Welcome back to The Simple Celebration! We’re so glad you’re here. This little corner of the internet will be handled by me and my granddaughter, Claire — we’re teaming up to share the recipes we love to cook, eat, and celebrate with together. We’re kicking things off with a fresh herb dip, inspired by the […]
This is a make-ahead pasta salad, making it an ideal lunch or party dish. Since chives are the only fresh ingredient—and they can easily be omitted—you can prepare it the day before and have one less thing to worry about when guests arrive. We recently served it at a baby shower alongside turkey and brie […]
These zucchini balls are absolutely delicious and perfect for entertaining, since the batter can be made ahead of time. They pair beautifully with Tzatziki dip and Traditional Greek Meatballs, making them ideal for a tapas-style spread or as delightful appetizers before a Mediterranean meal.
Tzatziki is a wonderful and versatile sauce that can be enjoyed in many ways. It’s delicious served as a dip with fresh vegetables, but it truly shines when paired with the Zucchini, Parmesan, and Feta Balls.
We recently spent a magical week sailing through the Greek Isles on a small cruise ship, where each stop seemed to offer a new flavor and story. One of the highlights of the trip was a hands-on cooking class led by a local chef who shared traditional family recipes passed down through generations. The […]
Want to get your family or friend gathering off to a spicy start? Try my son Phil’s Jalapeño poppers. Our family always requests this appetizer whenever we get together. I recently discovered that jalapeño peppers are easy to grow, and they easily get to a great size for these poppers. They are easy to find […]
This peaches and cream dessert is perfect for summer gatherings or as a special treat on a warm evening. The creamy filling and fresh peaches atop pound cake make it a delightful dessert that will impress your guests! For a lighter dessert put the peaches in a glass bowl and top with the cream.
It’s been a while since we’ve shared a new recipe, so we’re excited to bring you a delicious and easy recipe for a homemade flourless chocolate torta. This rich and flavorful dessert is perfect for a cozy night in or a special dinner with loved ones. It is easy to freeze and can be […]
If you are serving an entrée that is not too heavy, start your simple celebration with this delicious, fresh-tasting shrimp salad. Serve with our one-ingredient parmesan crisps and enjoy!
We pride ourselves at The Simple Celebration by posting simple, tasty recipes and this may be our simplest yet! Just one ingredient, a few minutes in the pan, and a delicious, crispy side is ready. These crisps are very versatile – serve them along with your main entrée instead of bread, add them to […]
Seven simple ingredients go into the food processor and this appetizer is done! A perfect make-ahead dip for your simple celebration. We served it with pita bread and rainbow carrots, but you could use whatever you have on hand – crackers, fresh veggies, breadsticks, etc.
This biscuit recipe only calls for one tablespoon of sugar, so let’s call them healthy! They are an awesome pairing to any salad or main dish. Freeze leftovers and have delicious, homemade biscuits on hand in an instant!
We all love pasta but hesitate to serve it because we want to eat healthily. This recipe uses fresh zucchini noodles (which are easily found already spiraled at the grocery store), fresh vegetables, pre-cooked shrimp, and herbs. It is a perfect alternative to pasta and only uses one pan – easy cleanup! […]
WOW your guests at your next simple celebration with this refreshing dessert that has an elegant look with NO work!
This is an easy, healthy meal that you will want to serve often. It is choc-full of flavor and many steps can be done in advance.
These tasty bites will be a wonderful addition to your Simple Celebration table. You can experiment with different fillings using the same method.
A tasty and healthy way to use left-over chicken, beef, salmon, or shrimp. Add whatever vegetables you have on hand to create your own unique dish. Serve it with our favorite Nordstrom dressing – link provided below.
This recipe calls for boiling the sweet potatoes, however, you can certainly use left-over, baked sweet potatoes – simply scoop out the flesh, combine, and microwave for a minute or two. Start the recipe at step #2. A big plus is these potato cakes can be put together a couple of days ahead of time, […]
Here is a delicious dessert for your next simple celebration. Most of the steps can be prepared in advance. Dark chocolate and cherries – yes please!
Treat your family to the flavors of the holidays with these comforting recipes. The apples can be made in advance and warmed up prior to serving. They would also taste great served with pork chops. Enjoy!
We had so much fun playing around with different ways to decorate our “snowman.” We ended up going the tropical route and served him on a plate with brown sugar “sand,” a tropical drink umbrella, a beach ball, and a sand dollar. How will you theme your snowman?
This cocktail can be made with the white liquor of your choice – gin, rum, or vodka. The floating pomegranate seeds really make this drink a star attraction!
This recipe is for a side dish, but you could definitely make it an entrée by adding cooked shrimp or sliced chicken breast. The cranberries and pepitas (pumpkin seeds) will add wonderful autumn flavors to your simple celebration!
Elegant, simple, delicious, and quick – put this yummy dessert together in no time at all, pop it in the freezer for a few hours, and impress your family and friends at your next simple celebration!
Here is a super easy, quick recipe to do with your children or grandchildren. Let them pick which fruits to use, set up their “skewer station,” and watch them delight in creating this healthy, colorful snack!
Fundido is a Spanish term for “molten.” In this recipe, it refers to the gooey melted goodness of mozzarella cheese. We originally posted this dish with mushrooms in the ingredients, however, when Vicki suggested it to her granddaughter, she nixed the idea. No problem! Nana just recreated the recipe to make it more kid-friendly. […]
Something different to add to your simple celebration appetizer collection. Warm, creamy cheese spread on top of a slice of baguette – delicious!
Vicki’s granddaughter, Claire, enjoys helping in the kitchen. She was over for the night and it was decided that she got to help plan the menu which started with dessert (of course). Claire immediately shouted out, “banana splits!!” That was a bit of a shock because Vicki hadn’t made one since she helped her dad […]
Make this seafood sauce and keep it in the refrigerator for up to a week. Serve it with our Asian Salmon Cakes, crab cakes, or any seafood dish that needs a tasty, creamy sauce.
This recipe is a healthy version of salmon cakes as they have very little bread crumbs. They can be assembled early in the day of your simple celebration and sautéd just before serving.
