Need Menu idea for 15 people (not Sit Down Dinner)?!
I am hosting a Day After Christmas party for my inlaws side of the family that I won't get to see on Christmas Day. We don't want to do a sit down dinner, we just want to have people help themselves when hungry. We do want more than just appetizers though.
We want to spend the time talking, visiting, and playing board games. Any food suggestions? What would be the easiest to serve?
I also have 2 out of the 15 that are vegetarians, so I will probably be making more than one thing. Got any ideas?
What have you done in the past?
Answers: Hi!
I am hosting a Day After Christmas party for my inlaws side of the family that I won't get to see on Christmas Day. We don't want to do a sit down dinner, we just want to have people help themselves when hungry. We do want more than just appetizers though.
We want to spend the time talking, visiting, and playing board games. Any food suggestions? What would be the easiest to serve?
I also have 2 out of the 15 that are vegetarians, so I will probably be making more than one thing. Got any ideas?
What have you done in the past?
How about soup, salads and bread ?
Make or buy 2 different soups-Clam/corn chowder , Chicken /Minestrone.. whatever you like. Great green salad, a chef salad , pasta salad, tuna salad or a fruit salad.Just pick 2 or 3.
Make some rolls or buy from a specialty store.
Have a cake for dessert.
Fruit trays from the grocery store, meat and cheese trays from the grocery stores, mini sandwich trays from the grocery store, Eggnogg, Cranberry juices, bottles of water, Tomatoe Juice.
Pre-made subs from Subway or Port O Subs, or a deli near you.
Pre-buy KFC chicken buckets.
Fried Rice tray from local Chinese food outlet with a Chowmein tray. Usually meat free is the cheaper version.
A bunch of cup o noodles in a variety of flavors.
START BY MAKING 1.4 BAKED CHICKEN 2. BAKED ZITI,3.STEAMED ASSORTED VEGGIES LIKE BROCCOLI AND BRUSSELS SPROUT,4.WILD RICE PILAF WITH 2 DIFFERENT MUSHROOM 5.ASSORTED DINNER ROLLS6.DESSERT, A SIMPLE CAKE OR CUPCAKES FOR EVERYONE NAMASTE
buy the premade meatballs in a bag and a few cans of the good beef gray and up it all in the crock pot let warm about 4 hours and stir occasonally.
buy the little sasuages in pack and put in a crock pot with BBQ sauce let heat about 2 hours occasonally stir.
Stir fri get vegies such as mushroom, zuiccni, carrots, onion, bellpepper, brocllie, and snow peas. cut all vegies in large chunks except snow peas. put about 3 tbs olive oil in a pan get it hot and trought in the vegies add a pinch of salt and heat untill tender.
Gumbo, or if you dont do seafood a big pot of chilli. You can make chilli with and without meat.
My family usually does gumbo to feed about 15 people every year. We make a small pot for my grandmother who cant eat seafood. It is great because everyone can eat when they want and it is always warm.
Main entree could be a baked ham that can be individually sliced for sandwiches etc. Have a platter of fresh cheeses, condiments, and artisan bread for snacking on or sandwiches. Add some potato salad, a green chopped salad, and a jello salad for variety. Fresh veges, steamed tender crisp, and a ranch dipping sauce is nice, along with a spinach dip in a bread bowl. Have a dessert buffet of leftover cake, candies, cookies etc. Have on hand plenty of beer, wine, bottled water and soft drinks. You might also want to make a wassail or hot cider drink as well.
Just double this:
MARINATED BEEF STRIPS
1 lb. cooked roast beef
1 sm. onion, thinly sliced
3/4 tsp. salt
Dash of pepper
1 1/2 tbsp. lemon juice
1 c. dairy cream
Cut meat into thin strips. Separate onion into rings. Combine beef, onion, salt and pepper. Sprinkle with lemon juice. Stir in sour cream. Chill. Serve in lettuce-lined dishes. Makes 6 servings.
GARLIC-CRUMBLED CHICKEN DRUMSTICKS
1 1/2 c. plain yogurt (1/2 c.)
1/2 c. lemon juice (2 tbsp.)
6 cloves garlic minced (2 cloves)
Salt to taste
1 tsp. hot red pepper sauce (dash)
1 tsp. cayenne (ground red) pepper, divided (dash)
30 chicken drumsticks, skinned (5-6 lbs.)
3 c. finely crushed saltine crackers (about 6 dozen (1 c.)
2 tbsp. dried oregano, crumbled (2 tsp.)
1 tbsp. each dry mustard and paprika (1 tsp.)
6 tbsp. (3/4 stick) unsalted butter, melted (2 tbsp.)
In a medium-size bowl combine the yogurt, lemon juice, garlic, 1/2 teaspoon of the salt, hot red pepper sauce and 1/2 teaspoon of the cayenne pepper. Divide among 2 shallow, 2-quart baking dishes or pour into a large enamel or stainless steel baking pan. Add the drumsticks and coat well with the mixture; cover and refrigerate for at least 3 and up to 24 hours.
Heat oven to 375 degrees. Meanwhile, in a large brown paper bag combine cracker crumbs, oregano, mustard, paprika and remaining salt and cayenne pepper. Shake the drumsticks in the bag to coat with the crumbs.
Arrange in w (15 1/2 x 10 x 1 inch) baking pans lined with aluminum foil and drizzle with melted butter. Bake, uncovered, for 45 minutes or until fork-tender and golden brown. Serve hot or at room temperature. (If desired, the chicken can be cooled to room temperature, wrapped in aluminum foil and refrigerated for up to 3 days.)
BAKED STUFFED MUSHROOMS
1 stick butter
1 small onion, minced
3 tablespoons Parmesan cheese
1/3 cup sweet Vermouth
1/2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
1 cup plain bread crumbs
1 lb. mushrooms (remove stems and finely chop)
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
3/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon oregano
Melt butter in skillet. Cook onion until translucent. Add chopped stems. Sitr in bread crumbs, seasonings, and cheese. Brown lightly. Add sweet Vermouth last. Toss lightly to combine well. Stuff mushroom caps with mixture. Bake at 350°F for 15 minutes.
i usually also make some shrimp and home made cocktail sauce...it always goes over well.
Ever had chicken tostadas??
Cubed cooked chicken
Veg-all drained
Best foods mayonnaise
Chopped lettuce
mix it all up, add garlic, onion powder and pepper
serve on tostadas, with bottled chile on the side
good stuff