Aside from the big day itself, weddings usually come with a lot of little celebrations along the way. From engagement parties to family dinners, these special events are typically centered around the same delicious thing: food. While it’s fun to be on the receiving end (the one showing up to the party to eat), it’s normally a daunting task if you’re the one figuring out the menu for so many people. (If you’ve ever planned a party, then you already know the work that goes into this.)
So whether you’re a family member throwing a shower, a friend planning a bridal shower, or a bride organizing your wedding day luncheon, we’ve got you covered with these sweet and savory healthy-ish, crowd-favorite recipes perfect for any party!
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Savory recipes
Pear Arugula Crostini with Balsamic Glaze
This appetizer is sure to be a crowd pleaser. Toasted bread topped with goat cheese, arugula, pear, and drizzled with a balsamic glaze—is your mouth watering yet? While each element of this crostini has its own distinct flavor they all compliment one another very well for an explosion of flavor in your mouth.
Turkey Dill and Cucumber Tea Sandwiches
This recipe was inspired by classic tea sandwiches. They are a perfect light entrée to serve for a wedding brunch or pack for a picnic. We kept that creamy cucumber filling, but made a few tweaks of our own. First we added a little bit of peppered turkey for an extra kick of protein and flavor. This is entirely optional and these still taste great if you choose to go without it!
Candied Pecan and Pear Salad
This sweet-’n-savory salad will tingle your tastebuds! I love eating salads that are stuffed with exciting flavors, so I don’t get bored eating the same thing, bite after bite. But this salad has it all—sweetness from the pear, tang from the onion, and crunch from the candied pecans. So with each bite, you’ll taste something new and delicious!
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Sweet recipes
Mini Fruit Tarts
These tarts consist of a sugar cookie cup that is filled with creamy vanilla Greek yogurt and topped with your favorite fruit. They are the perfect bite-sized dessert to have this summer. I love traditional-sized fruit tarts, but there is something about mini desserts that makes them more fun to whip together and enjoy in my opinion. These fruit tarts are a delicious and healthier take on your traditional tarts.
Strawberry Cheesecake Shooters
These shooters are easy to make and perfect for parties. To lighten this dessert, we used low-fat cream cheese and cut it with vanilla Greek yogurt. This adds creaminess and sweetness, allowing us to decrease the cream cheese and sugar needed to make the filling. Plus, Greek yogurt provides calcium, potassium, and protein, which slows digestion and prevents blood sugar spikes.
