Hi moms, Please give me any suggestions if you can - I am planning to have a very small and informal party in my backyard on Monday after my daughter's preschool graduation for the kids in her class and parents (as well as my own family). It will be about a dozen or so children and maybe 20 adults I guess. It is informal so I don't know for sure who will come. My idea for the kids is to have crackers, lemonade, chicken nuggets and possibly hot dogs. For the adults, I am thinking of a veggies and a healthy spinach dip as well as maybe a cranberry juice and seltzer drink and I am not sure what to serve as a lunch item. I need something I can make ahead on Sunday night, and will be fresh and yummy Monday around 11 when we come back to my house after the ceremony. I was thinking about tea sandwiches but these might be soggy and yucky outside in the heat. Also since it is informal I am not sure who will be coming so I'd like to not make a ton of things that don't save well. We do not have a lot of money so I am trying to not spend alot...
I am also going to have a variety of home made cookies - oatmeal raisin, butter cookies and choc chip.
I could of course be super simple and just order pizza. But I actually enjoy preparing things. I'd rather not barbecue - too much work... I'm looking to be a great hostess while making this easy for myself.
Thanks in advance ladies I appreciate it!!
I would stick to cheese cracker and meat tray, fruit tray with dip and veggie tray with dip. THis should be plenty of food really easy for you, inexpensive and keeps you from having to make 2 seperate options for kids and adults since everyone can find something here they like.
Me personally, I'd do some simple stuff: a make-your-own sandwich bar. Put out some cheese and coldcuts and don't put out *all* of it, just enough for a few sandwiches. If more people show up, put out more food, if not then you can keep what's not used and eat it later. Throw out some chips and possibly hummus, pickles-- you'll be set.
wraps, instead of sandwiches???
Or stuffed mushrooms? Just heat up prior.
Oh, you can buy this frozen at Costco etc., but mini-quiches. Quiche. Its good.
Good finger food too. Not messy. Just heat up in oven and it looks festive.
super easy: $5 footlongs from Subway....pitch the wrappers! Cut the sandwiches into 1" sections & they'll go further.
Add a few fresh condiments, dressings, etc. Do a vegie/dip tray & some chips.
Make a fruit salad or watermelon boat.
& serve iced tea & lemonade.....forgoing the cranberry juice/seltzer, because a lot of people don't do cranberry! Oh, & serve your cookies!
All of this menu can be prepared & plated ahead of time....making your hostess duties a breeze! Good Luck!
Pasta Salad
elbow or penne
lots of fresh chopped veggies
italian salad dressing with a little extra olive oil
sliced salami, pepperoni
Easy to make ahead and it always tastes better on the 2nd day.
Meatballs in a crock pot. Buy them frozen and just dump BBQ sauce on them before you go to the ceramony.
What about a taco bar? prepare turkey meat and refried beans and then just cut up lettuce, tomatoes and onions. Put meat in one crock pot and beans in another. But some soft tortilla shells and a box of hard shells and let meople serve themselves.
I like the Subway idea....we have done this several times and it works out great. Just get everything on the side so they don't get mushy.
What about making (or buying) some yummy chicken salad or tuna salad and then having some fun breads and bagels for the moms to build sandwiches. You can have the kid food you mentioned too or just do cold cuts for them. For parties at my house I usually have a few kid faves but cater mostly to the adults b/c kids don't eat that much especially when they are playing with a bunch of kids! I have done shaped grilled cheese which are really easy to make ahead of time. I buy the square Peppridge Farm bread and use a cookie cutter (you could do a sun or something else summery, they may even have a graduation cap out there!) and cut out the bread. I put cheese on the inside then I butter both sides of the bread and put them on a cookie sheet and put it in the fridge. Then right before you need them throw them in the oven for 5-10 minutes, flipping once and viola...you have fresh and fun sandwiches!
I've also found that making quiche for my parties is a big hit. Generally moms love them and you can make them and fully cook them the day before. I warm mine up in the oven so they are heated throught and then cut and serve. You can have a green salad to go with and some fresh fruit that both kids and adults will enjoy and you're set! Also muffins and breads are good too. I like your idea of a spritzer drink and homemade cookies too!
I'm a lot like you...I like to cook for my guests when I can and make new and fun things, but I've found the more you can do before hand the better! Have fun!
Just reread your question and saw 20 adults, you can do some egg casseroles that are just as good as quiche and a little easier for a big crowd, or go with frozen mini quiche as someone else suggested. I think at 11am you could easily do brunch or lunch and have it go over well!
I know what you're saying about money being tight, so wanting to serve a food that won't get trashed if there's extra.
So I say chips are great with dips. Queso is easy too. A crock pot full of meatballs or little smokie sausages are easy to turn on before you go to the ceremony and it's hot by the time you get home. Hummus is a great idea, Hazel. Why can't the adults eat hot dogs too? Have chili and cheese (and jalepenos) on the side and I know my husband might push kids out of the way to get a hot dog (kidding of course). I have a recipe for a dip called "Grill side Garden Salad" which has diced zuchinni, a can of corn, diced tomatoes, black beans, salsa, cilantro, probably a TBS of oil. It's great with corn chips or on top of lettuce or on taquitos/flautas. (You could serve frozen flautas - just put them in the oven when you get home, but you may not have time for that).
That's all I got girl. Good luck.
Why not do a cold cut platter that you make yourself. Buy a couple of different meats and cheeses and some small dinner size rolls from Costco. Then you can also serve basic chips and a veggie platter. If you want maybe a pasta salad too. That keeps it simple and people can serve themselves.
Good luck!
Do you have a Costco nearby? They have great prepared food.
Deviled Eggs are always cheap, easy, and everyone LOVES them (I add some crumbled bacon and shredded cheese for a little twist). Fruit kabobs are always fun and your daughter can help make them! I am all about letting the kiddos help! :) Wraps are always yummy, too. You can either do a tortilla wrap with meat, cheese, lettuce or spinach...or there are the meat wraps with the pickle and cream cheese that are always a hit. I also make little pigs in a blanket using the little smokie hot dogs and crecent rolls and these are ALWAYS gone. Good luck, have fun, and enjoy the milestone!
I agree w/JessinTexas. The adults can have hot dogs too. You could put together some chili and let it simmer in the crockpot until you get home, people could have chili dogs or a bowl of chili. You could get some nacho chips and have fixins for nachos as well (lettuce, tomatoes, cheddar cheese, sour cream). I love the crockpot. When I am having a party or get together, I go to Sams and get BBQ. It is in the frozen section, I think its Byrons. You bake it for an hour and then I put it in the crock pot to stay warm. Get some buns and cole slaw to have with it. It is really good, I always get compliments on it.
