We're having a daytona 500 race day party .I'm looking for ideals on what I could serve that would be simple.!
Answers: but,good. we are having about 10 -15 people.
Here's a simple 4 item help-your-self buffet: Lotsa meat for the NASCAR guys! But at a reasonable cost.
1. Slow cooker meatballs ... buy a few bags or boxes of pre-cooked meatballs. Add a bottle or two of a sweet BBQ sauce - set on high once the pre-race show starts, then lower to low when the driver intro's begin. Prep time: 5 min. Cost: $20-$25. Have a spare bag of meatballs in the fridge, just in case they go quick.
2. Chili - in a large pot: brown 2 lbs ground beef, once browned add 2 packets chili and/or taco seasoning, 2x28oz
cans of chopped/diced tomatoes, 2x19oz cans of kidney beans, 2x14oz cans of corn (not creamed!). Mix and simmer for one hour. Prep time: 15 min Cost: $20. Sliced Garlic Bread on the side. This is NOT a hot chili - crowd friendly.
3. BBQ sausages on a bun (assuming you don't have to dig your BBQ out from under 5 feet of snow). You can do this Saturday night and put in the fridge overnight - then re-warm in the oven as company arrives. Prep time: 30 min. incl BBQ time. Cost: $20-$25 (assuming 1 sausage per person, excluding condiments). Serve with the buns on the side and a few simple condiments. No BBQ? Then pan-fry 5-10 min, finish in a 350 degree oven for 15-20 min.
4. Caesar Salad - to save time - buy a few bags of pre-cleaned lettuce with the croutons and dressing included. Again, put a spare bag or two in the fridge. Prep time: 5 min. Cost: $10-$15. Into a big bowl, toss, serve.
Add cold beer and enjoy! Can't wait.
Use paper plates and bowls to save on the dishes!
Deep fried turkey legs fast, easy and cheap.
Maybe you can have a car themed party and car themed party food? Make little wheels or tires out of food. I know I saw an episode of Semi-Homemade on Foodnetwork by Sandra Lee that was all done in car themes and she was at the track - she had wheels with clear platters over them as serving trays, and so many other cute ideas. I remember the black and white checkered tablecloth and several other racing items... I will be back and see if I have the link.
It took me over an hour, but the link is worth it to see what her race day food and themes are. She has some great ideas and I bet you can improvise with what you have on hand.
I love having a "race around the table" setting. When we do our race day party, I do simple things that is easy to grab and can stay out for a long period of time...
Usually, a ham, some rolls and the stuff that goes with it,
Some cut up veges and dip (store bought if you want it real simple)
Cut up fruit
And I usually have something in the crock-pot, beans, soup, chili.
Also, I take a plain white cloth, or paper tablecloth and draw a track on the tablecloth. Then I take matchbox/hot-wheels and put them all over the table.
If you want to do a cheese log, I did one that was modeled after a RV, but that was on a dare and it involved nuts, olives cucumbers and other thin slices of vegetables. Have Fun!
Ohh get like 10 pounds of wings/legs... Get a good bbq rubbing spice... preheat oven to 375, get a nice good rub of spice on your chicken... put it in the oven for 25-35 minutes... or when poked with a knife liquid turns clear... Then to make this unbelievably good, add your favorite bbq sauce... you can use virtually any bbq sauce.... mix that well with the wings... put it under the broiler for 3-5 min... and those will be the best wings
Do alot of finger foods, like pigs in a blanket using Lil smokies, hot wings, meatballs, veggie tray, and maybe some chili, and don't forget the chips, and dip.
It's a given that buckets of fried chicken and plenty of black-and-white checkered flags will help rev up the crew gathered around television sets.
? Use the small replacement tires for hand trucks and wheelbarrows as inexpensive bases for bowls of dip, salsa or other side dishes.
? Line serving trays with NASCAR-themed wallpaper borders, black-and-white checked contact paper, or racing images from your favorite NASCAR magazines.
? Use new, clean small screwdrivers as "forks" or skewers to spear pickles, olives, cheese cubes strawberries, pineapple chunks and other such tidbits on antipasto or fruit trays.
? Serve a variety of chips and salsa or dips from clean toolboxes, which can be bought for between $12 and $20. Line the bottom of the toolbox with black-and-white paper or cloth napkins and fill to the top with chips. Use the top tray for a selection of nuts.
? Use galvanized aluminum buckets, found in home improvement stores and in craft and garden shops, to ice beverages. If the buckets have handles, wrap them with yellow and black electrical tape to add color.
? Turn small toy race cars into mobile salt and pepper shakers by gluing miniature shakers to the tops of the cars. Guests can roll them across the table to each other.
? Secure napkins with hose clamps from home-improvement or auto-parts stores instead of napkin rings.
? Purchase mini-flags at party stores or cut black-and-white contact paper into various-sized rectangles. Peel away about an inch of the adhesive backing and attach the rectangles to the ends of thin wooden dowels. Orange or yellow- and-black caution tape, found in the hardware department, also can be used for streamers.
