This is what I've decided to do for my DH's birthday party:
Appetizers and Snacks: We're all big on appetizers around here
Veggie tray from store (but I will choose my veggies; if I don't choose, I'll end up with a bunch of carrots and broccoli)
Fruit tray from store (I'll make a chocolate-caramel fruit dip)
Antipasto Platter
Pan-Fried Onion Dip (from Ina Garten, so good!)
Hot Spinach-Artichoke Dip in Bread Bowl
Crab and Muenster Cheesecake *
Cranberry Meatballs (to go into crock pot) *
Rye Party Puffs (cream puffs with a savory filling)
Onion Brie Appetizers *
Spiced Nuts *
Tuscan Flatbreads *(I'll slice it into strips and use it for dipping....I'll also have the breadsticks and the cubed bread from the breadbowl to use as dippers, too)
Divine Breadsticks for dippers *
Chips, pretzels, crackers, etc.
Entrees:
Pulled Pork Sandwiches with Espresso BBQ Sauce
BBQ Chicken for the Oven *
Pasta with Roasted Vegetables (for the vegetarians)
Sides:
Potato Salad
Crock Pot Beans *
Broccoli Salad - I don't want broccoli on the veggie tray, so that should be OK
And whatever is left from appetizers and such
Dessert
Cake from a local bakery - probably vanilla, since DH isn't really much of a chocolate hound. They do really nice cakes and I'm not even attempting to bake and decorate a large cake. Not for this
Brownies or some kind of bar cookies * - because DH's wife IS a chocolate hound! And so is DH's mother! And darn it, chocolate is a necessity!
Sugar Cookies *- need to find a palm tree cookie cutter and I can decorate the cookies
Beer and Soda in an iced tub
Red and white wine
Party Punch *
Coffee and Iced Tea
I know, it's not a very tropical menu, is it? But honestly, I'm worried more about what DH and the rest of my family will eat. Friends will just have to deal with the menu, I guess.
The Antipasto Platter will have pepperoncinis, garbanzo beans, halved mushrooms and halved cherry tomatoes, olives, sliced pepperoni, etc. With an Italian-type viniagrette.
A lot of the dishes can be made ahead and put into the freezer; they're marked with an asterisk. I've even made the chicken ahead of time before and it's fine...I can just defrost and throw it on to the grill to reheat after the pork is done and is under its foil tent, getting ready to be shredded. The appetizers, for the most part, are make-ahead, too. I can make the bread bowl ahead of time. That cheesecake is TDF and can be made a month ahead of time and frozen...I make it for Christmas dinner every year and I've started to make it right after Thanksgiving and freeze it. So I know it works.
Much can be prepared the day before the party, too. The potato salad is actually best prepared the night before. As is the broccoli salad. I can make the cream puffs the night before and fill them at the last minute.
Oh, and two of my friends who are coming have offered to come early to help me out with last-minute prep work. They're both cooks, too, and we've cooked together before, so we shouldn't be bumbling around in the kitchen. One of my friends is coming on Friday, so we can cook Friday night. That will work.
I've prepared my grocery list and have started purchasing canned goods and other staples. The week of the party I'll buy my perishables.
Have I missed anything? Does it work?
Thanks!
Appetizers and Snacks: We're all big on appetizers around here
Veggie tray from store (but I will choose my veggies; if I don't choose, I'll end up with a bunch of carrots and broccoli)
Fruit tray from store (I'll make a chocolate-caramel fruit dip)
Antipasto Platter
Pan-Fried Onion Dip (from Ina Garten, so good!)
Hot Spinach-Artichoke Dip in Bread Bowl
Crab and Muenster Cheesecake *
Cranberry Meatballs (to go into crock pot) *
Rye Party Puffs (cream puffs with a savory filling)
Onion Brie Appetizers *
Spiced Nuts *
Tuscan Flatbreads *(I'll slice it into strips and use it for dipping....I'll also have the breadsticks and the cubed bread from the breadbowl to use as dippers, too)
Divine Breadsticks for dippers *
Chips, pretzels, crackers, etc.
Entrees:
Pulled Pork Sandwiches with Espresso BBQ Sauce
BBQ Chicken for the Oven *
Pasta with Roasted Vegetables (for the vegetarians)
Sides:
Potato Salad
Crock Pot Beans *
Broccoli Salad - I don't want broccoli on the veggie tray, so that should be OK
And whatever is left from appetizers and such
Dessert
Cake from a local bakery - probably vanilla, since DH isn't really much of a chocolate hound. They do really nice cakes and I'm not even attempting to bake and decorate a large cake. Not for this
Brownies or some kind of bar cookies * - because DH's wife IS a chocolate hound! And so is DH's mother! And darn it, chocolate is a necessity!
Sugar Cookies *- need to find a palm tree cookie cutter and I can decorate the cookies
Beer and Soda in an iced tub
Red and white wine
Party Punch *
Coffee and Iced Tea
I know, it's not a very tropical menu, is it? But honestly, I'm worried more about what DH and the rest of my family will eat. Friends will just have to deal with the menu, I guess.
The Antipasto Platter will have pepperoncinis, garbanzo beans, halved mushrooms and halved cherry tomatoes, olives, sliced pepperoni, etc. With an Italian-type viniagrette.
A lot of the dishes can be made ahead and put into the freezer; they're marked with an asterisk. I've even made the chicken ahead of time before and it's fine...I can just defrost and throw it on to the grill to reheat after the pork is done and is under its foil tent, getting ready to be shredded. The appetizers, for the most part, are make-ahead, too. I can make the bread bowl ahead of time. That cheesecake is TDF and can be made a month ahead of time and frozen...I make it for Christmas dinner every year and I've started to make it right after Thanksgiving and freeze it. So I know it works.
Much can be prepared the day before the party, too. The potato salad is actually best prepared the night before. As is the broccoli salad. I can make the cream puffs the night before and fill them at the last minute.
Oh, and two of my friends who are coming have offered to come early to help me out with last-minute prep work. They're both cooks, too, and we've cooked together before, so we shouldn't be bumbling around in the kitchen. One of my friends is coming on Friday, so we can cook Friday night. That will work.
I've prepared my grocery list and have started purchasing canned goods and other staples. The week of the party I'll buy my perishables.
Have I missed anything? Does it work?
Thanks!
