Casual Entertaining

Easy Feast Celebrates Spring

No time for company? Think again! The low-fuss feast below is perfect for most any spring occasion. To allow you more time with your guests, this memorable menu is loaded with make-ahead convenience. Pop the fruity Cornish hens in the oven before your company arrives. The entree can continue baking while you impress guests with an elegant appetizer of steamed artichokes dipped in a creamy lemon dressing.

When the game hens are ready, simply go to the refrigerator to pull out the unique asparagus salad and delectable dessert you fixed earlier in the day.

Asparagus Salad Supreme
Plan ahead…needs to chill
“This salad is a unique way to present this pretty spring vegetable,” notes Paula Bass of Washington, North Carolina. Mushrooms and walnuts add interest to the creamy dressing that’s poured over the cool cooked spears.

Plum-Glazed Cornish Hens
The homemade plum sauce that’s baked onto these tender Cornish hens is wonderful, promises Annie Tompkins of Deltona, Florida. “I often sprinkle the hens with toasted coconut for a different taste sensation.”

Steamed Artichokes with Lemon Sauce
Ready in 1 hour or less
“My husband created this smooth, tangy sauce,” recalls Lois Gelzer of Oak Bluffs, Massachusetts. “It complements the steamed artichokes, whether they’re served warm or cold.”

Layered Chocolate Cake
“It’s hard to believe this impressive dessert starts with a boxed cake mix,” relates Dorothy Monroe of Pocatello, Idaho. Cream cheese in the icing provides the luscious finishing touch.