Any menu ideas for an elegant baby shower brunch?!
Any menu ideas for an elegant baby shower brunch?
I'm hosting a shower on a Saturday at 1:30pm. I thought a brunch would be elegant, but the mom-to-be wants finger foods and nothing too heavy. Any ideas?
Answers:
A few years ago my friend had a really elegant baby shower brunch at a highend hotel
i remember having lots of fresh fruit, mini muffins, veggies of course, there were mini waffles and cheese and cracker plates. diff. kinds of breads. there was also a green salad and shrimp cocktail
a few diff. kinds of juices, coffee tea and they even offered mimosas
Baby Shower Menu Idea
All the following baby shower menu and Brunch ideas can be found in our baby shower e-book with descriptive pictures. This is only a ssample of the information that we supply in our ebook.
Every baby shower should have a special cake. You can purchase cakes from your local grocery store or bakery, order one online, or make the cake yourself.
By serving food, you create an environment that is relaxing and comfortable. The guests can gather around and mingle while enjoying a full sit down meal or simple finger foods. No matter which option you choose, the treats are what make the baby shower complete.
Typically, you would see foods such as fresh fruit and vegetables with some type of dip, finger sandwiches, nuts, cake, and punch or some type of beverage. Now, you can create whatever type of menu you like but you want primarily food that will appeal to the average person. We will first provide some ideas for regular foods and beverages, followed by amazing but easy to make baby cakes.
FRUITS AND VEGETABLES
Melon Bowl
Baby showers held in the summertime are perfect occasions for fresh melon. While fruit salads are excellent options, you can step it up a notch by creating a festive mellow bowl. For this, you will need a large seedless watermelon, cantaloupe, and honey dew.
Start by cutting the watermelon lengthwise about one-quarter of the way from the top. Then, use a melon ball to scoop out the insides. Place the formed balls in a bowl and place them in the refrigerator while you finish the melon bowl.
Smooth out the center and then drain off any juice. You can leave the edges of the watermelon flat or use a serrated knife to create a zigzag design. Next, cut the cantaloupes and honey dews in half, removing the seeds. Again, use your melon ball to create balls from the insides. Add these balls to the bowl of watermelon and chill.
Then, gently toss the various types of melon balls together to make a beautiful colored array of melon and place the balls back into the watermelon. If you like, you can add miniature marshmallows, strawberries, raisins, pineapple, oranges, apples, etc. Chill until ready to serve.
Veggie Platters
Many people enjoy munching on fresh vegetables while at a baby shower. This type of food is something that can be enjoyed throughout the event and it is healthy. Veggie platters are extremely easy to make.
Simply purchase cut up carrots, celery, broccoli, cauliflower, radishes, bell peppers, cherry tomatoes, and cucumber. For dip, you can use bottled ranch salad dressing or any prepared type of dip you like. For a nice presentation, arrange the tray with varying colored vegetables, placing the dip in the center.
FINGER FOODS
Tortilla Rolls
This appetizer is always popular and can be made in a number of ways. Some people will choose to offer tortilla rolls in place of finger sandwiches although they also make a great additional treat.
To make this food, you will need large flour tortillas, chopped green chilies, chopped green onion, soft cream cheese, shredded cheddar cheese, and sour cream. Mix all of the ingredients except the tortillas.
Spread the mixture on top of the flour tortilla, making sure it is the same thickness all around and spread out to the edges. Then, roll the tortilla up and slice in one-inch pieces. Arrange the tortilla rolls on a plate, adding a small dish of chili power seasoned sour cream and another dish of salsa for dipping.
The nice thing about tortilla rolls is that you can make them of anything you like. For instance, you could use sour cream, dill, and salmon, chicken and chesses, humus and vegetables, and even fresh fruit and cream cheese rolls.
FOOD TIPS
Since this type of shower usually involves a pregnant woman or one that is nursing, not all foods and beverages are acceptable. The following are a few tips of things to consider when create the menu.
When possible, use soft cheeses such as Camembert and Brie. The reason is that soft cheese is not as acidic as hard cheese. Because of this, less moisture is held, greatly reducing the potential for harmful bacteria. Since Listeria is a problem with hard cheese that could put an unborn baby at risk, you want to avoid them.
Pregnant women should not eat more than 12 ounces of fish within a week’s time due to mercury levels. Therefore, if you plan to serve fish, avoid King Mackerel, Tuna, Tile Fish, Swordfish, and Shark. If you want to serve fish, you would do best by serving saltwater fish instead of freshwater fish.
Always make sure any meat is cooked completely to avoid potentially harmful bacteria. Although Sushi is delicious, this is not a dish for pregnant or nursing moms.
Prior to setting the menu, ask the mother-to-be if she is allergic to any foods.
Some pregnant women become nauseated with certain foods, which varies from one pregnancy to another. Therefore, always find out if the expectant mother has any foods that upset her stomach.
Avoid serving alcohol at the baby shower.
Allaza
Caviar
Another idea for the tortilla rolls that someone brought up - we call them pinwheels, and you take one 8 oz package cream cheese, soften it, add 1 package ranch dip mix, mix it, and spread it over about 4 large tortillas (use the many flavored tortillas out there to add even more flavor and color, like Sun Dried Tomato Basil and the green one, which I think is either Spinach or Vegetable). Roll them up tightly and put in the fridge for about an hour. Then cut them into about 1/2"-1" pieces.
Mini muffins and bagels, juices. coffee. large fruit bowl and quiche cut into bite size pieces should do.
FIrst of all, do what it easiest for you since you are the one doing the work. When you do finger foods buffet, you still have to put out forks and plates for the guests to eat them with and all those little individual servings require MUCH more detail and attention than just putting out 3 or 4 casserole type dishes for serve yourself brunch. Unless you are hiring waitresses to walk around and serve people bite size crudites on silver platters and have 5 people to help you assemble all your last minute hot finger foods, throw that idea out the window! :)
My favorite brunch menu:
1) smoked salmon platter with mini bagels, capers, cream cheese and lemons
2) smoked ham quiche or fritatta
3) some type of store bought pastries
4) fresh fruit with yogurt or whipped cream for dipping
5) baked pork tenderloins sliced thin, accompanied by dollar rolls and a jar of fancy mustard or sandwhich spread for do it yourself sandwiches
my mom had hers at one of those Japanese resteraunts where they cook the food in front of you. It was pretty cool. But, my sis had hers in her back yard and that was very dull. Definetly a nice resteraunt. Resteraunts have plenty of appetizers to accomidate the finger foods.
Finger foods, brunch, and elegant... Canapes are your best bet, and serve a good punch since Mimosas aren't fair for the mum to be. Try some of these.
Mini quiches and fruit with a dip. I like a dip that uses pineapple juice, sugar and cornstarch. You cook that until it's thick, then process it with cream cheese and cool whip. Really good with strawberries
What world needs now is Rum sweet Rum. Thats the only beverage worth downing.
crepes
~*~Whipped Sweet Potatoes and Bananas with Honey~*~
http://www.foodnetwork.com/food/recipes/...
~*~Cabrales Phyllo Rolls with Sherry Dipping Sauce~*~
http://food.yahoo.com/recipes/food-and-w...
~*~Mini Mushroom and Sausage Quiches~*~
http://food.yahoo.com/recipes/eatingwell...
~*~Sesame Chicken Strips with Sweet Sauce~*~
http://food.yahoo.com/recipes/allrecipes...
~*~Broiled Lemon and Garlic Tiger Prawns~*~
http://food.yahoo.com/recipes/allrecipes...