Let’s celebrate the Graduates of the Class of 2021! We share in their excitement and pride in an unprecedented year. Congratulations on your well-deserved success!
Start the morning celebrating your graduate. Whatever their favorite, make it special. Make it memorable. Try one of these tasty morning show stoppers.
PB & J French Toast
Bagel Breakfast Panini
Balloons in school colors & flowers bouquets designed by our florists, custom sweet treats and graduation-worthy music (so that the neighbors can cheer along with you) will set the tone for bringing that diploma or degree into one’s home for the first time!
Tips: Try different styles of buffets for a quick and easy celebration. Start with your Grads favorite snack. The skies the limit!
1. Grab a selection of desert from our bakery department or a selection of treats from one of our Market 32 patisseries.
2. Try a popcorn buffet. Pop all the popcorn you can handle and then a rainbow array of toppings from sweet to savory.
3. Try one of our wing platters for your group of party-goers.
4. Nothing but nachos. If you can put it on a pizza try it on some nachos. Pineapple and ham? Why not? BBQ chicken? How about Buffalo chicken. Try them all.
12 cups popped popcorn
3 cups broken bagel chips
6 tablespoons melted butter
2 tablespoons PICS Everything Blend
Combine all ingredients in a large bowl until blended.
16 cups hot popped popcorn
4 tablespoons melted butter
1-ounce packet ranch seasoning mix
salt to taste
Melt 4 tablespoons butter with a 1-ounce packet ranch seasoning mix; toss with 16 cups hot popcorn. Season with salt.
Combine all ingredients in a large bowl until blended.
Pulse freeze-dried strawberries and confectioners’ sugar in a food processor until powdery. Drizzle 4 tablespoons melted butter over 16 cups hot popcorn and sprinkle with the strawberry sugar. Try with other freeze-dried fruit flavors.
16 cups popped popcorn (air popped or on the stove in a pan with a little oil). Add a little butter and salt.
1/4 cup white chocolate morsels
1/4 cup mini chocolate morsels
Divide and spread the popcorn onto two baking sheets lined with waxed paper. Pick out the kernels (VERY IMPORTANT!)
In a glass dish, in the microwave on high, melt 1/4 cup mini chocolate morsels. Stir until the chocolate is fully melted and drizzle it onto one sheet of the popcorn. NOTE: You will have to spoon the chocolate and mix the popcorn until it is lightly covered.
In a glass dish, in the microwave on high, melt 1/4 cup white chocolate morsels. Stir until the chocolate is fully melted. Drizzle it on to the other sheet of popcorn and mix until lightly covered.
Let the popcorn set in the refrigerator until the chocolate has hardened. Mix the colors of popcorn together and serve.
Prep: 20 minutes • Serves 15
1. In small bowl, toss tomatoes, 1/4 cup green onions and 1 tablespoon chopped cilantro.
2. In food processor with knife blade attached or blender, purée remaining ingredients, and remaining 1/2 cup green onions and 1/2 cup cilantro leaves until mixture is smooth, scraping sides of bowl occasionally.
3. Transfer guacamole to serving bowl; top with tomato mixture to serve. Makes 2-3/4 cups guacamole and 1 cup tomato mixture.
Chef Tips:
Guacamole and tomato mixture can be prepared and refrigerated up to 6 hours in advance. Top the guacamole with tomato mixture just before serving.
Include the seeds and veins of the jalapeño chile pepper for a spicier guacamole
Prep: 15 minutes
Slow Cook: 1 hour 45 minutes • Serves: 10
1 package (8 ounces) shredded sharp Cheddar cheese
3 medium jalapeño peppers, seeded and finely chopped
1 garlic clove, crushed with press
1/4 cup plus 3 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
1/2 cup sour cream
1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
2 packages (8 ounces each) cream cheese, cut into chunks
2 teaspoons olive oil
1/3 cup panko breadcrumbs
1 package (4 ounces) cooked salad shrimp (about 1 cup), thawed and dried well
Sliced green onions for garnish (optional)
1. In 2-quart slow cooker, stir Cheddar cheese, jalapeños, garlic, 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese, sour cream and lime juice until well combined; add cream cheese. Cover and cook on high 1-1/2 hours or on low 3 hours.
