Birthday Party Food ?'s and ideas

[dreamin_disney]

Its DD's Birthday Party. She's away at college , her 1st year. I was planning on having it catered large burrito, beans , rice, salsas etc but she gets to choose the menu. She's always wanted a large burrito but crowd was always to big so I told her we can do it this year . We are only having 20-25 compare to the 40-50 family members. Well she wants to get it simple with just pizza from Costco. Her other request was buffalo wings/chicken wings.

My question is about buffalo wings
1. Do you use fresh or frozen(let thaw out). I know it can be expensive is fresh.
2. How many chicken wings should I make for about 20-25 people?
So far people who have rsvp'd
9 adult females, 7 male adults, 2 teen girls, 2 teen boys
3.
Costco pizza not sure how many to get will stick with combos and pepperoni no plain cheese
Cant remember if slices are 10-12
4. potato chips- yes or no?
5. looking at my menu should I add some type of dip like hot spinach artichoke dip with chips, cold spinach dip with cut up Hawaiian bread, or regular ruffle chips with ranch or French onion dip or no dip

Here's my menu so far
-Costco pizza
-Nachos
-green Salad
-fruit -depending what's on sale or just cut up watermelon
-veggie platter and dip
-possible buffalo wings


would you add or change anything on my menu?

 

[DisneyHardin]

I would probably buy the chicken wings already done from a Wings restaurant. When we've done wings, I always just buy them from a local place that does great wings and go pick them up right before the party so they are hot.

For the pizza, I wouldn't do too many choices. Maybe just pepperoni and cheese. Do the Costco ones come already cooked, are you going to be trying to cook these pizzas one at a time in your oven?

 

[mjkacmom]

I’d order pizza and wings from a pizzeria, I usually budget 2 slices pp with other food.

 

[DreamIsaWish]

Honestly, I like the cheese pizza better from Costco than the toppings ones. Their recipe calls for more cheese on the cheese pizzas than on the others and it tastes better that way.

 

[dreamin_disney]

I would probably buy the chicken wings already done from a Wings restaurant. When we've done wings, I always just buy them from a local place that does great wings and go pick them up right before the party so they are hot.

For the pizza, I wouldn't do too many choices. Maybe just pepperoni and cheese. Do the Costco ones come already cooked, are you going to be trying to cook these pizzas one at a time in your oven?

I just looked up my dd’s Favorite wings 30 for $25 will probably need to orders

I’d order pizza and wings from a pizzeria, I usually budget 2 slices pp with other food.

I was thinking the same thing and maybe an extra pizza for the guys Incase they want 3 slices

Honestly, I like the cheese pizza better from Costco than the toppings ones. Their recipe calls for more cheese on the cheese pizzas than on the others and it tastes better that way.

we’ve done pepperoni, combo and cheese in the past and cheese was the one pizza that people skipped . I think only two slices were gone from cheese pizza

 

[TwoMisfits]

Its DD's Birthday Party. She's away at college , her 1st year. I was planning on having it catered large burrito, beans , rice, salsas etc but she gets to choose the menu. She's always wanted a large burrito but crowd was always to big so I told her we can do it this year . We are only having 20-25 compare to the 40-50 family members. Well she wants to get it simple with just pizza from Costco. Her other request was buffalo wings/chicken wings.

My question is about buffalo wings
1. Do you use fresh or frozen(let thaw out). I know it can be expensive is fresh.
2. How many chicken wings should I make for about 20-25 people?
So far people who have rsvp'd
9 adult females, 7 male adults, 2 teen girls, 2 teen boys
3.
Costco pizza not sure how many to get will stick with combos and pepperoni no plain cheese
Cant remember if slices are 10-12
4. potato chips- yes or no?
5. looking at my menu should I add some type of dip like hot spinach artichoke dip with chips, cold spinach dip with cut up Hawaiian bread, or regular ruffle chips with ranch or French onion dip or no dip

Here's my menu so far
-Costco pizza
-Nachos
-green Salad
-fruit -depending what's on sale or just cut up watermelon
-veggie platter and dip
-possible buffalo wings


would you add or change anything on my menu?

With 25 people, I'd plan 6 wings/person (4 for girls/8 for guys) and 2.5 slices pizza/person (2 for girls/3 for guys)...So, you'd need about 120-150 wings and 6-7 pizzas (if 10 slices/pie)...

I'd keep sides really simple...I'd do a celery/carrots/ranch/blue cheese tray (classic wing set up - people will like that), a potato chip or skin (chips being WAY easier), and the fresh fruit...and be done to dessert. It's a "eat with your hands" meal when you do wings and pizza, so run with that (skip the green salad and nachos which can get too messy and get fruit that you can "pick up" - whether that be pineapple with the ends still on it, strawberries still with stems, grape bunches, watermelon with the rind, etc)...

 

[DreamIsaWish]

we’ve done pepperoni, combo and cheese in the past and cheese was the one pizza that people skipped . I think only two slices were gone from cheese pizza

Definitely go with your experience! I disagree with their choices (pizza can be quite subjective, right?). But the crowd has spoken and you should go with the crowd. Good luck planning the party.

 

[dreamin_disney]

With 25 people, I'd plan 6 wings/person (4 for girls/8 for guys) and 2.5 slices pizza/person (2 for girls/3 for guys)...So, you'd need about 120-150 wings and 6-7 pizzas (if 10 slices/pie)...

I'd keep sides really simple...I'd do a celery/carrots/ranch/blue cheese tray (classic wing set up - people will like that), a potato chip or skin (chips being WAY easier), and the fresh fruit...and be done to dessert. It's a "eat with your hands" meal when you do wings and pizza, so run with that (skip the green salad and nachos which can get too messy and get fruit that you can "pick up" - whether that be pineapple with the ends still on it, strawberries still with stems, grape bunches, watermelon with the rind, etc)...

