HELP! Need ideas for 1st Communion Luncheon

[mom2boys]

DS's 1st Communion is in a couple of weeks. After the service, I have invited the family back to the house for lunch - actually it will probably be about 2 pm. I need menu ideas.
Things I need to consider:
1 - We are in Maryland so it might be HOT . Since we don't have central air conditioning, I am trying to avoid the oven (but will use it if I have to).
2 - I will be returning to the house with the guests so I will have to prepare/serve anything I don't do ahead while the guests wait.
3 - I am figuring on about 20 people, mainly adults.
4 - The grill is a possibility.
5 - The food will be served buffet style.

 

[piratesmate]

If you don't mind grilling, Rosemary Chicken is really good with some kind of pasta salad. Of course, it is also really good cold - so you could make it ahead.

Another thing I like for large groups - can be made ahead & then tossed into the crock pot when you leave for church - is Company Sausage & Meatballs. This is a little on the sweet side, so I prefer to have it with noodles instead of just in sandwiches.

The other thing that comes to mind is to do a roast in the crock with lots of juice a day or two before - then shred it & serve on hard rolls. You just need to cook the daylights out of it so it shreds easily. Don't store the juice seperately from the meat - so it stays nice & moist. Back in February I did a turkey & served it this way. I don't think you'll have a day that's cool enough to make a turkey though. I didn't stuff the bird, but I did use the idea of putting orange slices under the skin, sqeezing orange juice over the bird & throwing the orange halves inside. It gave it a really nice flavor. Oh - I also put a cup or two of water in the bottom of the pan before roasting & I always roast my turkey with a lid on the pan. That keeps it moist & it gets done quicker than the timetables tell you.

Good luck!

 

[MerryPoppins]

How about hot dogs and hamburgers on the grill (you could have the patties made up in advance) with potato salad and a fruit plate? Maybe do "baked" beans in the crockpot? Or you could do little rolls and deli-style meats (roast beef, turkey, ham) and cheeses - let them make their own sandwiches. Top it all off with a white 1st Communion cake or some cookies and you'll have a cool kitchen for the whole affair.

 

[Connie of Trenton]

I would marinate boneless, skinless chicken breasts in the refrigerator while you are at church and throw them on the grill after you get home. Possibly cook some rice to go with them. Pasta (my family loves spaghetti salad) and fruit salads are good because you can make them ahead of time. How about preparing garlic bread ahead of time and place in foil-lay on the grill briefly to heat. Wow this is making me hungry!