Need buffet food ideas

[lynxstch]

This may have been requested at an earlier date..but since search funtion is disabled..I have no way of finding it..I would like some suggestions for buffet foods..we are having a 50'th birthday party for my husband..and I would like to have something 'different' than the usual foods..anyone with any suggestions?..please post under this thread or feel free to PM me..thanks in advance!
Lynn

 

[piratesmate]

A couple questions first . . . .

Do you have chafing dishes - or some way of keeping things warm - or just wanting things to serve cold?

Are you interested in having a wide variety of items or want to follow a theme?

Are you making everything yourself & need things that can be re-heated or held for a couple hours - or are other people helping by bringing things?

Oh - How many people are you expecting and what is the age range?

 

[Spinning]

quick and easy;

Buy frozen Swedish meat ball, small size
1 jar of grape jelly (large jar)
1 jar cocktail sauce

In sauce pan combine jelly and cocktail sauce heat till jelly is melted and smooth
Put meatballs in crock pot pour sauce over!
YUMMY!
(you can do the same with those little hot dogs)

 

[yummy72]

Here are a few of our "party favorites"

Broccoli Stuffed Mushrooms

12 large mushrooms
1 very small onion finely chopped
6 Tablespoons butter or margarine
2 Tablespoons flour
3/4-teaspoon salt
Dash of white pepper
2/3-cup milk
1 package (10 oz.) Frozen chopped broccoli blanched and drained
2 Tablespoons finely shredded Parmesan cheese

Remove stems from mushrooms and chop the stems. Quickly cook stems and onion in 3 T. butter in frying pan for 2-3 minutes.

Reduce heat and stir in flour, salt and pepper, gradually add milk and continue to cook, stirring constantly until thickened. Add broccoli and heat thoroughly.

Melt remaining butter and brush the inside of the mushroom caps. Fill each mushroom with equal amounts of vegetable mixture and sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.

Bake stuffed mushrooms in a 375-degree oven for 15 minutes until hot.

Can be prepared a day ahead and cooked the next day.
____________________________________________________
Sausage Wonton Stars

1 package (12 ounces) wonton wrappers
1 pound bulk pork sausage
2 cups (8 ounces) shredded Colby cheese
1/2 medium green pepper, chopped
1/2 medium red pepper, chopped
2 bunches green onions, sliced
1/2 cup ranch salad dressing

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 large skillet, cook sausage over medium heat until no longer pink; drain. Stir in the cheese, peppers, onions and salad dressing. Spoon a rounded tablespoon of filling into each wonton cup. Bake for 6-7 minutes or until heated through.
___________________________________________________

Mexican Bean Dip

(Makes a 9x13 dish full-cut in half if necessary)

16 ounces cream cheese
16 ounces sour cream
1 package taco seasoning
2-9 ounce cans Frito Lay bean dip

Whip the above ingredients together until cream and spread into pan.

Top with:

1-24 ounce jar chunky salsa
2-4 ounce cans chopped black olives, drained
1 large package shredded Mexican cheese
2 tomatoes, chopped
___________________________________________________
Almond-Raspberry Brie

1 (15-ounce) round Brie
2 tablespoons seedless red raspberry jam
1 tablespoon Chambord or other raspberry-flavored liqueur
3 tablespoons sliced almonds, toasted
1 ½ teaspoons brown sugar
1 tablespoon honey

Removed rind from top of cheese, cutting to within ½ inch of outside edges. Place cheese on a microwave-safe plate. Combine jam and liqueur; stir well with a wire whisk. Spread mixture over top of cheese. Sprinkle almonds and brown sugar evenly over jam mixture; drizzle with honey.

Microwave at HIGH 1 ½ minutes or just until cheese is softened. Serve Brie immediately with gingersnaps.
____________________________________________________
Orange Fruit Dip

6 ounce can frozen orange juice
1 1/4 cups milk
1 small package Instant Vanilla Pudding
4-6 ounces Cool Whip

Dissolve orange juice in milk, add the pudding and mix well. Fold in cool whip and chill.

Serve as a dip for fresh fruit.
___________________________________________________

Spinach Dip

1-cup sour cream
1-cup mayonnaise
1 package (10 ounces) frozen chopped spinach thawed and drained
½ cup onion, diced
1 medium tomato, diced
1 can (7 ounces) green chiles, drained

Combine all ingredients in a large bowl. Stir well. Looks very pretty in a bread bowl. Serve with tortilla chips for dipping.
___________________________________________________

HTH,
Candi

 

[FantasticDisFamily]

If you know someone that is "into" Pampered Chef check out their cookbooks - dozens of ideas. Most can be made ahead. Of course they tell you how to use their tools in the process but I've done lots with just my standard kitchen stuff.

