OT - Need Inexpensive Kid Friendly European Dinner!!??

[MTW]

I have to cook dinner tomorrow night for youth group at church. We are starting regional theme nights and I got Europe. I would prefer NOT to do spaghetti or lasagne. I really wanted them to try something new and different since they are doing a theme. Any thoughts? I also need dessert, etc. so maybe I could throw in an ethnic food that way...
Thanks!

 

[hambirg]

Hmmm. . .my ex is German so I instantly thought of sausage and spatzle. Spatzle is easy and cheap to make. I would maybe make some German style potato salad, cucumber salad, or sauerkraut too. For dessert you could make apple strudel, black forest cake or even just German chocolate. HTH

 

[beansmom]

you could do France and saute garden slugs in garlic butter and serve hard bread.

OR:
french fries, french toast, french dressing....

 

[Gigi22]

How about any of the following: gazpacho; focaccia; pizza; ratatouille; French bread (from the bakery); croissants (bakery)?

 

[Marionnette]

I have to cook dinner tomorrow night for youth group at church. We are starting regional theme nights and I got Europe. I would prefer NOT to do spaghetti or lasagne. I really wanted them to try something new and different since they are doing a theme. Any thoughts? I also need dessert, etc. so maybe I could throw in an ethnic food that way...
Thanks!

Why dont you want to do spaghetti or lasagna? Its easy and almost everyone likes them. Its also affordable. Your going to end up spending alot more money on sausages or brats. But if your looking for cheap and unusual then find a recipe for halushki (fried cabbage and dumplings). I cant guarantee you that the kids will be jumping over each other for second helpings. But it is cheap to make.

 

[Soulsearching]

What about a tray of Perogies?

Fast and easy. All you have to do is buy a large bag of frozen Perogies and follow the directions on the back. My family loves the potatoe filled Perogies and we serve them with butter or sour cream.

I believe they are Polish.

 

[DawnM]

http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Shepherds-Turkey-Pie/Detail.aspx

Shepherds Pie?

 

[pearlieq]

Kielbasa and Pierogis.

Reasonably inexpensive, easy, and most kids will eat it. Serve applesauce on the side and maybe make a dessert from another region to mix it up a bit?

You could make a mock English trifle pretty easily--just layered cake, pudding, and fruit/jam. Cannoli from Italy? Spanish almond cookies?

 

[NotUrsula]

ALL of Europe is a region? Europe is a continent, and there is simply no way that any one cuisine could be representative of it as a whole.

However, if you want cheap, you can't beat Borscht.

All joking aside, if I were trying to do the entire continent in one meal, soup *is* what I would serve (perhaps more than one type), with several different types of bread representative of several different cuisines.

 

[brergnat]

Swedish Meatballs. Cheap and easy, and universally liked by kids and adults.

 

[merekc]

I was also going to say pierogi. Yes they are Polish. There may be some other countries with similar versions. Potato and cheese in a dough. Everyone I've ever served them to loves them. And they are fairly cheap.

This is what I do. Buy a frozen bag, soak in water to thaw (per bag directions) and then we pan fry them with a little olive oil and sliced onions. They will get a firm golden crust on the top and bottom (edges still doughy) and cook the onion until they are carmelized.

They should travel well if you had to cook them at home. You could cook the onions separate and have it so everyone could garnish their own. Some people might like sour cream and dill (if you want to go all out).

You can also make them which might be cheaper depending on the size of your group, but the frozen are pretty darned good.

Blini are an option. Russian pancakes. They can be served with a variety of toppings, sweet or savory. Could be dinner and dessert. Might be fun for a different experience. Should travel fairly well and be inexpensive.

 

[redlawyer]

Beef bourginon. Served over noodles with a salad and French bread. Yummm.

 

[momtwo4]

Blini are easy to make and my kids love them.
You can serve them with sour cream or fruit preserve
This would be an Eastern European dish

Whatever you decide, I hope you have a great time! Sounds like a fun night

 

[nursetink]

What about Goulash, spatzle, and Nutella crepes?

 

[Fly4free]

I love spaetzle. I have a spaetzle maker from Austria. I was wondering how you would make it without the special little machine? I took it in to show dd's class last year when they had an international food festival. The kids loved the little noodles.

If you need a recipe I have good ones for spaetzle and for goulash. I actually made goulash tonight, but we eat it with polenta.

 

[MichelleinMaine]

for German, you could do schnitzel (pound pork chops or chicken thin, bread and fry up in a pan), spatzel (even my hick town grocery store has it "dry" in the ethic food section. Homemade better, but dried easier) Add in a green salad or a cucumber salad. Dessert- German chocolate cake (or just gummi bears )

 

[scbelleatheart]

Beef bourginon. Served over noodles with a salad and French bread. Yummm.

I second this but I'm glad you spelled it! It was favorite request for theater functions and then I made it for several kid's graduations. They asked for it instead of a gift.

 

[MTW]

All of the ideas are great (and I plan on trying some of them out on my family) but I found out what the total budget was ($75) for 45 and I don't think that I can do some of the meat based entrees so I'm caving and making spaghetti.
Here's what I'm thinking:

Greek Salad (Greece)
Spaghetti with Italian Bread (Italy)
Braised Sweet Red Cabbage (Germany)
Cream Puffs and Eclairs (France) (maybe chocolate croissants?)

I think I lucked out. Somebody got Africa!

 

[DisneyMomma81]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bubble_and_squeak
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yorkshire_pudding
*I love Yorkshire Pudding ~ I bake it in muffin tins and for the pan drippings if I don't have them I use melted butter. My British BF was impressed with my Yorkies

 

[Disneyadore]

Fries!! Belgium is King Fry maker.
Sauerkraut from Germany. Very Cheap.
Brussels Sprouts from Holland.
Belgium waffles, covered with cherries and cream.