Quilter's luncheon...food ideas needed
My mother hosts an annual luncheon for a church charity quilting group. Two years ago, she purchased deli sandwiches and a fruit tray. Last year, I baked quiches and who knows what dessert was? It must not have been memorable! I am stumped for this year. It needs to be something not too difficult to make or clean up, but not something we'd have every day, either. We eat around noon, so it could be brunch, but light on sugar content. Any ideas? I am at a loss.
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I went to a breakfast meeting a woman's house, and she had all sorts of things -- olives, cheese, mushrooms, onions, bacon, and on and on. You got a plate and scooped up what you liked, then handed it to someone at the stove who tossed it in with an egg and made you a personalized egg scramble.
Maybe cooking on the spot won't work, but I remember being impressed that you could have your food exactly as you liked it, and you did half the work of putting it together. Seemed like a great idea! |
If you want to make it brunch then definitely go with different types of egg casseroles. Some of these can be prepped the night before then cooked right before time to serve. Search the recipes here on the board. You could also do a salad buffet with meat salads, vegetable salads, and fruit and cheese platters. If you serve salads thst could be sandwich fillings have trays of mini croissants.
mltquilt |
my brunch friends always enjoyed my home made baking powder biscuits with sausage/milk gravy. i rarely make that now as my waistline suffers for it.... my mouth is watering now :)
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chicken salad on croissants.....fresh fruit on the side?
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Originally Posted by KimmieH
(Post 5606491)
chicken salad on croissants.....fresh fruit on the side?
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Slow cooker soups are easily made ahead and can cook away while you work. QuiltE posted a wonderful recipe for a French Onion for the slow cooker and I made it last week and was a big hit.
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Originally Posted by MamaBear61
(Post 5606500)
Slow cooker soups are easily made ahead and can cook away while you work. QuiltE posted a wonderful recipe for a French Onion for the slow cooker and I made it last week and was a big hit.
Expanding on MamaBs ... you could have a soup buffet with more than one soup in crocks and let them try a different one for seconds. Complete that out with an assortment of breads and QuiltNNan's tea biscuits, butter and cheese and you have a delicious lunch. Salad ... optional! :) And with a meal like that ... I'd be thrilled with a bowl of homemade fresh fruit salad ! |
I worked for a catering company for 20 years.
There is no reason you cannot repeat one of the meals you have done in the past. Soup and biscuits. Quiche or lasagna and salad. Assorted sandwiches. Stew and nice bread. Brunch: Wife savers are always great, make ahead and bake the day of the event. Fritatta Muffins and fruit salad for a brunch dessert Desserts: I always love fresh cookies. If you have different types of desserts, people will take more than one and you will need more portions. If you may have guests with dietary concerns, I would go with a built your own sandwich bar. Have rolls, meats, cheese, vegies (tomatoes, lettuce etc) and condiments. Each person can build their own. If you can have Gluten free crackers for those who cannot eat wheat. |
Originally Posted by Tothill
(Post 5607436)
.......If you have different types of desserts, people will take more than one and you will need more portions.........
Ever notice on buffets where they have beef, chicken and fish, that people tend to have ALL! And good sized servings of each. :D Likewise my soup buffet suggestion ... would definitely go thru more in totaly quantity! |
Chicken Salad Sandwiches, Jello Salad[sugar free], Cookies. They also make sugar free cakes to bake. They aren't as big as the sugar ones. Tea, Coffee.
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If you go the chicken salad sandwiches/croissants, you may want to have an additional sandwich or entree. Not everyone likes mayo or salad dressing. Two sons and a husband who cannot stand the sight of it. So they are very picky when going to buffets or visiting for a meal. We have lots of experience in going places to eat and sometimes they end up with chips on their plate.
My personal favorite chicken salad on a croissant has grapes and walnuts. We love to serve a huge pot of chunky chili, with shredded cheese, sour cream, and Frito's corn chips as toppings. I don't put bowls out, I do self-serve with styrofoam cups or coffee mugs. |
Soup/chili buffet in crock pots sounds wonderful, as well as easy. Several different kinds of breads, cheese, sour cream and crackers. Maybe pound cake for dessert, as well as sugar free jello for those who are watching their waistlines!
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Wifesaver is a new term for me, Tothill!! I like it!! This Board is terrific. Now my brain has some definite ideas to focus on and the logistics can be worked out. These ladies love food, so portion control will be important, too. There were some great ideas about that and the idea of mugs for soup is good! Thanks, everyone. I'll get back to you after Mom and I figure it out. At least now there are some plans. Guess I need to go check recipes on the Board. :thumbup: :thumbup:
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Crockpot !! Lasagne, Italian meatballs, Mexican, German, Swedish, Soups, salads. LOL We always try to do it up differently every year when the family gets together (and I do mean family- usually depending on the side of the family-mine is up to 150 people, his side-75 people ..LOL). Another suggestion (if after googling or bing-ing recipes) is pizza, calzones, salad, bread sticks.
