Meal planning help needed for party

[Tinijocaro]

I'm having an 80's murder mystery dinner next weekend and need help. Usually, with this dinner club, we have a somewhat formal sit-down dinner with a theme-Japanese, Moroccan, Hungarian, Country cooking...

Since we will be very busy trying to solve a murder, I didn't want to have a sit-down dinner but more of a Tapas style dinner. Everyone brings an item or two. Just kind of pick as you go-appetizers, veggies, shrimp, desserts all available for most of the night. I still feel that as the host, I need to provide something more substantial, maybe something I can keep in the crockpot so I don't have to fuss. I thought of pulled pork or beef on weck, but I want something a little nicer, a little less ordinary.

Any ideas?

 

[PatsGirl]

Jambalya with shrimp, chicken and chourice? Stuffed clams? Homemade crab rangoons?

 

[Magic Mom]

This is so good and so easy. And it will go well with your tapas theme.

Cuban Ropa Vieja (crock pot version)
Serves 6

Ingredients
1 (2 pound) beef chuck pot roast
3 cloves garlic
2 red bell peppers, cut into large wedges
2 green bell peppers, cut into large wedges
1 yellow onion, cut into wedges
1 sweet onion, cut into wedges
1/2 (6 ounce) can tomato paste
1/4 cup red wine vinegar
1/8 teaspoon garlic powder
1/8 teaspoon seasoned salt
1/2 teaspoon cumin
salt and ground black pepper to taste


Directions
Don't trim the fat off the roast, you can discard the fat when you shred the beef. Pierce the beef roast to tenderize it and let the flavors in, and place it into a slow cooker with the garlic, red bell peppers, green bell peppers, yellow onions and sweet onions. Stir in the tomato paste and red wine vinegar. Sprinkle with the garlic powder, seasoned salt, salt, and ground black pepper and cumin.
Cover, and cook on Low until the beef is tender, 7 to 8 hours. Remove beef, and shred into long strands using two forks. Return the meat to the slow cooker and combine with the vegetables.
Cook on Low until the meat and vegetables are very tender, about 30 minutes. Serve with rice.

 

[anniemae]

I would do "mini" sandwiches to go along with the tapas. Maybe some tuna salad, seafood salad, cold cut etc. in little sub rolls.You could also do more fancy sandwiches like cucumber and boursin cheese, grilled chicken etc. I would also serve a nice salad or potato salad to go along with it. That way people can easily eat and mingle without juggling a plate of hot food.

 

[ahutton]

You mentioned Hungarian - what about either making chicken paprikas and keeping it warm in a crock pot, or find a European meat market and put out sliced sausages?

You could also get small rolls and have several kinds of meats for make your own sandwiches. The nice thing about that is if there is extra lunch meats you can break them into family packs and freeze them and they keep really well.

 

[Tinijocaro]

We aren't actually doing Tapas, as in Spanish food, just more of an appetizer type of meal-no theme this time.

Keep the ideas coming, I like some of the suggestions so far.

 

[clarabelle]

Spanish tortilla?
Or some other kind of quiche or egg based dish you can make ahead?

A seafood casserole that you serve over rice?