Pretzel Brownie Bars

Love brownie and pretzels? This is the perfect recipe to highlight your graduation party celebrations. The layering of the two delicacies is the perfect way to serve a sweet-and-salty fudgy bar that you can serve to your guests proudly.

Ingredients for Crust

• Crushed pretzels, 1 ½ cups
• Granulated sugar, ¼ cup
• Margarine or butter (melted), ½ cup

Ingredients for Brownie

• Fudge brownie mix, 1 box
• Water, ¼ cup
• Vegetable oil, 2/3 cups
• 2 eggs

Ingredients for Frosting

• Powdered sugar, 1 cup
• Margarine or butter (softened), 2 tbsp
• Vanilla, 1 tsp
• Unsweetened chocolate (melted), 2 squares
• Pretzels (crushed), ½ cup
• Milk, 3 tbsp

Preparation

1. Set the oven to preheat at 350 degrees F.
2. In a mixing bowl, combine all crust ingredients well. Transfer to a 13x9 baking pan (ungreased). Press the crust using a spatula and set to bake for 8 minutes. Remove and set aside for 10 minutes to cool.
3. In another mixing bowl, stir all the ingredients for the brownie and mix until blended. When the batter is ready, carefully transfer to the pan over the crust. Set to bake for another 25 minutes or until done. Place on a cooling rack and let cool for an hour.
4. To prepare the topping, beat 2 tbsp butter, powdered sugar, vanilla and melted chocolate in an electric mixer. Add 1 tbsp milk in the mixture at a time to adjust consistency while beating. Continue beating, adding 1 tbsp at a time until the frosting reaches your desired consistency.
5. When the brownies are cooled, spread the frosting on the top and cover with crushed pretzels.
6. Cut into rectangles and serve fresh.

Note: Feel free to decorate them with colorful sprinkles or toasted coconut if you like for additional flavors and great look.

Grilled Marinated Shrimp

A very easy and simple marinade will bring out the delish flavors of shrimp. Serve them without the cocktail sauce on the graduation party day and win everyone’s heart. Check out the recipe below.

Ingredients

• Garlic (minced), 3 cloves
• Olive oil, 1/3 cup
• Salt, ½ tsp
• Fresh shrimp (deveined, peeled), 2 lbs
• Tomato sauce, ¼ cup
• Cayenne pepper, ½ tsp
• Red wine vinegar, 2 tbsp
• Fresh basil (chopped), 2 tbsp
• Skewers

Preparation

1. In a large mixing bowl, mix together olive oil, garlic, red wine vinegar, and tomato sauce. Season the marinade with salt, cayenne pepper and basil. Mix well.
2. Stir in shrimp until well coated. Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour to marinade well.
3. To prepare, preheat grill at low-med heat. Use skewers to thread shrimp (piercing once near the head and once at the tail). Discard marinade.
4. Grease grill and place the skewers on the preheated grill. Cook on each side for 2 to 3 minutes or until opaque. Serve warm on the skewers and enjoy!

Fantastic Fruit Salad

Your graduation party celebration cannot be complete until you serve your guest with some flavorful, colorful fruit salad. This is a must have on the food table. So make sure you get the ingredients beforehand.

Ingredients

• 1 large-sized red apple, chopped
• Dried cranberries, ½ cup
• 1 Granny Smith Apple, chopped
• 2 stalks of celery, chopped
• 1 nectarine, pitted and sliced
• Walnuts (chopped), ½ cup
• Non-fat lemon yogurt, 1 container
• Mixed berries of your choice, 1 cup

Preparation

1. Combine all the fruits and berries in a large mixing bowl and toss.
2. Stir in celery, walnuts and cranberries. Add chilled yogurt in the bowl and mix well to coat well.
3. Chill until ready to be served.

Juicy Chicken Burgers

Ingredients

• 1 ripe avocado, sliced
• 4 hamburger buns
• Lemon juice, 1 tbsp
• Salt, to taste
• Black pepper, to taste
• Butter, 1 tbsp
• Mayonnaise, 4 tbsp
• 1 large onion, sliced
• Provolone cheese, 4 slices
• Chicken breast halves (skinless, boneless), 4 fillets

Preparation

1. Combine lemon juice and sliced avocado in a mixing bowl. Add water to the bowl until covered. Set aside.
2. Preheat outdoor grill at med-high heat and grease with oil.
3. Place a large heavy skillet over med-high heat. Stir in butter and let melt. Add onion and sauté. Cook until onions are caramelized and set aside.
4. Season chicken fillets with salt and pepper. Set to grill and cook for about 5 minutes on each side until cooked well. Place buns on the same grills until toasted.
5. Spread mayonnaise on buns and place one chicken fillet on each. Layer with caramelized onion, provolone cheese and avocado on the top.
6. Cover with the bun and serve!

Chicken Quesadillas

Ingredients

• 2 medium-sized tomatoes, diced
• Chicken breast halved (skinless, boneless), ½ lb
• 1 large onion, thin sliced
• Juice of 2 limes
• 1 green bell pepper, thinly sliced
• Fresh cilantro (chopped), 2 tbsp
• Garlic (minced), 2 cloves
• 4 flour tortillas, 12 inches each
• 1 jalapeno pepper, minced
• Monterey Jack cheese (shredded), 1 cup
• Salt, to taste
• Black pepper, to taste
• Sour cream (for topping), ¼ cup
• Olive oil, 2 tbsp divided use

Preparation

1. Combine ½ chopped onion, tomatoes, cilantro, lime juice, and jalapeno. Season with salt and pepper. Mix well and set aside.
2. Place a large skillet over low-med heat. Add 1 tbsp olive oil. Add chicken and sauté and cooked through for 8 minutes on each side until no more pink and cooked through. Remove chicken and set aside.
3. In the same skillet, stir in more oil and add the remaining onion. Add green pepper and stir until tender. Add garlic and continue to sauté as it becomes fragrant. Combine chicken breast meat with half of the pico de gallo well. Keep warm.
4. Heat one tortilla at a time and add shredded cheese on it. Add the chicken mixture and cover with more cheese. Cover with another heated tortilla and let the cheese melt.
5. Continue with the remaining tortillas and cheese. When done, slice into triangles.
6. Serve with remaining pico de gallo and sour cream on the side.
7. Enjoy!

Blue Lemonade

Ingredients

• 1 bottle jigger citron vodka
• Blue curacao, ½ oz.
• Sour mix fluid, 2 oz.
• 1 can lemon-lime flavored carbonated drink
• 1 lemon, cut into wedges

Preparation

1. Fill glass with ice. Pour in vodka, sour mix and blue curacao.
2. Add lemon-lime soda and fill it to the top. Garnish with lemon wedges and serve chilled with straw.
3. Serve to your guest and surprise them!