Tips for a Rockin' Summer Beach Party

by Michele Cheplic | More from this Blogger

12 Aug 2009 12:25 PM

Sadly, summer is coming to an end, so why not say goodbye to the season with a big beach blowout. Invite your favorite friends and family members, and have fun in the sun with the following kid-friendly games and crowd-pleasing dishes:

BEACH TIC-TAC-TOE

Materials:

Sand

Stick

Small plastic toys (e.g. cars, dinosaurs, animals, balls, etc.)

OR, IF IT IS TOO WINDY OR RAINY

Paper

Pencil

Cheerios or Lifesaver candy

Goldfish crackers

Directions:

Draw a traditional Tic-Tac-Toe board (2 vertical lines and 2 horizontal lines) in the sand or on the paper.

Sand Version: One person uses one set of toys and the other uses another set as game pieces.

Paper Version: One person uses the goldfish crackers and the other uses the Cheerios or Lifesavers to mark his/her spots on the board.

BEACH BONANZA CAKE

Ingredients:

1 package (18 1/4 ounces) yellow cake mix

2 cans white frosting

1/2 cup graham cracker crumbs

Blue food coloring

Assorted plastic beach decorations

Directions:

Prepare cake mix according to package directions.

When cake is done, invert onto a cooling rack to cool completely.

Set aside 1 cup of frosting, then tint remaining frosting blue.

Frost beach portion white and water portion blue.

Sprinkle cracker crumbs on beach portion for sand.

Use a knife to frost the peaks of the waves white. Swirl as desired.

Arrange beach decorations as desired on remainder of cake.

MEGA ROAST BEEF SANDWICH

Ingredients:

1 round loaf of crusty sourdough bread

1 small container herbed cream cheese

1 jar roasted red peppers, rinsed

3 cups spring mix lettuce

1/4 cup thinly sliced red onions

1 pound deli roast beef, sliced thin

1/2 pound Swiss cheese, sliced

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar

Directions:

Cut top from bread and hollow out most of the inside, leaving 1-inch thick shell.

Spread the cut surfaces of the bread with the herbed cream cheese.

Layer half of the cheese, beef, lettuce, onion and peppers, then drizzle with half of the oil and half of the vinegar.

Repeat the layers, and then drizzle with the remaining oil and vinegar.

Replace the top on the loaf and wrap tightly with plastic wrap.

Refrigerate at least 2 hours or up to 8 hours.

Unwrap and cut into wedges before serving.

Related Articles:

Affordable Outdoor Summer Fun For Kids

Rainy Day Summer Fun

Summer Fun for Kids in the Great Outdoors

Super Summer Sanity Savers for Parents

Affordable Ways to Keep Kids Busy This Summer

Super Summer Fun for Kids

Edible Sand Castle and Other Summer Fun for Kids

Serious Summer Fun

Learn more about Michele Cheplic

Michele Cheplic was born and raised in Hilo, Hawaii, but now lives in Wisconsin. Michele graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a degree in Journalism.

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