Family Portrait with party afterward...?!
My parent's 45th Anniversary, so when you total their children, who are married with children, some of the grandchildren are adults with little ones!.!.!. we have a TOTAL of 19, ranging from 75 years old to toddlers and infants!.
We are having a family portrait done, two days after Christmas, which is my mother's 75th birthday!. She HATES a big fuss, so please don't focus on birthday cake-n-candles!.
So, after the holidays we'll all be tired of turkey, ham, etc!.
Any ideas / themes for food!? For one of the appetizers I'm considering keilbasi rounds in barbeque sauce!. It's easy and the kids will like it!. also, skewers of hot sausage, pepper cheese, a basil leaf and cherry tomato on top!. Festive, all the skewers in a vase, like a bouquet of flowers!.
I'm just stumped for the main entree selections!. They are not adventurous eaters, more midwestern downhome kind of eating!. I was thinking of making a "baked potato bar" with all the fixins!.
All ideas will be helpful!. Just, uhmmm, not hot dogs, or sloppy joes!. Something easy to eat but not your basic church party fare!.
Www@FoodAQ@Com
We are having a family portrait done, two days after Christmas, which is my mother's 75th birthday!. She HATES a big fuss, so please don't focus on birthday cake-n-candles!.
So, after the holidays we'll all be tired of turkey, ham, etc!.
Any ideas / themes for food!? For one of the appetizers I'm considering keilbasi rounds in barbeque sauce!. It's easy and the kids will like it!. also, skewers of hot sausage, pepper cheese, a basil leaf and cherry tomato on top!. Festive, all the skewers in a vase, like a bouquet of flowers!.
I'm just stumped for the main entree selections!. They are not adventurous eaters, more midwestern downhome kind of eating!. I was thinking of making a "baked potato bar" with all the fixins!.
All ideas will be helpful!. Just, uhmmm, not hot dogs, or sloppy joes!. Something easy to eat but not your basic church party fare!.
Www@FoodAQ@Com
Answers:
This may not help but our family has a different tradition for Christmas eve!. Instead of turkey and ham (since we just had it in November) we have ham salad sandwiches (I hate these) and a great soup!. Many years it was chili, but since my grandfather passed on grandma sauced it up last year and we had creamy potato soup!. It was yummy!. Maybe the baked potato bar is a great idea!. Paired with 2 or 3 types of soups and a HUGE salad bar kinda idea!. Olive Garden has soup, salad and breadsticks!? Maybe thats an idea for a lighter side!. The other appetizers will go well with a light soup salad and baked potato bar!. Best of luck to you with this!. There are so many soups out there!. I love completely from scratch chicken noodle soup a bit on the creamy side!. Though it takes me all day to make noodles and cook it, it is worth the wait and so many people take the easy route these days!. You could make little sandwiches (ham and cheese; ham and swiss; turkey and swiss, etc) with little fancy toothpicks in them and do sandwiches and soups!? The possibilities are endless here!. I hope I said something that helps!. Www@FoodAQ@Com
venison!? it can be fixed a variety of ways, as in smoked brisket!. Brisket of any meat is easy and can be made into a variety of dishes like finger sandwiches!. Or a turk-ducken (turkey wrapped duck, usually stuffed) which can be thinly sliced and served with a white or light brown gravy!. Brocolli soup is a good side too and made with xtra cheese so its a bit on the 'stiff' side!. Real easy, just boil brocolli with onion then add velveta!. Hope this helps with lots of well wishes! 75 WOW!Www@FoodAQ@Com
I would do lil smokeys with the b-b-q sauce as well!. And you are right it is fun to "stab" the meat rounds with tooth picks!.
The baked potatoe bar sounds good to me!. Here are some ideas that I think would be a must on baked potato bar:
Potatoes (of course)
Chili
Cheese
Sour Cream
Chives/green onions
butter
ranch
bacon
broccoli (or other vegg) in cheese sauce
Have it with a salad bar type of thing with:
sald with mixed greens and spinach
sliced bell peppers
mushrooms
shredded cheese
avacados
onions
olives
baby carrots
sunflower seeds
tomatoes
ranch dressing
blue cheese dressing
french dressing
itailain dressing
a fruity vinegarette
Or make a spinach salad with baby spinach leaves, pomagranite seeds, feta or blue cheese, aliced almonds and a balsamic vingarette!.
And a brothy soup!. French onion or soemthing along those lines would go well!.
Or here are some other ideas:
Tangy Watermelon Salad:
4 cups seedless watermelon-cubed
2 tbsp olive oil
3 tbsp lime juice
1 tbsp red wine vinegar
3/4 crumbled feta cheese
1/4 cup coarsely chopped fresh mint or Italian parsley
Mix the oil, lime juice, and vinegar!. Toss the watermelon with the oil and lime mix!. Gently fold in feta cheese, and mint/parsley!.