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We get together occasionally to make layettes for single mothers and work all day. At noon we break for lunch of baked potatoes done by the hostess and all sorts of toppings brought by the workers. It is marvelous with drinks and cookies before we either work in the afternoon or say good-bye.
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JustmeCA you know what I like! I may have to go do this right now. What a perfect idea, and so much fun too!
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One of my favorites is a make-your-own taco salad bar. Big bowl of various lettuce/greens. Seasoned taco meat and, if you can, seasoned shredded chicken -- put it in crock pots. Shredded cheese. Fritos and/or tortilla chips. Diced tomatoes, onions and black olives. Black beans. Salsa. Low-fat sour cream. Several salad dressings...ranch, Western, Green Goddess, taco ranch...whatever strikes your fancy, be sure to include a low-fat choice. With that many options, almost everyone can create a salad they will like. This is a hit with men too. I'm planning to make this near Thanksgiving for a family get together, a nice change from the turkey leftovers.
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Originally Posted by Teacup
(Post 5612704)
One of my favorites is a make-your-own taco salad bar. Big bowl of various lettuce/greens. Seasoned taco meat and, if you can, seasoned shredded chicken -- put it in crock pots. Shredded cheese. Fritos and/or tortilla chips. Diced tomatoes, onions and black olives. Black beans. Salsa. Low-fat sour cream. Several salad dressings...ranch, Western, Green Goddess, taco ranch...whatever strikes your fancy, be sure to include a low-fat choice. With that many options, almost everyone can create a salad they will like. This is a hit with men too. I'm planning to make this near Thanksgiving for a family get together, a nice change from the turkey leftovers.
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I vote two types of soup can be made in advance and served hot reheated. Say Roasted Butternut Squash soup and maybe simply chicken soup for those who want meat too.. and bread, butter and salad if need be maybe a mixed one two types of dressing easy and then low sugar type dessert? take canned pineapple put a small layer in a plastic drink cup small ones.. then a small layer of orange manderines slices then top with whipped cream. It looks like candy corn and this is fall (hence the squash soup). wait just checked your in florida..ok plan b
one hot pasta dish one cold pasta dish maybe pesto with chicken for the cold and red sauce for the hot? easy done make ahead and reheat.. bread/butter, same dessert. tada! memorable is the group not the meal.. we eat every day its how fun it is to share it that makes it. Put something special on the table like a pumpkin hollowed out and filled with flowers, easy to do memorable.. little pumpkins with name tags.. depending on the size of the group you have to figure diabetics, people on strict other diets, vegans, vegetarians, so meat food and non meat food, veggies to be safe and fruit cups with or without sugar. you can buy sugar free pineapple or pears canned. lite whip cream also good luck keep it simple you will have so much more fun.. remember its the fun of the event not the food.. just keep it good and keep it simple everyone will like it then. bet they ate all the sandwichfood just fine last time.. people graze its just the way we are. |
Soup and sandwich bar.
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Here's a soup that's a little different and people always like it when I've served it. Got it from a pumpkin can label years ago, but here it is online: http://www.verybestbaking.com/recipe...up/detail.aspx
If you use vegetable broth it would be okay for vegetarians. I don't like the taste of canned milk and find that regular milk works fine in the recipe. Sometimes I add half and half. Also, I don't bother with pureeing it. I like the onion bits in it myself and have had no complaints. You could serve it with something easy such as chicken salad sandwiches and a veggie tray or how about crackers and a hunk of soft cream cheese with chutney poured over it? |
These are good ideas. Thanks for that Pumpkin Soup recipe. It sounds yummers!! Mom and I will go over these idea this next week and make some decisions. Our take home favor is a mug mat.
:-) |
I was just reading articles about savory cupcakes
Google it and you'll find lots of ideas I'm enchanted by the idea of mac and cheese cupcakes |
Just thought of these ones, that I can highly recommend!
Why I didin't think of them sooner, I do not know!! :D The bonus of choosing a crock option is that you don't need to fuss over them as much as if your food was cooking in the oven or on the stove top. Plus if your ladies want to finish some stitching and eat later, it will hold the food over easier for you and them. http://www.quiltingboard.com/recipes...t-t204176.html http://www.quiltingboard.com/recipes...e-t203920.html http://www.quiltingboard.com/recipes...t-t201903.html . |
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