120 wings would cost $100 so would frozen unseasoned wings work if thawed out or should I go with frozen or fresh from meat department?. Not sure if I'm willing to spend over $100 in wings. Might be cheaper to make and bring out 60 at a time. If people only see half then they wont stock up on wings right away, Then bring out 2nd tray. Any tips on making wings. I think I like the fried ones better and season with Frank's redhot buffalo sauce

 

[kymom99]

My husband makes his own wings. For my son's grad party he deep fried them ahead of time. He bought the frozen wings that come in a plastic bag. You could get Kroger or meijer brand. Doesn't really matter. He made Buffalo sauce. He warmed them in the oven in foil pans the day of and served them in those buffet server things to keep them warm. You could bring them out one pan at a time.

 

[dreamin_disney]

My husband makes his own wings. For my son's grad party he deep fried them ahead of time. He bought the frozen wings that come in a plastic bag. You could get Kroger or meijer brand. Doesn't really matter. He made Buffalo sauce. He warmed them in the oven in foil pans the day of and served them in those buffet server things to keep them warm. You could bring them out one pan at a time.

did he fry the same day earlier in the day , then just warm up in the oven or did he fry the day before? Please ask him what temp did he warm and how long? What does he season with? Thanks in advance

 

[kymom99]

did he fry the same day earlier in the day , then just warm up in the oven or did he fry the day before? Please ask him what temp did he warm and how long? What does he season with? Thanks in advance

He made them the day before. They warm up just fine. Can't tell they were made ahead. Warm them at about 300-350. I can't say for sure how long but probably around an hour. We bought those metal stands and the burner things you light that go underneath. It came with foil pans but you can buy replacements. I think we got the kit at Walmart. It wasn't terribly expensive.
He uses hot sauce with butter. I'm not sure what else but I'm sure he just googled it. He can't eat wheat so that's one reason he makes his own. He also has a deep fryer.
I'll ask him for more details tomorrow

 

[dreamin_disney]

He made them the day before. They warm up just fine. Can't tell they were made ahead. Warm them at about 300-350. I can't say for sure how long but probably around an hour. We bought those metal stands and the burner things you light that go underneath. It canexwith foil pans but you can buy replacements. I think we got the kit at Walmart. It wasn't terribly expensive.
He uses hot sauce with butter. I'm not sure what else but I'm sure he just googled it. He can't eat wheat so that's one reason he makes his own. He also has a deep fryer.
I'll ask him for more details tomorrow

Thank you so much

 

[TwoMisfits]

120 wings would cost $100 so would frozen unseasoned wings work if thawed out or should I go with frozen or fresh from meat department?. Not sure if I'm willing to spend over $100 in wings. Might be cheaper to make and bring out 60 at a time. If people only see half then they wont stock up on wings right away, Then bring out 2nd tray. Any tips on making wings. I think I like the fried ones better and season with Frank's redhot buffalo sauce

This might work well - the important thing most reviewers say is to make sure the wings are dry before you coat them...you actually have to make them ahead and then cook, so it should work really well...(I'd test run a family batch and see how it is)...

http://allrecipes.com/recipe/166638/baked-buffalo-wings/

 

[LovesTimone]

I did wings in the crockpot for a party last year and they were a hit...I bought the wings in a bag at either at Sam's or BJ Warehouse... but you will need to clean them first quite a few had feathers bits still attached, we really don't care for the tip, only the drumette and flat, so I cut them up, took out the tip wing and used for chicken stock later on. I seasoned and roasted in the oven 350 to 375 depending on how hot your oven cook at( I used a cake pan and a rack so they did not sit in the grease from the chicken) for around 45 minutes per tray... I cover them for the first 30 or so minutes and then without the foil to brown them up turned them often.... I have done the deep fry method as well, but I was short of time and need to get them cooked... Make sure to put them on a paper towels, top and bottom and change it often so that you get all the grease off of them. So I let them cool and put them in the frig over night... The next day, I used butter, and some store bought wing sauce, and warmed then all up in a large skillet, in batches, just coating the wings you will need to watch them, once they were warm, into the crock pot on the lowest setting warm or melt use any leftover sauce to keep them from getting dried out in the crock pot... I set up a platter with ranch, blue cheese, carrots and celery sticks next to the crock pot. They were all gone. You could also do pans of wings keep in the oven on warm, and bring out to replenish.

I made garlic bread knots to go along with them, basic green salad,

Pizza, I would just order from a local spot, but call ahead a day or so and order, and call to remind the morning of the party...I would talk to the manager, and sometimes if you order ahead, they might be willing to move the price down a bit especially for multiple pizza, or throw in garlic bread, or 2 liter drinks, or something else... I have gotten a dozen garlic knots for every 2 pizza's we order, and when you are ordering 10 pizzas that was 60 garlic knots, I ordered 15 pizza for the office once and got free dessert and 2 liter drinks,

Check out Groupon for coupons, or the website...

I would just do chips and dip... keep it simple...

 

[stsomewhere]

What about a few bags of Tyson's Any'tizers. They have boneless wings that you bake. They are around $7 a bag at MEijers. I just bought some on sale at Meijers for under $6 a bag. http://www.tyson.com/products/anytizers

 

[kymom99]

did he fry the same day earlier in the day , then just warm up in the oven or did he fry the day before? Please ask him what temp did he warm and how long? What does he season with? Thanks in advance

for 24 wing parts:
one 12 oz. bottle cayenne hot pepper sauce (franks)
1 stick butter
several dashed worchestershire sauce
several dashes hot sauce (tabasco)
heat in saucepan over medium/low heat