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Crock Pot Chicken Salsa Curry
10 chicken thighs-bone in
1 jar of your fav salsa
1/2 onion chopped
1 tablespoon curry (or about 1/2 if you don't like a strong curry taste)
1/2 cup sour cream
Place the chicken in the crock pot!. Mix the onion, curry and salsa!. Pour over the chicken and cook on low for about 6-8 hours!.
When the chicken is done take it out of the crock pot and put on a serving plate!. Add the sour cream and mix well!. Spoon the sauce over the chicken!.
This would go well with rice or cous cous!.
If you don't have crock pot you could also do this is a roasting pan or a casserole dish with a cover or tin foil(about 200) check it though since it may cook faster!. I have only done this once in the ovena dn I think I cooked it for 3-4 hours!. This recipe is easy to do smaller portions of as well!.
Mexi-rice:
Use rice that is still warm!.
Heat a skillet or griddle pan to a med-low heat!. Add the rice and your favorite salsa, some olives, corn and ground cumin!. (A great salsa to use would be the kind in the plastic tubs in the produce section, I think it's labeled as "Fresh Salsa" but El Paso or whatever would work as well!.)
Instead of pre-made salsa make your own using roma tomatoes chopped small, red onions, chopped cilantro, minced garlic, finely chopped jalape?o pepper, adding some lime juice, and garlic salt!. Then toss this fresh salsa in with the rice and cumin, olives, and corn!.
Serve hot and I like mine with just a sprinkle of melted cheese!.!.!.!.!.yumm!!!
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Creamy chicken enchiladas:
1 pound boneless chicken breasts diced
1 8oz package cream cheese cut into cubes
Flour or corn tortillas
1 can diced green chili peppers
ground cumin
1 or 2 can green enchilada sauce
Shredded cheese
Cook the chicken in a skillet and when the chicken is done add the cream cheese, it will melt!. As the cream cheese melts add the green chilis, and a couple of good dashes of cumin!. Continue to heat on low until the cream cheese has melted!.
Fill a tortilla with the chicken mix, roll and place in a baking dish, Continue until the chicken mix is gone!. Top with the enchilada sauce and sprinkle with cheese!. Bake at 350 for about 10-15 min or until the sauce is nice and hot and the cheese is golden and bubbly!.
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The next recipe is for as many chops as you want to make!. Salt and pepper both sides of the chops, place in a baking dish!. Top EACH chop with the following
1 tbsp brown sugar
1 tbsp ketchup
1 slice onion
1 slice lemon
Bake at 350 for about 30-45 min depending on how many chops, and how thick they are!. This dish creates just a tiny bit of a nice sweet tangy sauce!. You can simmer an extra serving or 2 the topping ingredients on the stove top with a little water if you would like!. I serve this dish over rice also!. Different sounding but very good!!!
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Heavenly Harvest Pork Roast:
1/4 cup pomagranite juice
1/4 cup sugar
1 tbsp salt
1 tbsp granulated garlic
1 tbsp steak seasoning
1 tsp black pepper
1 pork roast (4-5) pounds
2 pears, cored peeled and sliced thick
1/2 ornage peel on, sliced thick
Heat the pomagranite juice and sugar until the sugar is dissolved, pour into the bottom of the crock pot!.
Mix the salt, granulated garlic, steak seasoning, and pepper!. Rub all over pork, then lay the pork on top of the juice in the pan!. Turn once so that it is coverd in the juice!.
Cover the pork with the pears and oranges!. Cover and cook on high for 6-8 hours or until tender!. Serve with juice and fruit slices!.
---------
Cheaters Alfredo Sauce:
1 pkg cream cheese softened and cut into cubes
milk
seasonings (my faves are seasoned salt, celery salt, granulated garlic, onion powder)
Parmesan cheese optional
Pasta of choice!.!.!.bowtie, fettuccini, shells etc!.!.!.
Cook and drain the pasta
In a sauce pan melt the cream cheese and add milk slowly to get the desired thickness!. Add the seasonings and a little parm if you want!. You could also garnish with a little parm and dried or fresh chopped parsley!.
Sometimes I make this with corn-canned/drianed-frozen/thawed/draine!.!.!. peas-frozen/thawed/drained, onions-chopped/sautéed, frozen broccoli-you get the picture here, and even carrots-peeled/chopped/and sautéed with the onions!.
-------------
Burgers:
Teriyaki Burgers:
1 1/2 pds hamburger
1 8 oz can water chestnuts (drained and chopped)
Marinade:
1/3 cup reduced sodium beef broth or sherry
1/2 cup reduced sodium soy sauce
2 green onions chopped
1 tbsp brown sugar
2 garlic cloves-minced
1/2 tsp ground ginger
6 buns
6 Pineapple rings
6 slices swiss or provolone cheese
Mix the burger and water chestnuts!. Shape into 6 burgers and place in a 13x9 pan!.
