Can anyone help with side dishes for a large party?!
My sister and I are throwing a 50th birthday party for our parents!. It's a casual party!. We are doing two meats already, like turkey and ham, but are stuck on side dishes!. I'm looking for easy to make, but flavorful side dishes!. also, we already have the macaroni salad / garden salad thing covered!. With the colder weather, we'd like some dishes served warm!. Thanks!Www@FoodAQ@Com
Answers:
A good rule of thumb for any large meal would be to follow food groups you get on any basic entree!. You have a lot of protein already, so you go with starches and vegetables!.
Potatoes are always a good sell, but it'll be harder to keep them warm!. Mashed potatoes are a good start, because they retain heat pretty well!. You can always have a hot gravy on the side!. That probably won't be enough, so you can have variety with roasted baby potatoes with rosemary, or a potato salad!. Other starches you might consider is almond rice pilaf, candied yams, baked potatoes, roasted parsnips with butter and sage, beetroot salad with chervil, and glazed carrots!.
Vegetables are pretty easy, in my opinion!. You can make roasted asparagus wrapped in bacon (this will be time consuming to cook and tedious to prep, though) with hollandaise sauce, or a medly of steamed/roasted vegetables, properly seasoned, served with a hollandaise or some other kind of dressing!. Braised cabbage is a good one to cook in bulk, so will collard greens!.
You can also try roasted pineapple slices with maraschino cherries to go with the ham!.
When in doubt, a cheese and bread platter rarely goes wrong!. A hot stew or creamy soup might be good in cold weather as well!. Www@FoodAQ@Com
Potatoes are always a good sell, but it'll be harder to keep them warm!. Mashed potatoes are a good start, because they retain heat pretty well!. You can always have a hot gravy on the side!. That probably won't be enough, so you can have variety with roasted baby potatoes with rosemary, or a potato salad!. Other starches you might consider is almond rice pilaf, candied yams, baked potatoes, roasted parsnips with butter and sage, beetroot salad with chervil, and glazed carrots!.
Vegetables are pretty easy, in my opinion!. You can make roasted asparagus wrapped in bacon (this will be time consuming to cook and tedious to prep, though) with hollandaise sauce, or a medly of steamed/roasted vegetables, properly seasoned, served with a hollandaise or some other kind of dressing!. Braised cabbage is a good one to cook in bulk, so will collard greens!.
You can also try roasted pineapple slices with maraschino cherries to go with the ham!.
When in doubt, a cheese and bread platter rarely goes wrong!. A hot stew or creamy soup might be good in cold weather as well!. Www@FoodAQ@Com
Chinese Napa Cabbage Salad
PREP TIME 10 Min
COOK TIME 15 Min
READY IN 25 Min
For 30
INGREDIENTS
· 5 (3 ounce) packages chicken flavored ramen noodles
· 1-1/4 cups butter
· 2-1/2 cups sesame seeds, toasted
· 2-1/2 cups blanched slivered almonds
· 5 large heads napa cabbage, shredded
· 30 green onions, chopped
· 1-1/4 cups vegetable oil
· 1-1/4 cups rice wine vinegar
· 1/4 cup and 1 tablespoon soy sauce
· 1/4 cup and 1 tablespoon sesame oil
· 1/2 cup and 2 tablespoons white sugar
DIRECTIONS
1!. Crush noodles, place them in a medium skillet and brown in butter over medium heat!. Add almonds and sesame seeds!. Stir often to prevent burning!. Add seasoning mix from noodles and cool!. Toss in a large bowl with cabbage and onions!.
2!. Prepare the dressing by whisking together the vegetable oil, rice vinegar, soy sauce, sesame oil and sugar!. Pour over salad, toss and serve!.
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PREP TIME 10 Min
COOK TIME 15 Min
READY IN 25 Min
For 30
INGREDIENTS
· 5 (3 ounce) packages chicken flavored ramen noodles
· 1-1/4 cups butter
· 2-1/2 cups sesame seeds, toasted
· 2-1/2 cups blanched slivered almonds
· 5 large heads napa cabbage, shredded
· 30 green onions, chopped
· 1-1/4 cups vegetable oil
· 1-1/4 cups rice wine vinegar
· 1/4 cup and 1 tablespoon soy sauce
· 1/4 cup and 1 tablespoon sesame oil
· 1/2 cup and 2 tablespoons white sugar
DIRECTIONS
1!. Crush noodles, place them in a medium skillet and brown in butter over medium heat!. Add almonds and sesame seeds!. Stir often to prevent burning!. Add seasoning mix from noodles and cool!. Toss in a large bowl with cabbage and onions!.