2. In large skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat 30 seconds or until hot; add breadcrumbs and cook 3 minutes or until golden brown, stirring constantly. Remove skillet from heat; transfer breadcrumbs to bowl. Cool 5 minutes; stir in remaining 3 tablespoons Parmesan cheese.
3. Open slow cooker and stir cheese mixture until well combined; fold in shrimp, cover and cook on high 15 minutes or on low 30 minutes. To serve, evenly sprinkle top with breadcrumb mixture and onions, if desired.
Chef Tip:
Serve with tortilla chips, crackers, vegetables and/or bagel chips.
What better way to celebrate the day than a bouquet from our talented floral designers. Add them to a centerpiece, table scape or to brighten your grads day.
Ask about floral designs at the store near you.
We offer balloons in a variety of sizes, shapes and colors so that you can add a festive touch your your graduation celebration. Balloons can stand alone or they can add some flair and fun to your regular floral order.
Ask about balloons at the store near you.
Specialty catering platters give families the opportunity to hold an in home dinner worthy of the newly crowned graduate.
Tips: So many great platters to choose from. Order a few and add one of our tips to spice things up!
1. Heat and serve a meatball platter. Serve as is or grab some rolls and make mini subs. Add different cheese and sauces. Mozzarella and marinara combo, Alfredo and parmesan, pesto with fontina. You can also try different styles of pasta with a variety of sauces with any of our tasty meatballs on top. Say yes to a meatball tray!
2. Shrimp platters galore! Serve them as is with cocktail sauce or try one of our savory recipes. Yes it came on a platter but it doesn’t have to stay there. Get adventurous with our Mexican shrimp cocktail, or grab some wooden skewers and make a quick appetizer with tomato, basil, feta and Kalamata olives.
1 PICS Traditional Meatball Platter
1 PICS sub rolls
1 Package PICS Shredded
Mozzarella Cheese
1 Package PICS Provolone Cheese Slices
1 Jar Tomato Sauce
1 Jar Alfredo Sauce
1 Jar Pesto
Add meatballs to sub rolls, top with your favorite sauce and cheese. Warm sandwiches in a 350 degree oven until cheese is melted and meatballs are warmed through.
Ingredients
1/2 teaspoon grated lemon peel
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1 tablespoon olive oil
24 cooked large shrimp, tail shells removed
24 cherry tomatoes
24 (5-inch) cocktail skewers
24 small basil leaves
24 pitted kalamata olives
8 oz feta cheese, cut in 24 (about 3/4-inch) cubes
Steps
1 In medium bowl, mix lemon peel, lemon juice, red pepper, salt, garlic and oil. Add shrimp; toss to coat. Refrigerate for 30 minutes.
2 Meanwhile, thread cherry tomatoes onto skewers. Fold basil leaves in half, and thread onto skewers. Place olive between the tail and head of shrimp and thread on skewer. Finally, thread feta cubes onto skewers. Serve immediately, or refrigerate up to 4 hours before serving.
Send all the graduates on your list a gift that says “celebrate you – you’ve earned it” with gift cards to the things that are most meaningful to them! For use in stores or on most websites, it won’t take long before your gift recipients are reminded that they in fact “DID IT”! Don’t forget our large selection of cards to find the perfect words for how you feel about this special graduating class.
Suggestions
1. Grab one of our candy bouquets and some glue dots. Stick your gift cards onto the candy bars. Easy, practical and delicious.
2. Hide a gift card in a jar full of the grads favorite candy.
3. A new water bottle or coffee cup make a great container to hold gift cards.
4. “Smash Me” Wrap your gift card in plaster (directions below)
Start with one of our adorable candy bouquets. Grab some glue dots or double stick tape to add your gift cards to candy bars. Or tuck a gift card into one of the candy holders.
Wrap your gift card in plaster
Supplies:
When the plaster is cured, gently lift the plastic wrap to remove the plaster from the box. The plaster cast will resemble a brick of cream cheese!
Decorate a tag to spell “Smash Me”. You can include a small craft hammer with the Smash plaster. Tie the hammer to the plaster cast using twine or ribbon, and add the tag.
Your gift card is ready. Don’t forget protective eyeware and let the smashing begin!
