New Twists on Old Ideas

Simple fingerfoods are traditionally all that is expected at baby showers, foods like vegetable trays, fruit salads, cheese and crackers, nuts, mints, cake and punch, and other snack-type items. Out of respect for the guest of honor, alcoholic beverages should not be served and you may also choose to forego caffeinated sodas or coffee if the mother is refraining.

You need not hold to tradition, however. There are plenty of very fun ways to deviate from this norm. Why not have a shower brunch on a Saturday morning? You could serve fruit-filled crepes, or quiche and muffins. A lunchtime shower could be a pizza party where guests each bring a topping and you supply personal-pan crust and sauce. They can cook while you play games and your house will smell wonderful. The same bring-a-topping idea applies to icecream sundae parties.

A personal favorite shower food idea is a Chinese take-out dinner! You can order three or four main dishes and cook your own rice to save on the expense. Don't forget the chopsticks! Or, Consult the mother-to-be. Has she had strange cravings during her pregnancy? It might be fun to serve foods reflective of her 3am nachos and ice cream runs.

Baby Bottle Cake

A lovely touch I saw at a recent baby shower was a cake in the shape of a baby bottle, decorated with pink and white icing (yes, the baby was expected to be a girl.) This is easily accomplished by baking a rectangular sheet cake. Use a piece of paper of the same length and draw an outline of a bottle. Cut it out. (You may need several tries to get it exactly right.) Then place it on the top of the cooled cake and, using a sharp knife, cut around your template. Frosting will cover the exposed edges and voila!

Next Page: The 1 Thing To Decorate

© 2000 Heather Tomasello. All rights retained by author. Do not duplicate without permission.