2!. Prepare the dressing by whisking together the vegetable oil, rice vinegar, soy sauce, sesame oil and sugar!. Pour over salad, toss and serve!.
Www@FoodAQ@Com
I'm a little concerned here that if you and your sister cook a meal for 90 people you will miss the party! :( Think simple and make ahead!. Roasted vegetables sound great, but will you have room in the oven for an hour at 400!? If so, I highly recommend them because you can do all the prep the day before, throw them on a couple (wow for 90!.!.!.five or six cookie sheets!?) toss with olive oil and s-n-p and your done!. Whipped sweet potatoes are really good, you can do them and reheat!.!.!. I know it sounds terrible to say, but unless you have experience in this sort of thing, and you want to have warm dishes as you say, I might think about buying prepared food!.!.!. Honey Baked Hams has some excellent side dishes, expensive, but you only get this party once!. Recruit your best girlfriends to help, no matter what you do! Tell your parents congrats and enjoy the party!Www@FoodAQ@Com
An easy thing to do would be having a big platter of different side dishes to look nice and presentable!.
Have a lot of crackers and breads and interesting kinds of dips and cheeses to go with them!.
also, serving corn on the cob for your guests would be easy to make and delicious but think how troublesome it would be for your guests to eat!.
Mashed potatoes are very safe, as they go great with a lot of things!. Make sure your gravy is kept warm so even if your mashed potatoes aren't, it would still be pretty good!.
Steamed vegetables are great too, as long as you can keep them in a metal serving container to keep them warm without them being overcooked!. You can start experimenting now with different veggies that would go great with each dish and see how long they would keep warm!. If they don't stay warm for long, prepare a good amount(not all) and cook them a few minutes before you serve them by batches!.
How about a great soup as well to go with everything else!?
http://allrecipes!.com/Recipes/Side-Dish/!.!.!. for more ideas!.
Good luck!Www@FoodAQ@Com
Have a lot of crackers and breads and interesting kinds of dips and cheeses to go with them!.
also, serving corn on the cob for your guests would be easy to make and delicious but think how troublesome it would be for your guests to eat!.
Mashed potatoes are very safe, as they go great with a lot of things!. Make sure your gravy is kept warm so even if your mashed potatoes aren't, it would still be pretty good!.
Steamed vegetables are great too, as long as you can keep them in a metal serving container to keep them warm without them being overcooked!. You can start experimenting now with different veggies that would go great with each dish and see how long they would keep warm!. If they don't stay warm for long, prepare a good amount(not all) and cook them a few minutes before you serve them by batches!.
How about a great soup as well to go with everything else!?
http://allrecipes!.com/Recipes/Side-Dish/!.!.!. for more ideas!.
Good luck!Www@FoodAQ@Com
You can make hummus, it's delicious and I'm sure it would look good with the meats!.
You can make some pasta salad or pasta in general!.!.!.
And if you're making pasta, maybe some garlic bread too!.!.
Or maybe something like a nice risotto!? maybe mushroom risotto!?
Or some cheesy casserole
Cheese and crackers are good too!.!.
Let's see maybe something like baked potatoes!?
If you like hot and spicey food, or your parents do, you can make some chili too!. (or well, it doesn't need to be hot and spicey!.!.)
Maybe something like steamed or grilled veggies!.!. like a warm veggie salad!? with lots of garlic!? YUM! (but then, that's if you like garlic!.!.!.) maybe sauteed garlic asparagus!?
^^^^^^^^^^^^^Www@FoodAQ@Com
You can make some pasta salad or pasta in general!.!.!.
And if you're making pasta, maybe some garlic bread too!.!.
Or maybe something like a nice risotto!? maybe mushroom risotto!?
Or some cheesy casserole
Cheese and crackers are good too!.!.
Let's see maybe something like baked potatoes!?
