If there’s one thing that brings people together during Michigan summers, it’s gathering with loved ones and enjoying good food.

From backyard barbecues and family picnics to graduation parties and cookouts, there is always a summer occasion to prepare crowd-pleasing appetizers and desserts to enhance the main course.

The following dishes travel well and are easy to make in large batches:


Appetizers

Caprese Skewers: This easy, no-cook recipe offers a fresh bite, perfect for a summer day. Assemble cherry tomatoes, fresh basil leaves and fresh mozzarella pearls sequentially on toothpicks. Top with a sprinkle of salt and pepper and drizzle with extra virgin olive oil and balsamic glaze.

Zippy Corn Dip: This simple dip recipe will be gone before you know it. Mix 1 can of drained corn with peppers, 1 cup of sour cream, 1 cup of mayonnaise, 8 ounces of shredded Mexican-style cheese, a 4-ounce can of diced green chiles, a fresh diced jalapeño and 2 diced green onions together in a bowl. Chill in the fridge for a few hours or overnight and serve with your favorite tortilla chips.

Peach Salsa: This sweet and spicy salsa will bring a fresh kick to any event. All you need to do is mix together 2 or 3 ripe diced peaches, half of a diced red bell pepper, a 1/4 cup of diced red onion, a 1/4 cup of fresh chopped cilantro, the juice and zest of 1 lime, 1 small grated garlic clove, 1/2 of a minced jalapeño and a 1/4 teaspoon of sea salt. Serve with tortilla chips.

Veggie Pizza: In a bowl, combine 4 ounces of cream cheese, a 1/2 cup of sour cream and 1 tablespoon each of fresh chives and dill, chopped. Chill for 15 minutes in the fridge. Bake an 8-ounce can of refrigerated crescent dough sheets according to package directions and let cool. Spread chilled cream cheese mixture on cooled dough and top with fresh chopped vegetables like broccoli, peppers, carrots, etc. Slice into individual pieces for serving.


Desserts

Cornbread Muffins: Nothing goes with barbecue quite like cornbread. To make things easier for serving, buy a box of your favorite cornbread mix (or make your own from scratch) and bake it in muffin pans with liners to skip the mess.

Frozen Graham Cracker Cool Whip Sandwiches: You just need two ingredients and a freezer for this easy, light dessert that’s sure to satisfy any sweet tooth. For each sandwich you will need 1 graham cracker sheet (chocolate works well for this recipe) broken in half to form two squares. Place 2 tablespoons of thawed cool whip on the bottom cracker and top with the other half. Freeze until solid.

Mini Fruit Tarts: For a simple, refreshing treat, buy pre-made tart shells from the baking aisle or freezer aisle at your local grocery store. Keep it simple by filling each shell with instant pudding in flavors like vanilla, French vanilla, lemon or cheesecake. Top with classic fruit tart toppings like berries, mandarin orange slices and kiwi.

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