Mix all marinade ingredients and save out 1/4 cup!. Pour remaining marinade over burgers!. Marinate at least 2-3 hours or longer (I did a set for a day and 1/2 and they were super awesome)!. Turn frequently!.
Grill patties brushing with remaining marinade!. Grill the pineapple rings for about 1-2 minutes per side!. Top the burgers with a pineapple ring, and a slice of cheese!. Serve on buns!. Mmmmmmmm!.
These are good to make up a bunch and freeze to pull out and make later!.
Or top burgers with pesto, cheese, and sliced red bell peppers!. Sliced avocados or guacamole, and bacon and a slice of white cheese!.
----------
South-western Burgers:
1 Can Chopped Green Chili's
4 Tsp Ground Cumin
1 Tsp Chilli Powder
3/4 Tsp Garlic Powder
3/4 Tsp Salt
1/2 Tsp Pepper
2 Pound Ground Beef
3/4 Pound Bulk Sausage
8 Slices Monterey Jack Cheese
8 Burger Buns Split and Toasted
8 Lettuce Leaves
1 Large Tomato Sliced
1-2 Ripe Avocado’s Sliced and Peeled (Optional)
In a large bowl combine first 6 ingredients, then crumble the beef and sausage over the top, and combine well!. Shape into 8 patties!.
Grill covered over a medium heat for approx 5 min on each side or until cooked to well done (160 degrees)!. Top with a slice of cheese and let melt (move to a low heat part of the grill)!. Serve on buns with lettuce, tomatoes, and avocado slices!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
The baked potatoe bar sounds good to me!. Here are some ideas that I think would be a must on baked potato bar:
Potatoes (of course)
Chili
Cheese
Sour Cream
Chives/green onions
butter
ranch
bacon
broccoli (or other vegg) in cheese sauce
Have it with a salad bar type of thing with:
sald with mixed greens and spinach
sliced bell peppers
mushrooms
shredded cheese
avacados
onions
olives
baby carrots
sunflower seeds
tomatoes
ranch dressing
blue cheese dressing
french dressing
itailain dressing
a fruity vinegarette
Or make a spinach salad with baby spinach leaves, pomagranite seeds, feta or blue cheese, aliced almonds and a balsamic vingarette!.
And a brothy soup!. French onion or soemthing along those lines would go well!.
Or here are some other ideas:
Tangy Watermelon Salad:
4 cups seedless watermelon-cubed
2 tbsp olive oil
3 tbsp lime juice
1 tbsp red wine vinegar
3/4 crumbled feta cheese
1/4 cup coarsely chopped fresh mint or Italian parsley
Mix the oil, lime juice, and vinegar!. Toss the watermelon with the oil and lime mix!. Gently fold in feta cheese, and mint/parsley!.
------------
Crock Pot Chicken Salsa Curry
10 chicken thighs-bone in
1 jar of your fav salsa
1/2 onion chopped
1 tablespoon curry (or about 1/2 if you don't like a strong curry taste)
1/2 cup sour cream
Place the chicken in the crock pot!. Mix the onion, curry and salsa!. Pour over the chicken and cook on low for about 6-8 hours!.
When the chicken is done take it out of the crock pot and put on a serving plate!. Add the sour cream and mix well!. Spoon the sauce over the chicken!.
This would go well with rice or cous cous!.
If you don't have crock pot you could also do this is a roasting pan or a casserole dish with a cover or tin foil(about 200) check it though since it may cook faster!. I have only done this once in the ovena dn I think I cooked it for 3-4 hours!. This recipe is easy to do smaller portions of as well!.
Mexi-rice:
Use rice that is still warm!.
Heat a skillet or griddle pan to a med-low heat!. Add the rice and your favorite salsa, some olives, corn and ground cumin!. (A great salsa to use would be the kind in the plastic tubs in the produce section, I think it's labeled as "Fresh Salsa" but El Paso or whatever would work as well!.)
Instead of pre-made salsa make your own using roma tomatoes chopped small, red onions, chopped cilantro, minced garlic, finely chopped jalape?o pepper, adding some lime juice, and garlic salt!. Then toss this fresh salsa in with the rice and cumin, olives, and corn!.
Serve hot and I like mine with just a sprinkle of melted cheese!.!.!.!.!.yumm!!!