If you like hot and spicey food, or your parents do, you can make some chili too!. (or well, it doesn't need to be hot and spicey!.!.)
Maybe something like steamed or grilled veggies!.!. like a warm veggie salad!? with lots of garlic!? YUM! (but then, that's if you like garlic!.!.!.) maybe sauteed garlic asparagus!?
^^^^^^^^^^^^^Www@FoodAQ@Com
How about some vegtable cous cous!? Very easy to do and it will spread far!. Prepare the cous cous according to packet instructions!.!.!.something like boil water then switch gas off, add cous cous, then cover with lid for 5 mins!.
For the vegtables, just get a selection of peppers of different colours, aubergine, maybe some onions, anything that can cook the same way really!.!.!.cover with a little olive oil then cook in oven for about 45 mins til you get that nearly burnt look!. When done, chop up into tiny pieces and stir into the cous cous, adding some parsley!. I would also roast some garlic and chilli (not too much, as the heat will increase the intensity of flavor), but this depends on taste!.
This dish can easily be heated in the microwave at the last minute!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
For the vegtables, just get a selection of peppers of different colours, aubergine, maybe some onions, anything that can cook the same way really!.!.!.cover with a little olive oil then cook in oven for about 45 mins til you get that nearly burnt look!. When done, chop up into tiny pieces and stir into the cous cous, adding some parsley!. I would also roast some garlic and chilli (not too much, as the heat will increase the intensity of flavor), but this depends on taste!.
This dish can easily be heated in the microwave at the last minute!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
HASH BROWN CASSEROLE
2 lbs!. frozen hash brown potatoes, thawed
8 oz!. sour cream
2 cans Cream of Potato (or celery) soup
8 oz!. shredded cheddar cheese
1 onion, chopped
Parmesan cheese
Mix together first 5 ingredients!. Put into buttered casserole dish (I use 9x13" pan); sprinkle with Parmesan cheese!. Bake at 300 for 1-1/2 hours !.!.!.!. serves 10-12 !.!.!.!.!.!. VERY GOOD
SPINACH CASSEROLE
1 10-oz!. pkg!. frozen chopped spinach, thawed
1 (1 lb) carton small curd cottage cheese
1/2 lb!. grated cheese
6 TB flour
1/4 lb!. melted butter
6 eggs
Beat all ingredients together!. Bake in greased casserole dish at 350 for 1 hour !.!.!.!.!. serves 8-12
HOT SPICED FRUIT COMPOTE (VERY GOOD!)
1 1-lb!. can sliced peaches
1 1-lb!. can pear halves
1 1-lb!. can apricot halves
1 1-lb!. can pineapple chunks
1 1-lb!. can sweet, pitted cherries
3 red apples
2 c!. seedless grapes
2-4 TB cognac, kirsch, rum or fruit brandy
1/3 c!. brown sugar
juice of 1/2 lemon
1/2 tsp!. EACH cinnamon, nutmeg & cloves
1/2 stick butter
Drain all fruits and save juices; reservie 1-1/2 c!. total juice!. Mix juice with liquer, sugar & spices!. Pour over fruit in large heat-proof casserole dish!. Dot with butter!. Cover; bake at 350 for about 1/2 hour!.!.!.!.!.Serves 12-14Www@FoodAQ@Com
2 lbs!. frozen hash brown potatoes, thawed
8 oz!. sour cream
2 cans Cream of Potato (or celery) soup
8 oz!. shredded cheddar cheese
1 onion, chopped
Parmesan cheese
Mix together first 5 ingredients!. Put into buttered casserole dish (I use 9x13" pan); sprinkle with Parmesan cheese!. Bake at 300 for 1-1/2 hours !.!.!.!. serves 10-12 !.!.!.!.!.!. VERY GOOD
SPINACH CASSEROLE
1 10-oz!. pkg!. frozen chopped spinach, thawed
1 (1 lb) carton small curd cottage cheese
1/2 lb!. grated cheese
6 TB flour
1/4 lb!. melted butter
6 eggs
Beat all ingredients together!. Bake in greased casserole dish at 350 for 1 hour !.!.!.!.!. serves 8-12
HOT SPICED FRUIT COMPOTE (VERY GOOD!)
