Another Thread About Party Food

[judyblume14]

BabyBlume's baptism will be in a couple weeks, and I'm wondering about food.  

The service is on a Sunday at 1:00pm.  However, most of our family lives an hour away. So they'll be leaving home maybe just before noon to head out here.

I live less than a mile from the church. The service will last maybe 30 minutes; so I expect we'll be back at our house before 2.

What am I serving my guests?  With DD1 we did deli platters with cold cuts and chicken, shrimp and tuna salad sandwiches.

There will be about 16 adults and 5 toddlers.  

[Widget123]

judyblume14, what you did last time with the deli platters sounds good. Maybe add a fruit tray and/or a pasta/potato salad. For the kids you could add something easy like chicken nuggets or mac n cheese as an additional option to the sandwiches.

[oldbaylover1024]

Deli trays are great and easy. With a 2 o'clock time, you could also do brunch. That's what we did for J's baptism. I made a bunch of stuff like an egg casserole, French toast bake, fruit tray, bacon, and sausage. Great for kids and adults. And I made all of it the night before and baked it day of. Super low stress.

[judyblume14]

oldbaylover1024, I will be out of the house from like, 12:30 to almost 2. I don't want to START baking a casserole when we get back. I want food to be ready. If I get motivated and make an egg casserole and french toast bake, could I just bake them before we leave, and then turn the oven off and leave them in there to stay warm? Do you remember what you did?

[twinmomma]

I think the deli platter idea is perfect. Super easy, and a little something for everyone. I'd get a salad and some chips for sides. Fruit salad seems to always be a safe bet for toddlers too.

[judyblume14]

Yes - salads/veggies/fruit will all be present. Cut fruit and veggies are a permanent staple in our house anyway!

I think I just need to decide between the ease of deli platters, and the impression of homemade brunch... Though I think it'll be an easy decision, because lazy.

Pizza crossed my mind for a minute. but pizza is always on my mind. It just doesn't feel appropriate for a baptism. I think my grandmother would be not pleased.

[twinmomma]

judyblume14, I think I'd expect either the deli platter style meal, or something like a few big trays of baked ziti/lasagna stuff at a baptism. Brunch feels like a major undertaking.

[kimberlyb]

I vote brunch so then you could have a mimosa bar If you are worried about keeping stuff warm you could do crock pots. You could make an egg casserole in the crock pot like this pretty easily: www.familyfreshmeals.com/2012/01/crockpot-breakfast-casserole.html

This French toast casserole is seriously epic:  www.chewoutloud.com/2012/12/19/texas-french-toast-bake/ and it is super easy to make! I made the French Toast casserole for a baby shower and then put out a few toppings like chocolate chips, pecans, bananas, and whipped cream.

I have a warming tray that I put it on like this: www.walmart.com/ip/39878052?wmlspartner=wlpa&adid=22222222227028504420&wl0=&wl1=g&wl2=c&wl3=47976698312&wl4=pla-60690854344&wl5=9024601&wl6=&wl7=&wl8=&wl9=pla&wl10=8175035&wl11=online&wl12=39878052&wl13=&veh=sem     It works great!

[judyblume14]

kimberlyb - there will be mimosas no matter the menu. I think it's in the Bible somewhere that you have to have champagne to celebrate. Something about it washing away sin or something. I think John the Baptist made it a commandment or something ;-)

[judyblume14]

twinmomma - I thought about lasagna or ziti, bit same question as brunch. How do I make sure it's at a serveable temperature upon our return from church?

[twinmomma]

judyblume14, Is there a local caterer that could just drop it off for you right before, instead of you making it? That's probably what I'd do if I was set on a hot meal like that versus the deli platters.

[oldbaylover1024]

Feb 28, 2017 10:37:44 GMT -5 judyblume14 said:

oldbaylover1024, I will be out of the house from like, 12:30 to almost 2. I don't want to START baking a casserole when we get back. I want food to be ready. If I get motivated and make an egg casserole and french toast bake, could I just bake them before we leave, and then turn the oven off and leave them in there to stay warm? Do you remember what you did?

I baked mine the morning of, then left them on warm while at the baptism. Turned out great! Breakfast casseroles are so forgiving.

ETA And I prepped them all the night before so all I did was pop them in the oven morning of. Easy peasy!

Plus, mimosas and bloody Mary's. Yum!!!

[2chatter]

I needed this thread! DD gets confirmed in March in a special 3:00 service. I think we will have people over after (so around 4:00 or 4:30 - we can walk). I am super bummed we cannot do brunch at that time.

Other things we have done:
Pork butt roast in crock pot
Shredded Italian chicken crock pot
Both for sandwiches
Fajitas in crock pot (this was great for my Dad's funeral)

The challenge for me is - starch free for a crowd. May end up doing crock pot chicken Parmesan, with zucchini noodles for DD.

[judyblume14]

twinmomma - actually, there is a little Italian place between church and home that we could pickup on the way home. Good idea.

[mommyatty]

Feb 28, 2017 11:31:38 GMT -5 judyblume14 said:

twinmomma - I thought about lasagna or ziti, bit same question as brunch. How do I make sure it's at a serveable temperature upon our return from church?

Ziti in the crockpot is awesome. Just make sure to use a liner because mozzarella cheese plus heat plus time equals glue.