Menu help

[UnderProtest]

So my dear husband invited his coworkers over to our house for a little Christmas get together.  Luckily only 2 families are coming this time, but I'm clueless on what to serve.  It will be 2ish on Christmas Eve.  6 adults and 5 kids between 1 and 5.  My husband is no help other than heavy apps type thing.  I'm thinking of the following, but I need help rounding it out:

Ham with rolls and cheese to make sandwiches
Some kind of potato thing....anyone have a good crockpot recipe?
Veggies and dip
Crackers and cheese


Wine
Water
Juice

HELP!!!!!

[audette]

I'm not sure you need potatoes and rolls and crackers. Maybe the veggie dip can do double-duty and you can get potato chips (or crisps)?

I might try the meatballs in crockpot thing, though. Somehow, that feels like a winter app...

[msmerymac]

- cheese plate with some dried fruit/honey/jam
- spinach dip
- hummus for the veggies?
- bruschetta
- christmas cookies, of course
- flat bread cut into small pieces or mini pizzas?

[mbcdefg]

I'm C&Ping my party menu from another thread. I usually have 30ish guests and I do lots of finger foods, plus a few heartier items like baked mac and cheese, and small sandwiches.

The pigs in a blanket always go really fast - I wrap them in puff pastry rather than crescent roll dough. The stuffed mushrooms and caprese skewers usually go fast, too.

And I get a lot of compliments on the cheese plate, even though it's really simple ... I just get the $2-4 pieces of cheese from the "scraps" basket at Whole Foods, slice it, and put it on a nice platter with little toothpick signs. I buy whatever box of "assorted entertainment crackers" Costco has, put out the jar of fig spread from Trader Joe's, add some grapes and apple slices, and put out a bowl of toasted mixed nuts from the Whole Foods bulk bin. It looks fancier than it really is.

Vegetable tray with hummus

Potato chips, pretzels, Tostitos with onion dip and salsa

Cheese plate
Cranberry goat cheese log with crackers

Shrimp cocktail platter (I may skip this)

Prosciutto and gruyere pinwheels

Chicken enchilada roll-ups

Chili sauce/grape jelly meatballs in the crockpot

Caprese skewers

Deviled eggs (I may skip this)

Stuffed mushrooms/zucchini

Pigs in a blanket

Mini quiche (frozen)

Spanakopita (frozen)

Bruschetta

Sausage- and/or goat cheese-stuffed mini peppers

Stuffed grape leaves from the Whole Foods buffet (I may skip this)

Macaroni and cheese

Pulled pork sliders (Mom is bringing)

Noodle salad (Aunt is bringing)



I go easy on desserts since people always bring stuff: just brownies and cheesecake-stuffed strawberries.



Drinks: juice boxes, bottled water, soda, beer, wine, coffee, maybe hot cocoa if I feel like it (I did a hot cocoa bar in 2013 but only two or three kids were interested in it)



Read more: pandce.proboards.com/thread/500139/share-holiday-menus#ixzz3uV88jcgp 

[bexporter]

I'd add fruit and a dessert.

[msmerymac]

Also, I don't know what kinds of things you have in stores near you, but you might want to see what your grocery store has on display for this time of year, or in the frozen section (if they have pre-made frozen apps). I know that goes against every MM inclination, but I've gotten some good stuff that way!

[magdala]

Pick up a baguette and pre slice it. Small kids who would turn up their nose at other things will eat small slices of bread. Many kids would also eat cucumber slices and/or grapes.

[Deleted]

For sandwiches I like to do one of these:
baked ham and cheese sliders
a good quality meat and cheese platter, artisan rolls, and a few specialty sauces
small crockpots of meat (meatballs, pulled pork, thin sliced steak), artisan rolls, cheese platter

stuffed mushrooms (I do a cheese/bacon/scallion stuffing)
cut vegetables w/dip
pigs in a blanket
pinwheels of some sort
cinnamon roasted pecans
homemade cheese ball/log and crackers
pepper jelly palmiers (puff pastry w/cheese & pepper jelly, recipe is on myrecipes.com).
cut fruit

[UnderProtest]

Dec 16, 2015 11:50:42 GMT -5 RockNVoll said:

Can you get a sandwich platter instead so there's more variety? Something from Pret would work. And maybe some brownies/cookies from there while you're at it.

I have no potato recipes, but your orzo salad is great and I think you said it's easy.

Veggies and dip are great (but are you using the last of your ranch packets?!). Cheese and crackers are great for nibbling, but if you were going to drop something I think it'd be fine to drop this.

Not sure Pret would deliver on Christmas Eve.