Deb

 

[lynxstch]

To answer Pirates Mate questions..yes to chafing dishes and crockpots..do not want just cold foods...I would like a wide variety of items..no 'intentional' theme present..lol..I am making most of it..but my 2 sister in laws have offered to make whatever I want..and as it is a 'family' party..I am expecting around 25-30 people..from ages 3-50!
Hope this helps you to help me!...
Thanks again
Lynn

 

[piratesmate]

I won't post all the recipes unless you are interested. If the search function isn't disabled, many of them have been posted before & you should be able to find them.

Appetizers:
Apple Salsa & Cinnamon Chips (apples, raspberries, orange...)
Crab Rangoon (like a crab & cheese wonton, fried or baked)
"Face First Dip" & tortilla chips (cream cheese, salsa & sour cream)
7 (or 9) Layer Dip & tortilla chips
Chicken Apple & Cheese Bundles (in crescent rolls)

Entrees:
Drip Beef Sandwiches
Hot Shredded Turkey Sandwiches
Company Sausage & Meatballs (serve w/rice - in a tomato BBQ sauce)

Salads:
Broccoli Salad (cold, w/craisins, mayo)
Corn & Bean Salad (mexican type)

Desserts:
Crisp Rice Cereal Sushi
Bread Pudding (one of the Disney recipes)
Pumpkin Cheesecake

 

[lynxstch]

thanks so much for the offer of the recipes..if you have the time..I would just like the following few..


Appetizers:
Apple Salsa & Cinnamon Chips (apples, raspberries, orange...)

Crab Rangoon (like a crab & cheese wonton, fried or baked)


Desserts:
Crisp Rice Cereal Sushi

Thanks so much!
Lynn

 

[piratesmate]

It's no big deal - all my recipes are already on my computer....formatted & ready to go.

Apple salsa and cinnamon chips

Cinnamon Chips
4 flour tortillas – 7” size
1 Tbl granulated sugar
½ tsp ground cinnamon

Salsa
2 granny smith apples, medium
1 cup strawberries, sliced
1 kiwi, peeled and chopped
1 orange, small
2 Tbl packed brown sugar
2 Tbl apple jelly

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Lightly spray tortillas with water. Combine sugar & cinnamon; sprinkle over tortillas. Cut tortillas into 8 wedges & place in single layer on pan. Bake 8-10 minutes or until lightly brown & crisp. Set on cooling rack. [NOTE: Do not spray both sides of tortilla or you won’t be able to get them off the pan. ]

Peel, core & chop apples. Slice strawberries & chop kiwi. Place all in small bowl.
Zest and juice orange. Add zest, orange juice, brown sugar & apple jelly to fruit mixture. Mix gently. Spoon into bowl & serve with chips.

I have substituted freely in this recipe with great results. I’ve replaced the apple jelly with orange marmalade, replaced the kiwi with ½ raspberries, replaced both kiwi & strawberries with raspberries, skipped the brown sugar & used canned mandarin oranges with OJ & dried orange zest. Tart apples work best.

CRAB RANGOON
Source: Gourmet magazine

Filling
½ lb crabmeat, drained and chopped
½ lb cream cheese, room temperature
½ tsp A-1® Steak Sauce
¼ tsp garlic powder

Wrappers
30 won-ton wrappers
1 egg yolk, well beaten
Oil for deep frying
Chinese mustard and/or red sauce

Combine crabmeat with cream cheese and seasonings in a medium bowl & blend to a paste. Place heaping teaspoonful on each wonton. Moisten edges of wontons with egg yolk. Gather the four corners of the wontons together at the top & pinch the edges together to seal. Heat oil to 375ºF. Add wontons in batches & fry until golden brown; about 3 minutes. Remove with a slotted spoon and drain on paper towels. Serve hot with Chinese mustard and red sauce for dipping. Yields 30. (I don't deep gry - I just spray a pan with oil & pan fry both sides - or spray the wontons & bake.)

CRISP RICE CEREAL SUSHI
from the California Grill, Contemporary

8 fruit roll-ups
¼ c butter
10 oz miniature marshmallows
6 c Rice Crispies
16 Gummi worms or
24 Swedish fish

Unroll fruit & place plastic down on cutting board. Melt butter; add marshmallows, stirring until melted. Remove from heat; stir in cereal until blended. Spread ~½ cup cereal mixture quickly over each fruit roll, leaving a 1” border on 1 long side. Put 2 worms or 3 fish lengthwise down center. Begin rolling on side w/o border. Press to seal. Cut into 4 slices. Repeat with remaining ingredients. Serve with chopsticks, if desired. Yield: 32 rolls. (These have been a hit every time I've made them. Please note, though, that you should try to find fruit roll-ups that do not have "press out shapes" as they tear along the shapes when you try to roll the sushi. )

 

[torismom]

to make things a little easier on you, I would suggest for the younger set a tray of chicken nuggetts from chick fil a. Also, a fruit tray is great for them.

