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Don't sweat summer entertaining
Barbecues, pool parties and picnics can fill up summer calendars more quickly than ice melts on a hot day. Often the pains of entertaining, even for a simple summer get-together, can make hosts sweat the details. Entertaining Expert Cathy Riva, founder of Manhattan-based Riva Events, highlights recipes that provide wholesome nutritional content and are easy to make, such as using fruits and vegetables with a twist, as an easy way to make your recipes seasonal and fun. Riva also stresses that hosts should consider dietary needs of their guests, such as food allergies, diabetes or diet plans. "One easy way to make sure all your guests can enjoy beverages and foods with reduced sugar is to substitute Splenda No Calorie Sweetener for sugar." "There is no need to stress over elaborate dishes," Riva maintains. "Instead, keep the food light and fun for summer. Don't be afraid to ask guests to bring a small dish. Potluck-type parties are always a hit, allowing everyone the opportunity to try new things." Another party tip is to invite a variety of friends to your soirée. "No need to worry if your guests haven't met previously," Riva recommends. "A party is great way to get to know new people and make new connections. And you never know who will hit it off." Tanya Zuckerbrot, registered dietitian and creator of The F-Factor Diet, provides unique tips on keeping your party healthy and your guests hydrated: --Make healthy eating fun and easy by having summer fruits like watermelon and berries washed, cut and on hand for a healthy party snack. --Keep your guests hydrated by setting out pitchers/thermal jugs with iced tea and water. If you tire of the taste of plain water, try Splenda No Calorie Sweetener Flavor Accents for a simple way to add taste without the added sugar. --Encourage your guests to be physically active by playing music for dancing, starting a game of tag or organizing a party-wide hide and seek competition. Offer lively party games such as ping-pong, bean bag toss, basketball or badminton. Citrus Salsa 4 roma tomatoes
Bring small saucepan of water to a boil. Blanch tomatoes for 30 seconds, and then rinse with cold water. Peel and chop tomatoes. Place all ingredients in a large bowl and stir until mixed thoroughly. Allow to stand at room temperature for one hour. Mix and serve. Refrigerate any unused salsa. Serving Size: 1 cup salsa. Serve Citrus Salsa with baked tortilla chips or on top of grilled chicken or fish. Raw Broccoli Salad 
4 cups broccoli florets or broccolini
Discard broccoli stems and finely chop florets or broccolini. Set aside. Place remaining ingredients in a medium mixing bowl. Mix well. Add broccoli florets or broccolini. Toss until coated. Chill until ready to serve. Serves: 6. 
Mango Yogurt Smoothie 1 cup ice cubes
Combine all ingredients in a blender in the order listed; process mixture until smooth, stopping to scrape down sides. Serves: 3 Watermelon Raspberry Popsicles 2 cups watermelon, seeded and diced
Place all ingredients in blender or food processor. Blend until smooth. Pour ingredients out of blender. Strain through a sieve into a small bowl, pressing firmly to extract as much of the liquid as possible. Discard pulp. Pour extracted juice into popsicle molds and freeze at least 6 hours or overnight. Serves: 8. For more information and recipes visit Splenda.com. Recipes and photos courtesy of Splenda. Content provided by ECES, Inc. 7/7/08 Date: 6/30/08
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