Creative Ice Cream Cones

No need for paper plates here! Consider serving simple summer treats in kid-friendly (and adult-friendly, too) ice cream cones!
Photo: Bakers Royale

Exotic Plants

There is no need to create centerpieces that incorporate multiple flower varieties. Instead, offer your guests a striking conversation starter with a bold single stem. Consult your florist to inquire about unusual plants that are sprouting up in your area.
Photos: Green Wedding Shoes

Strawberry Rice Pudding

For me, rice pudding is such a satisfying dessert. It’s rich and sugary but also quite hearty, always leaving me with that warm content feeling that comes after a special meal. I really enjoy this recipe, which is inspired by the recipe found in Diana Shaw’s, Almost Vegetarian. While I enjoy the flavor of strawberries, any berries would be perfect for this easy, make ahead dessert.

Ingredients

1 cup low-fat or nonfat strawberry yogurt

2 ½ cups low-fat or nonfat milk

Zest of one lemon

2 tablespoons vanilla sugar

½ cup Arborio rice

2 cups sliced strawberries

Fresh mint (for garnish)

At least a week before preparing the dish, make the vanilla sugar. Fill a sugar bowl with about 1 cup of sugar and bury 1 or 2 vanilla beans in the sugar. Let sit for several days.

Warm the milk in a saucepan over low heat and steep the extra fine lemon zest in it for about 10-15 minutes. Keep the milk just below a simmer.

Dissolve the sugar in the milk. Remove milk from heat.

Add the rice to a heavy saucepan and pour in enough of the hot milk to just cover the rice. Stir over low heat until the milk is absorbed. Continue adding warm milk and stirring until you’ve used all the milk and the rice is plump and chewy.

Take the risotto off the heat and let it cool, about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Stir in the yogurt and strawberries.

Refrigerate for at least three hours, covered, until the dessert is well chilled throughout. Before serving, garnish each serving with a sprinkle of vanilla sugar and fresh mint leaves.

Sunflower Place Card

A simple sunflower clipping makes a bold statement when used as a natural summer place card.
Photo: Martha Stewart

Eco Vase Filler

A scoop of richly colored coffee beans is all you need to creatively fill any vase. An arrangement of pretty pastel-hued flowers will really pop when contrasted with the deep brown beans.
Photo: The Knot

Modern Herbs

Rustic herbs look modern on a tabletop when dressed in sleek metal containers.
Photo: Martha Stewart

Archive Love: Farm Fresh Favors

Help support local agriculture by offering your guests seasonal produce, such as beautifully colored heirloom tomatoes, as favors. For a farm stand feel, arrange the produce in large baskets so that guests can take their time sorting through them. You can also supply guests with eco-friendly burlap bags, which they can use to carry home their produce, and then use again after your party.

Photos: Brides

Artisan Bread Favors

Looking for some favor inspiration suitable for all your foodie friends?  Treat each guest to a small loaf of artisan bread! When left out for guests at every place setting, the loaves help to enhance an already rustic tabletop. 

Photos: Emmaline Bride

Veggie Centerpieces

Farmer's market season is quickly approaching! While helping to support local agriculture this season be sure to pick up richly colored veggies for both your fridge and your tabletop. While assembling your next centerpiece, consider swapping a few varieties of cut flowers with textured veggies for a surprising twist!
Photo: Green Wedding Shoes

DIY Herb Favors

Consider looking to your recycling bin for some favor inspiration. A collection of clean tin cans are the ideal vessels for planting individual herb or flower gardens for each of your guests.
Photos: Ruffled

Lemon Leaf Table Runner

Here is a pretty way to freshen up a spring party! Create an easy, compostable DIY runner by spreading vibrant green lemon leaves down the center of your table. Complete the look by nestling several bright yellow lemons throughout the leaves.
Photo: I Do It Yourself

Fruit Favors

Small samplings of locally grown fruits are the perfect way to end an already sweet affair! Browse local farm stands to find fun fruity options that can serve as refreshing warm weather favors. 

Photo: Ruffled

Colorful Tabletop

As the weather warms and farm stands begin to carry an assortment of locally grown flowers, avoid the urge to be too "matchy-mathcy." Select a wide variety of flowers to create a fresh spring tabletop that reflects the beauty of your region.
Photos: Style Me Pretty

Archive Love: Reused Fruit and Vegetable Can Centerpieces

Back in February, we created a post about tea tin centerpieces. We received a lot of positive feedback from readers about the tea tin centerpieces, and thus could not resist posting this similar party planning suggestion. Instead of tea tins, reuse aluminum cans as simple, yet decorative vases. I especially like the cans featured in this photograph, which still boast colorful labels. Browse the aisles of your local ethnic grocer to find cans with unique labels that advertise unexpected contents, such as exotic fruits. Then, find creative ways to incorporate these treats into your party menu. 

Photo: Rachel Ray

Upcycled Plant Caddy

Fast food drink carriers can easily be converted into one-of-a-kind plant caddies. The caddies will serve as pretty spring centerpieces (invite guests to take the caddies home post-celebration).

Photos: I Do It Yourself

Spring Favors

Spring has (almost) sprung! Offer your guests pretty party favors inspired by the new season. Reused aluminum cans filled with bulbs are a charming and thoughtful take-away gift for any spring celebration.
Photos: Once Wed

A Fresh Centerpiece

Add a bit of cheer to a winter celebration by creating clean and crisp citrus centerpieces. A simple glass bowl filled with lemons, tangerines or other citrus fruits is a simple and cost-effective way to create colorful centerpieces year-round.

Photo: Martha Stewart

Cranberry Ice Cubes

Add some festive color to your holiday bar display without the need to add extra waste. Sprinkle loose (compost-friendly) cranberries in your ice cube trays prior to freezing. Once frozen, fill all your ice buckets with these very merry ice cubes for an extra pop of holiday cheer.

Photo: Country Living

DIY Eco Ornaments

Create a unique holiday tree with these quick (and compostable) DIY ornaments. First, preheat your oven to 200 degrees and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Gather a variety of citrus fruits – including oranges, lemons, tangerines, blood oranges, grapefruits and the like – and cut into thin slices (be sure to discard any seeds). Spread the slices across the baking sheet and bake until they are dried out (about two to three hours), being sure to flip the fruit every half hour. Once the ornaments are completely dry and cool, pierce them with paper clips or ornament hooks.

Photos: Whole Foods & Whole Living 

A Greenhouse Celebration

Get an extra daily dose of veggies by creating a casual greenhouse-inspired party. Reused aluminum cans filled with small edible plants are all it takes to make a vitamin-rich table setting. 

Photo: Once Wed