In Lieu of the fact you have no range top and the oven situation is not the best, I would think cold. One of the things we've done in the past for a crowd of that size is buy Kentucky Fried Chicken. They put it in big foil trays to keep warm in the oven. I make all the salads to go with. Potato salad, cole slaw, three been salad, baked beens, ambrosia salad maybe some warmed up dinner rolls. Carrot cake, cookies. All can be made ahead and just have to pick up chicken that day.

A variety of pinwheel sandwiches, fruit salad and bakery cookies?

Do you have one of those Nesco roaster ovens? If so, they can be used just like an oven. If not, I'd go with the crockpot.

You could grill something, like maybe the cider brined pork loin, and then use the crockpot on low to keep it warm, or you could serve something that's OK at room temperature, like Lars Algerian Chicken and use the crockpot for baked beans (I do it all the time, it's great for that purpose).

Another alternative is to put that breadmaker to work making dough and then make what my kids call calzones, but they are really like hot pockets, you can fill them with anything your family likes from pizza type stuff to eggs and sausage to chicken and broccoli, philly style beef, anything.

I don't know if it's too messy, but Ginger's crockpot french dip sandwiches are good, and could be made with a bunch of sides like potato salad, cold pasta dishes, fruit salads. Cheese and crackers to start, some spiced nuts, breadsticks wrapped in proscuitto or homemade cheese straws are all good and not messy and can be prepared ahead.

How fancy are you feeling about this? Would simply doing burgers on the grill be possible?

I'm assuming there will be cake or something similar for dessert? Cookies and brownies are always good because they can be eaten out of hand.

Good luck, you have some planning to do, that's for sure. Congratulations to the daughter!

Annie

I would do cold salads, pinwheel sandwiches, cold shrimp cocktail, great breads and some hot soups served from crock pots. I have a great cream of broccoli soup - with cream cheese- that keeps very well in an older crock pot.

Depending on the weather and your location, I would not do hot soups. I would suggest a platter of chicken salad, deviled eggs, SIL's ham, some cold salads, maybe scalloped potatoes kept warm in the crock pot, a platter of pickled beets, pickles, olives, carrot and celery sticks, a bowl of grape tomatoes and perhaps some chow chow or corn relish to serve alongside the ham. Warm some rolls in your convection oven, have some cake and ice cream and there is an easy lunch with something for everyone. Maybe some fresh strawberries since it is May?

Teresa

I agree cold is the way to go! How about various lunch meats and cheese trays, either done by you or a local deli. Serve with salads, assorted rolls and breads, cookies and brownies! No muss, no fuss, enjoy the day! Congrats to your daughter by the way!

Gina

I think I would do Annie's suggestion of grilled meat, kept warm in the crock pot...or heated in the electric fry pan. Then sides of potato salad and marinated veggies.
But I might also consider ordering pizza..,..and having lots of stuff liked deli meats and cheeses, cold shrimp and dips and chips....
What WERE you planning?
Linda C

The big problem is the being out for 4 hours, and being all nicely dressed from the service and all when you get back with hungry people.

You could do a long slow roast in the Advantium. I, personally, would do a brisket, but your folks might not consider that a treat.

You can also cook things like chicken on the grill and then rewarm them in pans in the Advantium. Or make lasagnas ahead of time and warm them up, or any kind of casserole. The problem is that you need to plan an hour for rewarming. I don't know if it's safe to leave pre-cooked food for four hours to heat in the programed start time. I've always had someone back at the house under similar circumstances.

If you can plan that hour for cold hor d'oeurve, beverages and relaxing, then you have plenty to time to throw together a dinner. Meat in the advantium, ratatouille or other slow veg in the crockpot, lots of salads, baked potatoes on the grill. Or big fish on the grill, side casseroles in the Advantium, 2nd protein in the crockpot.

It can be done. A lot depends on the kinds of things you like to cook, and how much time you'll have to do the last minute heating.

Hi Sandy --

Is there a friend who might be willing to come to your house while you're out and start the reheating process? I agree with plllog that the main problem is getting back to the house with a hoard of hungry people...

Emily

How about a taco bar? Keep the meat warm in the crock pot and everything else is cold from the fridge and everyone can make his own which would save you a lot of work.

Cookebook, I was thinking the same thing. "Build your own tacos/burritos". Meat could be made ahead and kept warm in a crockpot. Everything else can be prepped ahead and refrigerated until serving time.

I did this for my daughter's high school graduation party and it was a huge hit!

If you have a roaster or other means to "warm", you could add Spanish Rice as a side, too!

Linda

I am with Feerlessem, is their a freind or nieghbor that can come over about 2 hours before the guests arrive to help warm? Can you use the nieghbors stove/oven/grill?

Italian or Brats/Polish sausage can be grilled the day before and warmed in a crock. Sides of potato salad, kraut/peppers, breads would also work here.

I see that you are in zone 5, but no city, so I will guess your weather will be cool. Something "warmish" to serve wuld be appropriate here.

Can you borrow extra crock pots or warming trays? Italian beef can be warmed in there while you are out if you have someone there before. If not, serve drinks and appys while it warms over the styrno flames.

And if all else fails, call a catering company and do a pick up!

Thank you all for your thoughtful suggestions. I didn't have time to get online yesterday and was thrilled to see everyone's ideas when I logged on this morning!

I couldn't find where someone mentioned a brined pork roast...that sounds like I could prepare ahead of time and warm the meat in the crock. Same with a brisket - I could do it ahead of time and slice/warm it. Serving either with a variety of rolls and lots of sides? Where can I find the pork recipe? (I'll do a search here)

If it were up to my daughter, she would get take-out chinese for everyone. I'm half-tempted to do that...then I could just say "it's what the guest of honor wanted!"

