Im Planning My Parents Anniversary Dinner.. any tips please!?!
Main Dish: Chicken Parmeson
Side Dish: Pasta with Sauce
Soup or Salad: Salad w/ dressing
Dessert 1: Triple layer cake
Dessert 2: Apple pie
Dessert 3: Jello
and anything else we think of.
we are going to out a curtain up between these to rooms ( the kitchen and the dining room) because there is a doorway but there is not a door, and we dont want them to see anything before its served and ideas to help that look well not cheezy or takey.
we are going to have candles and stuff..
please give me tipsss and ideas too!!
Answers: ok well me and my neighbor are planning my parents anniversary dinner... and we dont want to look stupid or have everything look cheezy, like we just slopped it together.. so the menu is something like this..
Main Dish: Chicken Parmeson
Side Dish: Pasta with Sauce
Soup or Salad: Salad w/ dressing
Dessert 1: Triple layer cake
Dessert 2: Apple pie
Dessert 3: Jello
and anything else we think of.
we are going to out a curtain up between these to rooms ( the kitchen and the dining room) because there is a doorway but there is not a door, and we dont want them to see anything before its served and ideas to help that look well not cheezy or takey.
we are going to have candles and stuff..
please give me tipsss and ideas too!!
You didn't say how many were attending, if it's just a romantic dinner for your folks or if other family members are attending. Since you have 3 desserts planned, I'm assuming that there are more attending than just your mom and dad.
Keep centerpiece and candles low so your folks can see each other, set the table ahead of time with table cloth/runner/placemats, napkins, and silverware, water glasses. Make pitchers of beverages ahead of time. Turn on coffee pot when you start serving meal.
You probably need to plate salads, apple pie, and Jello dishes (cool whip and sprinkles) ahead of time to make sure that you have enough of everything to go around-- especially for a group.
You might want to start with the salad and some bread sticks or crackers and have at least two dressings so that there is an option unless mom & dad eat the same one.
This will give you time to plate the hot dishes.
Still, Not enough time to fix plates for group. Serve the Jello. [Shucks K&W has a fruited Jello and plain Jello at their starter section.]
Bring out the chicken parmeson and pasta with sauce on same plate. (No bread necessary unless dad loves crusty garlic or cheese breads with meal)
Pour coffee or refill drinks, bring out cake and apple pie servings (Pie servings on pretty serving tray or covered cookie sheet). Cut cake in front of happy couple and place on individual saucers. Present cake with clean silverware if you didn't set table with it before hand.
And yes, clean as you go while preparing the foods. Easier to clean pots before the foods dry and set in the prep dishes.
Rinse and stack dishes as they are removed from table and place in dishwasher asap.
[Silverware, fork for salad, fork for main dish, fork for dessert, teaspoon for jello, teaspoon for coffee, knife to cut chicken, butter knife if needed. Water glass, tea glass, coffee cups, bread saucer. Remove salad plates before serving main course. (Jello here if necessary.) Remove main course plate before bringing out dessert(s).]
That's a lovely idea.
Make things you have made before and if you can make them before hand so much the better.
Maybe use your friends house.
I was going to suggest you found out what they had at the wedding reception but you seem to be sorted already.
Good luck.
Oh, you are making me hungry! What a sweet thing for you to do for your folks. Good luck. It seems you have thought of everything. Use the good dishes , silver and glassware as well as cloth napkins. maybe flowers on the table.
Since I am assuming you are on a budget, go to the dollar store get some small frames and put some pictures of them throughout the years on a table with a card box. People may not bring gifts but they will bring cards and you can also put on your invites that cards are welcome and there will be a cardbox. Go to your local Hobby Lobby or Michaels buy a Hat box, slit a hole in the top big enough for cards and hot glue a pretty ribbon on the top. If you wanted you can even put "Congratulations Mom and Dad" with Cardstock on the front of the box so people know it's a card box...
I think your ideas are great. Parmesian chicken is a relatively easy dish, you can set the table in advance (like 4 hours in advance or so) and unless you really want jello, I would say you don't even need that many desserts. you will have your hands full with everything else, i promise. I think it is a great idea.
What a sweet idea. Make sure you have some soft, romantic music that they like playing. Be sure to clean up after yourselves so your parents don't have to worry about the dishes or anything. Type up the menu (keep it simple and centered):
Salad
Chicken Parmesan
Pasta & Marinara
Triple Layer Cake
or
Apple Pie
and then print it on a cream-colored cardstock and mount on a pretty decorative paper. You can find cardstock and embelishments at the dollar sotre or Big Lots or Wal-Mart. Have one at each of your parent's placesettings.
I agree with the person above that Jello isn't necessary.
Have some garlic toast or breadsticks. You can find all kinds in the freezer section. Make sure that you're kind of dressed up so that it's like your waitresses.
Have fun and good luck!
Honestly, don't dress up. I'd be freaked out if my daughter was acting like hired help. Be yourself - they'll want to see their loving daughter.
I might do strawberries or a cut fruit plate or fruit salad instead of jello. It's classy, easy, cheap, and cleanses the palate after a heavy meal. I'd stick with one dessert - your parents will be STUFFED. I'd probably make cake, because you can make it five or six hours ahead. Try to prep your salad ingredients a few hours earlier, then you can just toss the dressing over it before you serve it.
You're a sweetie, and I'm sure it'll go off without a hitch.
for our parents 50th......we had their wedding cake remade.