In the crockpot you can make up a big batch of bbq, have buns , cole slaw and some chips.

A ham from honeybaked ham with asstd rolls, cheeses and condiments is good.

sausage cheese balls, spinach dip and a crudite tray and bread peices serve this in a bread bowl.

A toss salad, overnight salad (a family fav), potato salad would be good.

I think a couple of different cakes, maybe a cheesecake and a couple different kinds of cookies.

 

[Spinning]

I love the sushi one! I will have to print that one out just to have for the kids and parties! Love it thanks for sharing!

 

[piratesmate]

Jennifer, what is "overnight salad"?? I've never heard of it, but it sounds interesting.

 

[torismom]

piratesmate, here is our family recipe. It is so good.

This salad is prepared the evening before and refrigerated overnight. It taste wonderful. This salad is great for potlucks, picnics or on a warn spring or summer day. It can go with just about anything. This is requested from my family at all functions.

Overnight Salad
1 head Lettuce, washed, dried and torn into pieces
1 large onion chopped finely
1 pound bacon cooked, drained, broken into pieces
1 head cauliflower, cut into bite sized pieces
2 cups mayonnaise (can be reduced fat)
3/4 cup Parmesan cheese
salt and pepper to taste

Prepare the night before serving. Prepare lettuce, onion, bacon, and cauliflower as instructed above. Mix Mayonnaise, parmesan cheese, salt and pepper together. Arrange the lettuce, bacon, cauliflower and onions in layers. POur mayonnaise and cheese dressing over the last layer. Cover tightly and refrigerate overnight. DO NOT PEEK. Uncover before serving and toss.

Enjoy. Your guests and family will not leave you with leftovers and will request this often.

 

[Beth E. (NJ)]

There are some great sounding recipes here. Last year we had a party for New Year's Eve. We brought in sushi and made a few other things with it.

I don't know if we are going to have the gang over again this year. but these recipes would be a nice change.

 

[DeniseD]

This is an all time favorite with us. I guarantee you that you'll get requests for the recipe so keep some cards made up. This is so easy and people love it. I never really measure so I'll estimate how much of everything.

For 12 people

6 pounds of bonless chicken breasts boiled.
3 8oz cantainers of sour cream
3 cans of cream soup (anything works- mushroom, celery, chicken,)
poppy seeds

 

[DeniseD]

OOPS SORRY!

LETS TRY THAT AGAIN.

4 sleeves ritz crackers
2 lbs butter( no one said it was low fat)

Cut chicken into bite size pieces. mix together all ingredients except crackers. Add poppy seeds to taste.
In a sauce pan melt butter. In the meantime put crackers in a ziplock bag and break into pieces.(This is a job I always give to my daughters.) Add the crackers to the butter
and mix well. Add more poppyseeds to cracker mixture.

Put chicken mixture into casserole pan. Top with the cracker mixture. Bake at 350 uncovered for about 1/2 hour or until heated through ond the crackers turn brown.

Just a little hint- the cracker mixture is so good so I usually make tons of it and have a thick top. I hope these measurements are right. It shouldn't be too liquidy. I usually serve this buffet style with some roasted redskin potatoes and fresh stringbeans.

ENJOY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[kimtenn]

I do a variation on Spinning's meatballs with grape jelly and Heinz 57 steak sauce. I know t sounds yucky, but I tried it as a sample in a grocery store and LOVED them! I immediately went home to concoct the recipe. I've made it several times and people can't keep out of them!!

Kim's Easy Sweet & Sour Meatballs
2/3 pkg. meatballs (Lg. bag from Sam's Club)
1 big jar (32 oz.) grape jelly from Sam's Club
4 big bottles Heinz 57, again, from Sam's Club
2 tblsp. Worchestershire sauce

Use your biggest crock pot. Mine's pretty big. Turn on high, and put in all ingredients (including frozen meatballs). Cook on high for 2 1/2 - 3 hours.

OR bake meatballs in oven first, and while baking, mix Heinz 57 with jelly in crock pot until jelly melts. Once meatballs are done, put in sauce. Whole thing should be ready an hour from then, once sauce heats.

I also have a recipe for an artichoke dip that's pure heaven, served with pita bread. Here it is:

Artichoke Dip
1 cup mayo
1 cup sour cream
3/4 cup parmesan cheese
1 can chopped green chiles
3 or 4 chopped artichoke hearts (I use frozen, but sit out to thaw just a bit so they're easier to chop)
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

Mix and then cover top with shredded cheese. Bake at 300 until
bubbly, or heat in the microwave.

Bon appetit, and good luck with the buffet!

 

[Samandmom]

For buffets I like to make baked ziti, meatballs, cold cuts with rolls, chicken pieces, and sheet pizzas from a local pizza place.

 

[CamColt]

I do meatballs similar to those mentioned above but with grape jelly & chili sauce.

How about chicken broccoli & ziti?