This is my first visit to the cooking forum. I am usually in kitchens/appliances/remodeling. Once I get my house put back together, I hope to spend more time here...I love to cook and entertain and can usually do up to 30 guests with no problem.

Thanks, all! Sandy

Well, Sandy, welcome to the Cooking Forum, I hope you enjoy it here, as well as enjoying your new kitchen.

The brined pork roast recipe is mine, well, it's actually a Cooking Light recipe, but it's become one of my favorites. If I were going to try to hold it in the crockpot, I'd either skip the apple cider reduction, or I'd make extra marinade to warm the pork in so it didn't dry out. Maybe undercook it a little or even cook it completely in the crockpot in the marinade. A couple of small pork loins should cook well, I would think, and you could do the cider reduction ahead of time and just warm it.

I'm probably overthinking this, LOL, so here's the recipe.

APPLE CIDER BRINED PORK ROAST

3 cups apple cider
3 cups water
1 bay leaf
¼ cup salt
1 tbls black peppercorns
1 tbls coriander seeds
1 2 lb. Pork loin, trimmed
2 cups cider
1 ½ tsp chopped fresh rosemary
1 ½ tsp chopped fresh sage
1/8 tsp freshly ground black pepper

Combine the first 6 ingredients in a saucepan and bring to a boil, stirring until salt dissolves. Remove from heat, cool, and pour into a Ziploc bag or container big enough to hold the pork loin. Add pork, seal and let marinate 8 hours or overnight.

Preheat oven to 350, bring 2 cups cider to a boil over medium high heat. Boil until cider is thickened and reduced to ¼ cup, about 15 minutes. Set aside. Remove pork from bag or container and discard brine. Place pork on broiler pan or baking dish and lightly coat with cooking spray. Sprinkle with remaining herbs and bake about 1 hour, until pork is done, basting twice with the reduced cider in the last 20 minutes of baking. Remove from oven, baste with remaining cider reduction. Let stand 10 minutes before slicing.

Serves 8

Oh, and most importantly, have fun! Another congratulations to your daughter for her big event.

Annie

Welcome to the Cooking Forum!

Lots of folk have migrate here from Kitchens so you are in good company. As for me, I'm still waiting on migrating from here to Kitchens! LOL

I like the idea of pulled pork or the brined loin for hot sandwiches. I'm partial to the pulled pork because there is no chance of it drying out.

Another recipe that is a real hit on this forum is Ginger's Crockpot Italian beef sandwiches.

A choice of pork or beef, a variety of great buns, a selection of cheese, some slaw, potato salad, pickles.

Everything can be done in advance and it's a fun meal.

Here is the Crockpot Beef recipe. Someone on this forum has a great Crokpot Pulled Pork recipe but I deleted it after we got our smoker.....if you want it just say so. Someone will post it.

CROCKPOT FRENCH DIP SANDWICHES

Here is one that is delicious that is made in the crockpot. I am going to make it this coming week, probably Wednesday when I next make homemade bread so that I can make hard rolls to serve it on. Can't wait!.

2 cups water
1/2 cup soy sauce
4 whole peppercorns
1 tsp dried rosemary
1 tsp dried thyme
1 bay leaf
1 tsp garlic powder (had none so used 1 minced garlic clove)
3 lb boneless beef chuck roast, trimmed
8 French or sourdough rolls, split

Combine water, soy sauce, peppercorns, rosemary, thyme & garlic in a slow cooker, stirring until well blended. Place roast in cooker & cover.

Cook on high for 5-6 hours or until beef is tender. Remove meat from broth & shred with a fork. Serve beef on rolls. Pour broth in small bowls for dipping.~~ Good topped with Swiss cheese or sauteed onions, peppers or both. I like mustard on the rolls, too.
Posted by Ginger St. Thomas

Well, my menu is set:

Pulled Pork (started on the grill and finished in the crockpot)
Made-from-scratch Baked Beans (in the crock pot now and will reheat in the Advantium for serving)
Cole Slaw (bagged slaw mix with homemade dressing)
Fresh Fruit Salad
Assortment of rolls (store-bought) and condiments.

I've made Spinach Dip to serve with crackers and will have veggies/dip and tortilla chips with black bean dip (which I still have to make) for appetizers. And strawberyy shortcake for dessert. I may also pick up a tray of brownies or something at the bakery when I go to buy the angel food cakes for the shortcake.

I wanted this to be a more formal meal, but circumstances just aren't going to allow it. I soooo appreciate everyones suggestions and recipes!! Thank you!

Sandy

Sandy,

Your menu sounds good and low stress. I'm sure everybody will be happy to have a more relaxed menu after sitting up straight in church. :)

Congratulations on the occasion!

JC

I agree, the menu sounds good to me, I wouldn't turn down any of it. I even like the store bought angelfood cake, plain or with berries.

Just relax and enjoy the day and your family, that's what's most important anyway.

Annie

I think your pulled pork will be a hit. I serve that often as it is our daughters favorites and I don't do anything special and people always like it. Of course, we always use plenty of bbq sauce as that is the way we like it.

have fun and enjoy!

Sounds perfect! Let us know how it turns out. Most importantly enjoy the day!

Just a quick follow-up to say thanks and to let you all know that everything went well, with the exception of the baked beans.

I had used a recipe from allrecipes.com "Made from Scratch Baked Beans" and they really weren't good...too sweet. I'm going to post a request for a made-from-scratch baked beans recipe now because I feel I have been challenged to master the bean pot!

The pork was perfect and we are still eating off it. My moms simple cole slaw always turns out good. And everything else was just 'alright', but not spectacular.

The menu did allow me to walk in the door, pull out a few appetizers for snacking, and quickly get the meal set for a buffet, though, so in that regards it was a success...thanks to you all!

Sandy