1 1-lb!. can sliced peaches
1 1-lb!. can pear halves
1 1-lb!. can apricot halves
1 1-lb!. can pineapple chunks
1 1-lb!. can sweet, pitted cherries
3 red apples
2 c!. seedless grapes
2-4 TB cognac, kirsch, rum or fruit brandy
1/3 c!. brown sugar
juice of 1/2 lemon
1/2 tsp!. EACH cinnamon, nutmeg & cloves
1/2 stick butter
Drain all fruits and save juices; reservie 1-1/2 c!. total juice!. Mix juice with liquer, sugar & spices!. Pour over fruit in large heat-proof casserole dish!. Dot with butter!. Cover; bake at 350 for about 1/2 hour!.!.!.!.!.Serves 12-14Www@FoodAQ@Com
I have several side dishes on my website that include:
Baked Mashed Potatoes w/Gouda Cheese
Cheesy Broccoli Casserole
Creamy Parmesan Orzo
My Famous Baked Beans (3 kinds of beans, hamburger, bacon, etc!.)
Green Chile Potatoes
Three Onion Stuffing with Mushrooms and herbs
I did not want to copy all of these on the site, hope you don't mind looking around!. Enjoy your party!.
http://www!.cooking-is-easy-and-fun!.com/S!.!.!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
Baked Mashed Potatoes w/Gouda Cheese
Cheesy Broccoli Casserole
Creamy Parmesan Orzo
My Famous Baked Beans (3 kinds of beans, hamburger, bacon, etc!.)
Green Chile Potatoes
Three Onion Stuffing with Mushrooms and herbs
I did not want to copy all of these on the site, hope you don't mind looking around!. Enjoy your party!.
http://www!.cooking-is-easy-and-fun!.com/S!.!.!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
my advice to you is that you get several trays of shrimp, a lot of caviar, and some sugary foods which can be anything from m&ms to grapes!. also another food that i think is very good and is something that the guests could make at the party is lefsa!. you make the dough and they cook it it only takes a few minutes to cookWww@FoodAQ@Com
I will give you two hot/warm and one cold, just in case!. ;) All of these are versatile and the recipes can easily be altered for the amount of people you are serving!.
Hot/warm:
http://www!.recipezaar!.com/321678
http://www!.recipezaar!.com/329490
Cold:
http://www!.recipezaar!.com/320261Www@FoodAQ@Com
Hot/warm:
http://www!.recipezaar!.com/321678
http://www!.recipezaar!.com/329490
Cold:
http://www!.recipezaar!.com/320261Www@FoodAQ@Com
Glazed carrots: Slice and cook carrots, when done, toss with a little butter!. If you want to get adventurous, grate a little fresh ginger on them!.
Mashed Potatoes
Steamed Asparagus
Green bean casserole
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Mashed Potatoes
Steamed Asparagus
Green bean casserole
Www@FoodAQ@Com
scalloped potatoes
green bean cassarole
baked corn
mac and cheese
potatoe cassarole
hope the pary goes well and enjoyWww@FoodAQ@Com
green bean cassarole
baked corn
mac and cheese
potatoe cassarole
hope the pary goes well and enjoyWww@FoodAQ@Com
Do some stuffing/dressing it will go with both the meats!.!.!. Www@FoodAQ@Com
make 2 greenbean casserolesWww@FoodAQ@Com
why not do a sunday roast, with vegetables, stuffing, yorkshire puds & gravy!?Www@FoodAQ@Com
Baked Beans, or some kind of pasta like lasagnaWww@FoodAQ@Com
Tammy's Green Beans
(You'll have to figure out how to times this recipe for your crowd)
1 bag frozen green beans (not the french cut)
1 potato, cut in sticks
1/2 package diced ham or 4 pieces lunch meat ham
Salt, Pepper, Garlic Powder, Onion Powder (to your liking)
1/2 cup (or more) Water
Place everything in a pot and get to boiling, turn down to simmer until potatoes are done and beans are soft!.
Keep and eye on the water in the pot!.
Taste test to see if more spices are needed!.
4 Servings (with a little left over)
Goes great with ham and turkey
______________________________________!.!.!.
What about baked potatoes and let them add sour cream and cheese, bacon bits, chives, etc!.!?
