I wouldn't even think of rice in a slow cooker...I would cook it in a pot in the usualw ay....but I don't know the best way to keep it hot.
Appetziers? Chips and dip, spinach brownies, cheese and crackers, shrimp, little smokies in BBQ sauce...
I am trying to think of easy stuff than goes over well with men.
Dessert? Pie! Or brownies.
Linda C

Linda,
I was hoping you would check in. I think I could keep the rice warm in a crockpot on low with a wet tea towel between the pot and the lid. That is how I keep mashed potatoes warm for a long time on thanksgiving and they tasted completely fresh even after on warm for a while.

Good ideas for apps.

Jo

I should be enough for 30 men. Just tell me when to show up with the Wesson. And sausages.

We want pictures Jessy!

: )
lyra

Now that's appetizing!

I think your rice warming plan should work well. For apps, you could do a variety of quesadillas, egg rolls, mini tarts, spinach dip, bowls of mixed nuts, crab cakes, deviled eggs...

I'd keep dessert simple. A fruit tray and a brownie/cookies tray.

AM

my dinner party is taking on a theme of its own...I am serving, spiced nuts, mini wieners wrapped in pizza dough, spinach balls (a variation of spinach brownies), gumbo and sausage.
Hmm, nuts, weiners, balls and sausage. Can you tell this is a men's party?
Jo

All you need is fish tacos and you're set

To keep the rice hot, would it work to have a disposable steam tray, with a couple of candles or bunsen burners? Do you have Smart and Final or restaurant supply place nearby? I'm thinking a crockpot might not be big enough for 30.

I think gumbo and sausages would be two main courses which would compete with each other, especially if sausage is an ingredient in the gumbo. Better to have one or the other, not both, and supplement with a few appetizer type items like those mentioned above.

Since you have used the crock pot for keeping mashed potatoes, I think it would work just as well for the rice.

Better yet, see if you can borrow some automatic rice cookers. That would make cooking the rice simple and rice cookers normally have a keep warm feature. You need a rice cooker anyway, so buy one and borrow two more to give you enough capacity. :-)

BTW, when you buy a rice cooker, don't get one larger than 5 or 6 cups. I had a 10 cup cooker and only filled it to capacity once. It took forever to heat up with that load.

Jim

Think I'll pass on the fish tacos :) My gumbo does not have sausage in it. It has crab, chicken, and shrimp (plus okra,celery, onions and peppers) I thought the sausage would compliment it as it could go in there, but isn't.
Researching rice cookers.

Jo

I thought I was immune, but this thread has even me blushing!

Weiners, sausage, and crabs, hmmmmm (backspace, backspace, backspace.) Jessy you forgot the Twister game to go with the Wesson! LOL!

Sorry Jo. I'm being no help! I do hope things go well.

I do like the idea of brownies for dessert. The DH always loves brownies.

Are you able to get good fresh corn at this time? Corn on the cob would go well with that menu.

Jim

Of course you are helping, boo. Didn't you suggest Brownies? With or without their cookies?

Oh My! I'm getting the vapors......

I think with several appetizers you don't need to do both main dishes. I also wouldn't worry about the rice temp. I think room temp rice is fine and if not the hot gumbo will heat it enough.
I vote for brownies and fruit maybe watermelon for dessert.

New to the forum here...my culinary training says stay away from the room temp rice....breeding ground for food borne illness. Most home kitchens are equipped to store prepared food. Plan cooking so your rice comes off the burner just before you leave & the guys start eating. No holding needed. Menu sounds good. I take it that you are not sure if you have enough gumbo...I would buy 15 of the sausage & hoagie rolls & cut them in half...serve them with some spicey mustard & some sauteed green bell peppers & onions. Apps & desserts suggested by Linda C sound good. BTW..I am a guy. :)

I think I am in good shape for the party (clearly a reference to food prep). The gumbo is made and in the fridge. It has to be heated up and the shrimp and crab have to be added at the last moment. I've partially cooked the sausage so they can finish on the grill. If I didn't do that, my husband would char the heck out of them. I don't know how much gumbo my recipe makes, but to give you an idea, the serving bowl is 11 inches tall by about 11 inches wide. It should feed 25. Thus the 30 sausages. Hearty rolls, mustard... we should be all set. The spiced nuts came out great (thanks AnnT) and the pigs in blankets are waiting in the fridge. Brownies are done and a tray of oatmeal raisinet cookies are cooling. The rice will be last minute as it looks like I may have to hang around afterall (I am not complaining!) Tomorrow all I have to do is some last minute shopping for incidentals and maybe another batch of cookies.
Thanks for all the help and entertainment.
Jo

Ya know, for some entertainment you can get PKGUY to come over with his organ. I'm sure the guys would love THAT....maria

Good one Maria! 30 guys playing with an organ.

Jessy, I could not resist..... -maria

(in the thick of the party...) the gumbo was a huge home run. I've been making this recipe for at least 20 years and everyone raved about it. Even those who said they don't like things like this. I parboiled the sausage earlier today and all my dh had to do was to brown them on the grill. They came out great. The rice in the crockpot was very successful. I undercooked it just a bit and let it finish in the crockpot. Easy and efficient.
Now everyone is hanging out drinking (we have a keg). I sought refuge here.
Jo (who feels like a stripper at a stag party).

Excellent!!! You know what you're doing. I can tell.

Jim

I can't stop thinking of you and your gumbo and the Shriner's Ballet from Bye Bye Birdie.

alas no footage from the film, just high school productions.

Here is a link that might be useful: Chita Rivera will do!

Alas, Jessy, no such luck. Here it is almost 1 am and I am going to sleep while the rest of the party plays wii tennis. It was fun, but I really just popped in now and again to help with the food.
Yawn. I'm even boring myself.
G'night.
Jo

Would you share your gumbo recipe with us?