Cocktail and light buffet for 100

[Threehearts]

I am having a holiday cocktail party and I need appetizer recipes for 100 people who will stay all evening. Last year I did all the cooking for 75 and hope to do it again this year. I am looking for upscale food that does not take forever to make but is delicious and makes a nice presentation. Our cocktail party last year ended at 3am when I found myself falling asleep in front of the fire in the living room so you see, we need a lot of food. In years past I have made tenderloin with bernaise sauce, Thai chicken, shrimp with remoulade sauce, cheeses etc.. I will repeat all of these but can't make these complicated recipes for 100 people. Does anyone have lighter appetizer recipes or delicious food for a crowd. I'm not thinking of bean dips and nacho type foods but more festive. Thanks so much. Threehearts

 

[sharbear]

I found this recipe on a freezer site that I frequent. It sounded so easy and so elegant and it can be frozen. Good luck with your cocktail, I could never get that many people in my house, don't even think about making food for 100!

Shrimp-Cheese Bites
Make these delectable little bites in large batches. You may find you can't
wait for a party before sneaking them from the freezer to reheat and nibble!

1 1/4 cups Gold MedalR all-purpose flour
1/2 cup butter or margarine
1 egg, beaten
2/3 cup chopped cooked shrimp
2 ounces farmer or chevre (goat) cheese, crumbled
1 egg
1 egg yolk
1/2 cup half-and-half
2 teaspoons chopped fresh basil leaves or 3/4 teaspoon dried basil leaves

1. Heat oven to 375F. Place flour in medium bowl. Cut in butter, using
pastry blender or crisscrossing 2 knives, until mixture is crumbly. Stir in
1 beaten egg until well mixed. Shape into a ball. Divide into 24 balls.
Press 1 ball on bottom and up side of each of 24 ungreased small muffin
cups, 1 1/4x1 inch.

2. Divide shrimp among cups. Sprinkle with cheese. Beat 1 egg and the egg
yolk in small bowl. Stir in half-and-half and basil. Spoon about 1
tablespoon egg mixture into each cup.

3. Bake about 20 minutes or until light brown. Immediately remove from pans
to wire rack. Serve immediately.

RReg. T.M. of General Mills, Inc.

Do-Ahead
Cool bites completely on wire rack. Place in a single layer on a cookie
sheet. Freeze uncovered at least 2 hours. Place bites in labeled airtight
freezer container, and freeze no longer than 2 months. About 30 minutes
before serving, heat oven to 350F. Bake on ungreased cookie sheet about 18
minutes or until warm.

 

[Threehearts]

Thanks! The shrimp bites sound absolutely delicious. Susan

 

[pattyT]

Tastefully Simple line of products and their recipes?
I LOVE them -
my cousin sells it -
I know they have a web site to -
some examples of easy to make DELICIOUS apps are:
Pesto Pinwheels
Spinache and herb delights
Baked Brie
Baked Artichoke Hearts
Honey Mustard Turkey Tidbits
Spinach and Herb roll ups
Rye Bread Apps
Pesto Linquini
Dried Tomato & Garlic Pesto Tart
Bacon Bacon Mushrooms
Dried Tomato & Garlic Hummus
Balsamic & Basil Olive Tapenade
just to name a few!!!!
never mind a million other recipes for soups, salads, sides, main dishes, breads, desserts, and this and that!

Let me know if you need any of the above there website is
www.tastefullysimple.com
hth
Patty

 

[Epcotgal8]

I have made the following for holiday parties. This recipe makes 4 dozen. You can make them up, freeze, and do the final cooking/heating before the party. It's simple but the shape of the wonton cups (after being pressed into the muffin tins) makes for a nice presentation.

Sausage Wonton Stars

1 package (12 ounces) wonton wrappers
1 pound bulk pork sausage
2 cups (8 ounces) shredded Colby cheese (I like to experiment with what type of cheese I use, it doesn't have to be Colby)
1⁄2 medium green pepper, chopped
1⁄2 medium sweet red pepper, chopped
2 bunches green onions, sliced
1⁄2 cup ranch salad dressing
(I also like to add some sliced or chopped black olives which add to color)

Lightly press wonton wrappers onto the bottom and up the sides of greased miniature muffin cups. Bake at 350 degrees for 5 minutes or until edges are browned. In a skillet, cook sausage over medium heat until no longer pink; drain. Stir in the cheese, peppers, onions and salad dressing. Spoon a rounded tablespoonful into each wonton cup. Bake for 6-7 minutes or until heated through.

 

[mcnuss]

Several years ago I did all the cooking for my in-laws 40th wedding anniversary party -- about 75 people so I empathize! As much as you might love to cook, it's a ton of work!

Check out this month's Cooking Light, there were some great recipes.

The way I like to do parties for big crowds is to make large portions of food that can be "plattered" - like your tenderloin. I do that, too, but roast several at once.

I always go to Costco and buy a large smoked salmon which I serve the traditional way, with chopped egg, cornichon, capers, onion & toast points. I've also been known to make my own gravlax, it's soooo easy and very impressive.

A large platter of shrimp served with some gorgeous sauces is also always a favorite. I serve mine with a simple roasted red pepper sauce.

I've also done the honey baked ham and smoked turkey routine (bought the ham, actually smoked the turkey myself!). With beautiful breads in baskets and lots of different condiments - we have about 10 different mustards in my house - this is very nice and easy.

I have been known to make 10-12 quiches in a day - I confess I use the frazen pie crusts but once they're cooked and cooled I put take them out of the tin foil, pre-slice and plate them nicely. Since you use the same basic mix for every kind, this is really easy. You can use asparagus, cheese, ham, prosciutto, crab meat, shrimp, whatever, no 2 need be alike.

After you get some of the big things, you can make several small plates of the fussier to prepare stuff.

Hope this helps. Also foodtv.com and epicurious.com get my vote for the best recipes on-line, but I despise foodtv's search engine.

Good luck and most of all, have fun.