You can prep all your potatoes the day before wrapping in foil, and placing in oven until you need to start cooking them!.
Maybe 4, 10 lb bags of potatoes, should be enough!.
than what is not eaten you can take home and make twice baked potatoes for your households dinner the next day!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
(You'll have to figure out how to times this recipe for your crowd)
1 bag frozen green beans (not the french cut)
1 potato, cut in sticks
1/2 package diced ham or 4 pieces lunch meat ham
Salt, Pepper, Garlic Powder, Onion Powder (to your liking)
1/2 cup (or more) Water
Place everything in a pot and get to boiling, turn down to simmer until potatoes are done and beans are soft!.
Keep and eye on the water in the pot!.
Taste test to see if more spices are needed!.
4 Servings (with a little left over)
Goes great with ham and turkey
______________________________________!.!.!.
What about baked potatoes and let them add sour cream and cheese, bacon bits, chives, etc!.!?
You can prep all your potatoes the day before wrapping in foil, and placing in oven until you need to start cooking them!.
Maybe 4, 10 lb bags of potatoes, should be enough!.
than what is not eaten you can take home and make twice baked potatoes for your households dinner the next day!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
Cheesy Mashed Potatos:
If you dont want to make your own homemade potatos, I would buy the premade stuff!. It tastes just as good and all you have to do is open the container and put it in the microwave or crockpot! If you arent making the homeade stuff, add shredded cheddar cheese and mozzarella cheese to the pot!. If you didnt get garlic mashed potatos to begin with, feel free to add a bit of fresh garlic as well!. This makes the potatos taste reallllllllllllly good, and I'm sure that the parents and the kids will enjoy it!.
If you dont like MASHED potatos, you can make wedges!. Basically, cut the potatoes into 1-2 inch wedges!. Place them on a baking sheet!. Then, pour some olive on top of the potatoes!. Add pepper, salt, and any other herbs you'd like!. then bake them in the oven until they are cooked completely!.
Green beans, buttered carrots, and asparagus would be really tasty with either of those potato dishes!.
Here is one of my favorite dishes:zuchini boats
There really easy!. Cut the zuchini in half, the direction you would cut a hamburger bun, so that each half has a skin bottom and a open top, like this
http://www!.dkimages!.com/discover/preview!.!.!.
Put a pan on the top of your stove!. Put some butter on the bottom of it!. Add the zucchini boats, the seed side facing up!. Add chopped garlic and a litle bit more butter on the top of them!. Once they are cooked all he way, add parmasean cheese to the seed top!. If you want the cheese to melt faster, put a lid on top of them!. Then thats it! Your done! How easy is that!?
I hope this helps you out! Good luck with your party!Www@FoodAQ@Com
If you dont want to make your own homemade potatos, I would buy the premade stuff!. It tastes just as good and all you have to do is open the container and put it in the microwave or crockpot! If you arent making the homeade stuff, add shredded cheddar cheese and mozzarella cheese to the pot!. If you didnt get garlic mashed potatos to begin with, feel free to add a bit of fresh garlic as well!. This makes the potatos taste reallllllllllllly good, and I'm sure that the parents and the kids will enjoy it!.
If you dont like MASHED potatos, you can make wedges!. Basically, cut the potatoes into 1-2 inch wedges!. Place them on a baking sheet!. Then, pour some olive on top of the potatoes!. Add pepper, salt, and any other herbs you'd like!. then bake them in the oven until they are cooked completely!.
Green beans, buttered carrots, and asparagus would be really tasty with either of those potato dishes!.
Here is one of my favorite dishes:zuchini boats
There really easy!. Cut the zuchini in half, the direction you would cut a hamburger bun, so that each half has a skin bottom and a open top, like this
http://www!.dkimages!.com/discover/preview!.!.!.
Put a pan on the top of your stove!. Put some butter on the bottom of it!. Add the zucchini boats, the seed side facing up!. Add chopped garlic and a litle bit more butter on the top of them!. Once they are cooked all he way, add parmasean cheese to the seed top!. If you want the cheese to melt faster, put a lid on top of them!. Then thats it! Your done! How easy is that!?
I hope this helps you out! Good luck with your party!Www@FoodAQ@Com