----------
Creamy chicken enchiladas:
1 pound boneless chicken breasts diced
1 8oz package cream cheese cut into cubes
Flour or corn tortillas
1 can diced green chili peppers
ground cumin
1 or 2 can green enchilada sauce
Shredded cheese
Cook the chicken in a skillet and when the chicken is done add the cream cheese, it will melt!. As the cream cheese melts add the green chilis, and a couple of good dashes of cumin!. Continue to heat on low until the cream cheese has melted!.
Fill a tortilla with the chicken mix, roll and place in a baking dish, Continue until the chicken mix is gone!. Top with the enchilada sauce and sprinkle with cheese!. Bake at 350 for about 10-15 min or until the sauce is nice and hot and the cheese is golden and bubbly!.
---------
The next recipe is for as many chops as you want to make!. Salt and pepper both sides of the chops, place in a baking dish!. Top EACH chop with the following
1 tbsp brown sugar
1 tbsp ketchup
1 slice onion
1 slice lemon
Bake at 350 for about 30-45 min depending on how many chops, and how thick they are!. This dish creates just a tiny bit of a nice sweet tangy sauce!. You can simmer an extra serving or 2 the topping ingredients on the stove top with a little water if you would like!. I serve this dish over rice also!. Different sounding but very good!!!
-----
Heavenly Harvest Pork Roast:
1/4 cup pomagranite juice
1/4 cup sugar
1 tbsp salt
1 tbsp granulated garlic
1 tbsp steak seasoning
1 tsp black pepper
1 pork roast (4-5) pounds
2 pears, cored peeled and sliced thick
1/2 ornage peel on, sliced thick
Heat the pomagranite juice and sugar until the sugar is dissolved, pour into the bottom of the crock pot!.
Mix the salt, granulated garlic, steak seasoning, and pepper!. Rub all over pork, then lay the pork on top of the juice in the pan!. Turn once so that it is coverd in the juice!.
Cover the pork with the pears and oranges!. Cover and cook on high for 6-8 hours or until tender!. Serve with juice and fruit slices!.
---------
Cheaters Alfredo Sauce:
1 pkg cream cheese softened and cut into cubes
milk
seasonings (my faves are seasoned salt, celery salt, granulated garlic, onion powder)
Parmesan cheese optional
Pasta of choice!.!.!.bowtie, fettuccini, shells etc!.!.!.
Cook and drain the pasta
In a sauce pan melt the cream cheese and add milk slowly to get the desired thickness!. Add the seasonings and a little parm if you want!. You could also garnish with a little parm and dried or fresh chopped parsley!.
Sometimes I make this with corn-canned/drianed-frozen/thawed/draine!.!.!. peas-frozen/thawed/drained, onions-chopped/sautéed, frozen broccoli-you get the picture here, and even carrots-peeled/chopped/and sautéed with the onions!.
-------------
Burgers:
Teriyaki Burgers:
1 1/2 pds hamburger
1 8 oz can water chestnuts (drained and chopped)
Marinade:
1/3 cup reduced sodium beef broth or sherry
1/2 cup reduced sodium soy sauce
2 green onions chopped
1 tbsp brown sugar
2 garlic cloves-minced
1/2 tsp ground ginger
6 buns
6 Pineapple rings
6 slices swiss or provolone cheese
Mix the burger and water chestnuts!. Shape into 6 burgers and place in a 13x9 pan!.
Mix all marinade ingredients and save out 1/4 cup!. Pour remaining marinade over burgers!. Marinate at least 2-3 hours or longer (I did a set for a day and 1/2 and they were super awesome)!. Turn frequently!.
Grill patties brushing with remaining marinade!. Grill the pineapple rings for about 1-2 minutes per side!. Top the burgers with a pineapple ring, and a slice of cheese!. Serve on buns!. Mmmmmmmm!.
These are good to make up a bunch and freeze to pull out and make later!.
Or top burgers with pesto, cheese, and sliced red bell peppers!. Sliced avocados or guacamole, and bacon and a slice of white cheese!.
----------
South-western Burgers:
1 Can Chopped Green Chili's
4 Tsp Ground Cumin
1 Tsp Chilli Powder
3/4 Tsp Garlic Powder
3/4 Tsp Salt
1/2 Tsp Pepper
2 Pound Ground Beef
3/4 Pound Bulk Sausage
8 Slices Monterey Jack Cheese
8 Burger Buns Split and Toasted
8 Lettuce Leaves
1 Large Tomato Sliced
1-2 Ripe Avocado’s Sliced and Peeled (Optional)
In a large bowl combine first 6 ingredients, then crumble the beef and sausage over the top, and combine well!. Shape into 8 patties!.
Grill covered over a medium heat for approx 5 min on each side or until cooked to well done (160 degrees)!. Top with a slice of cheese and let melt (move to a low heat part of the grill)!. Serve on buns with lettuce, tomatoes, and avocado slices!.Www@FoodAQ@Com