I'll do some kind of dessert.....just not sure what.....maybe Rice Krispy treat Christmas trees and something chocolate ?

Yes, it will be the last of my ranch dip packets (hint, hint ).

msmerymac
I'm not familiar enough with the brands and such around here.  I had a horrible experience with some ready made meal and don't wait to inflict this upon my guests.  Any recipe suggestions for spinach dip?  I don't make it because my husband won't eat anything green.

[msmerymac]

I've made this spinach/artichoke dip several times and it's yummy!

Hot Spinach and Artichoke Dip

One 8-ounce package cream cheese, at room temperature
One 9-ounce package artichoke hearts (drained jarred or canned, cooked fresh, or frozen, but not marinated)
1 cup steamed spinach (1 pound raw or one 10-ounce package frozen chopped spinach, thawed), well drained
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
2 garlic cloves
6 large fresh basil leaves
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/4 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

Preheat the oven to 375°F. Grease a 2-quart baking dish.

In a food processor, combine the cream cheese, artichoke hearts, spinach, mayo, Parmesan, garlic, basil, salt, and pepper. Spoon into the baking dish. Top with the mozzarella. Bake until bubbling and the top is golden brown, 25 to 30 minutes.

Serve with crackers, tortilla chips, or toasted rustic bread.

Yield: 4 servings

www.cbsnews.com/news/katie-lee-joels-easy-appetizers/

[UnderProtest]

Dec 16, 2015 12:09:11 GMT -5 msmerymac said:

I've made this spinach/artichoke dip several times and it's yummy!

Hot Spinach and Artichoke Dip

One 8-ounce package cream cheese, at room temperature
One 9-ounce package artichoke hearts (drained jarred or canned, cooked fresh, or frozen, but not marinated)
1 cup steamed spinach (1 pound raw or one 10-ounce package frozen chopped spinach, thawed), well drained
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
2 garlic cloves
6 large fresh basil leaves
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/4 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

Preheat the oven to 375°F. Grease a 2-quart baking dish.

In a food processor, combine the cream cheese, artichoke hearts, spinach, mayo, Parmesan, garlic, basil, salt, and pepper. Spoon into the baking dish. Top with the mozzarella. Bake until bubbling and the top is golden brown, 25 to 30 minutes.

Serve with crackers, tortilla chips, or toasted rustic bread.

Yield: 4 servings

www.cbsnews.com/news/katie-lee-joels-easy-appetizers/

YUM!  I am starving now!  

[jennistarr1]

I would add 2-3 appetizers, not potatos

[UnderProtest]

Dec 16, 2015 13:35:27 GMT -5 RockNVoll said:

Dec 16, 2015 12:20:25 GMT -5 UnderProtest said:

YUM!  I am starving now!  

Feel free to test this first on me and H tomorrow

Hhhhmmmm, I do have to go to the grocery for more flour. I baked cookies tonight and found a great soft sugar cookie recipe!  Maybe I could find the stuff for this.

[livinitup]

I highly recommend going traditional and simple:

Ham
Mashed potatoes (cook early and put in crock on low to warm, if you want).
green beans - roasted. It's simple and easy to clean.

nice bread, warmed. with butter.

It's really that simple and delicious.



Start - With some really nice cheeses and crackers ... grapes. 

[VillainV]

Are your guests British or American?

I think ham, scalloped/dauphinoise potatoes, and some kind of veggie (honey glazed carrots and parsnips? green beans?).

[UnderProtest]

Dec 16, 2015 21:38:41 GMT -5 VillainV said:

Are your guests British or American?

I think ham, scalloped/dauphinoise potatoes, and some kind of veggie (honey glazed carrots and parsnips? green beans?).

I think they are half and half....like either the husband or wife is one, but the spouse is the other.  I guess this is a bit of why I am struggling.  I don't know what food the British expect.

[gardengal]

Dec 17, 2015 6:04:48 GMT -5 UnderProtest said:

Dec 16, 2015 21:38:41 GMT -5 VillainV said:

Are your guests British or American?

I think ham, scalloped/dauphinoise potatoes, and some kind of veggie (honey glazed carrots and parsnips? green beans?).

I think they are half and half....like either the husband or wife is one, but the spouse is the other.  I guess this is a bit of why I am struggling.  I don't know what food the British expect.

Nigella Lawson has cookbooks titled "feast" and "nigella Lawson Christmas". In them, she does sample menus for the holidays. Her menus aren't really that different than the US: turkey/ham w the usual sides. She also has things like more middle eastern-inspired lamb & such.

It may be worth seeing if your library has one of them to ease your mind!