring Rolls and 2-Minute Peanut Sauce
Rosemary Chipotle Roasted Almonds
Sweet Corn Salsa with Mango, Lime, Red Pepper
Mini Grilled Cheese and Tomato Sandwiches
Raw Pasta Salad with Creamy Lemon & Herb Dressing (vegan, GF)
Avocado, Cream Cheese, and Salsa-Stuffed Puff Pastries
Fruit and Desserts
Watermelon dipped into Frozen Mango Banana Dip (vegan, GF) – or just eat the dip as “ice cream”
Fresh Pineapple and a How to Clean a Pineapple Tutorial dipped into Raw Vegan Coconut Oil Chocolate Sauce
Strawberries and Chocolate Coconut Cashew Butter (vegan, GF)
White Chocolate Vanilla Peanut Butter Puppy Chow (GF)
Vanilla Cake Batter and White Chocolate Chip Caramel Corn
Buttery Toasted Cap’n Crunchies
Mounds Bar Chocolate Coconut Cake Mix Cookies
Do you have a favorite crowd-pleasing or party food recipe?
Link it up
Do you have Memorial Day Plans?
We don’t have any formal plans and I’m not throwing a party. We plan to stay close to home, off the roads, and enjoy the day as a family. Maybe a park, walking around our neighborhood, relaxing, and keeping it mellow.
In San Diego, there are a few holidays (Memorial Day, Fourth of July, and Labor Day) you just don’t go to the beaches. Traffic is a total mess and parking is impossible. We learned that lesson that hard way the first year we lived here and thought it would be “fun” to go to the beach for the day. Along with a half million other people. Locals, Northern Californians, half the population of Arizona, Mexico, and tourists who come here for holidays.
Keep the car in the garage, walk as much as possible, and soak in nice weather are our plans. And eat some party food, minus the party.
Have a Happy and Safe Memorial Day Weekend!
Such a great round up of ideas! Just added vegenaise to my shopping list- always forget about it, and then I see one of your posts where you used it…
I haven’t even bought any Vegenaise in awhile…been too busy with homemade hot mustard. Lol
Lots of great choices here. I love the raw pasta salad :-)
We are going to a friend’s house for a small gathering – I just got a ton of new ideas – thanks!! I’m thinking the avocado, cream cheese, salsa puffs look pretty amazing!
i can’t wait for memorial day! BBQs, family, and delicious food! Your rosemary almonds and cake batter popcorn look and sound SOO scrumptious! Thanks for the great recipes! Enjoy your long weekend!
Have a great weekend too and LMK if you make anything from this list!
I didn’t even realize it was coming up! lol So I guess no plans for now.
LOL, I know. It snuck up on me too!
2012 is flying so quickly. I can’t believe it’s nearly Memorial Day. Great roundup of recipes! We are spending the weekend at home, relaxing and enjoying some great weather!
Averie, I’m LOVING all of the recipes you suggest for Memorial Day! It’s my birthday this weekend AND my best friend is getting married!! I’m in her wedding. So, it will be a funfilled weekend. I’m making my cake batter blondies:
https://sallysbakingaddiction.com/2012/04/06/take-2-funfetti-cake-batter-blondies/
and a new recipe to test out on my family before putting it on the blog! Dark Chocolate Chip Raspberry Banana Bread.. it will be SO good, I’m sure!
happy bday and have fun in your friend’s wedding!
OMG again so many delicious options that I feel lost and i want to make everything! The Sangria sounds amazing to me, and the mango and basil pizza is just perfect!
So, what time will you be over so we can make all of these goodies????
Yeah and let’s leave the dishes for the husbands :)
Do you still get to the beaches during the summer or do you typically stay away and save that for your time in Aruba? I’ve been to the beach in San Diego once, but can barely remember it!
We go (not tons) and would love to go more! The only thing about CA beaches is that it doesn’t get “hot” here like it does on east coast beaches, i.e. Florida. 80F would be considered “hot” here right at the coast. Normally it’s in the low 70s with wind right at the beach.
I’ve got a new friend who likes to throw neighborhood block parties. The 1st was on Cinco de Mayo, Memorial Day will be the 2nd, and he’s already planning a 3rd for 4th of July! Good times ahead this summer. Oh, yeah, he’s got a swimming pool, too!
We all need a friend like that!
I will have a nice 4 day weekend with no plans to go anywhere. I’m such a homebody, but I always have a lot to do here to keep myself happily entertained and busy. As I look through your recipe round-up, I realized I haven’t tried the choc-coconut cashew butter but have been meaning to for quite some time. I have cashews on this week’s shopping list so will give it a whirl!
Keep me posted and LMK if you try it!
I would have a get-together, but my landlord is re-doing the roof…there will be shingles everywhere. That’s okay though, because I’m running my first 1/2 marathon on Sunday and then have plans for the beach on Monday :) I was thinking of bringing a treat to share at the beach, so you’ve given me some great ideas here.
Hope your upcoming weekend is relaxing and filled with fun!
Good luck on your first half!! How exciting!
Plans? Well, hopefully I’ll be done moving boxes, which means I’ll spend the day unpacking. There will be a grill involved with dinner though. And no work allowed!
Oh I hope it goes smoothly for you!!
Hope you have a lovely memorial day weekend!!! Made those pizzas and they were a huge hit. Even my brother (a fruit HATER) thought they were good.
Yay! Glad to hear they were a hit! Even with the brother!
Great round-up, your chocolate coconut cashew butter is calling my name!
It’s one of my faves!