Bridal Shower Menu Help Needed

annie1992

16 years ago

OK, we're down to the crunch. Amanda is getting married on October 16 and I'm planning a bridal shower on September 11. Yeah, I know, bad date but there are all kinds of scheduling conflicts going on here. Anyway.....

I suggested sandwiches, punch, cake, some snacky little appetizer kinds of things. Amanda's response was truly all Amanda, she said "Mom, you know that's not us. The kids are all coming and I really want homemade macaroni and cheese". That's my girl, ever sensible.....

Anyway, we're going with kframe's mac and cheese, she loves the stuff, and Mustangs' proscuitto and fig salad. I make a fruit salad thing with cream cheese and apricots and crushed pineapple and (ugh!) jello, that she likes, so we'll have that. What else? I could do homemade rolls and cold cuts, I suppose, or maybe a big tray of calzones, the kids would love that.

I'll make a cake for dessert, and she also wants cheesecake, and I'll make cookies and put them in the freezer for the kids to jsut grab. Punch and coffee, but it just seems like we should have SOMETHING that resembles vegetables. A tray of crudite, I suppose, or maybe a cucumber based salad? If the tomatoes are good we could have insalata caprese, but there's all the cheese in the macaroni already.

Dang, I don't know. HELP!!!

Annie

But what else? Fruit salad in spite of the

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Comments (22)

caliloo
16 years ago
Maybe a ham? For me that is a natural with Mac & Cheese. What about the marinated antipasto? It has lots of various veggies and can be made the day ahead and is easy to make in large quantities. I can post the recipe if you are interested.

Congrats to the happy couple and I know you will have a wonderful time and it will be a fantastic success.

Alexa
bunnyman
16 years ago
Girls and cheese go together. I'd not worry about having more then one kind of cheese dish.

At work we have been doing raw veggie trays... seems to be the most popular veggie serving with the gals.

: )
lyra
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First, some questions. How many people will be attending? Will it stretch though supper time? (I'm assuming so, due to the main dish requirements). What are your kitchen facilities, i.e. do you have access to a full kitchen with refrigeration and stoves/ovens? Will the appetizers be served earlier, with the cocktails or right before the meal? If they are served earlier, you may want them to be more substantial. Will there be someone to cook the meal right there, or will it have to be prepared in advance and reheated? All those things in mind, a beef tenderloin, cooked and sliced thinly, is always impressive and those who like the more well done portions can, in some cases, eat the end pieces. Salmon is quick and relatively simple to prepare but still impressive and can even be served cold, or wrapped in pastry or parchment for individual servings. Cathy/Mustang's Arugula Salad with Figs and Proscuitto is delicious, I don't even care for green salad and I like it, although I make it with baby spinach in place of the arugula: Arugula Salad with Figs, Prosciutto, Walnuts, and Parmesan 4 tbls olive oil 2 oz thinly sliced prosciutto cut into strips 1 tbls raspberry jam 3 tbls fig balsamic vinegar 1/3 cup dried figs, chopped into 1/4 inch pieces 1 tbls finely chopped shallot 5 cups baby arugula 1/2 cup chopped walnuts, toasted 2 oz Parmesan, shaved into thin strips 1. Heat 1 tablespoon oil in 10 inch nonstick skillet over medium heat; add prosciutto and fry until crisp, stirring frequently for about 7 minutes. Using slotted spoon, transfer to paper towel to drain and cool. 2. Whisk jam and vinegar in medium microwave-safe bowl; stir in figs. Cover with plastic wrap, cut several steam vents in plastic and microwave on high until figs are plump, about 45 seconds. Whisk in 3 tablespoons oil, shallots, 1/4 tsp salt; toss to combine. Let cool to room temperature. 3. Toss arugula and vinaigrette in large bowl; adjust seasonings with salt. Divide salad among individual plates; top with portion of prosciutto, walnuts, and Parmesan. OK, let's see, individual lamb chop "lollipops" would be good, although many people don't care much for lamb. So, do you have any preferences? Things that are off the menu entirely? Who is cooking? If it's you, you may want to do some ahead of time so you can enjoy the party. Have fun! Annie
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BeverlyAL
16 years ago
Best Wishes to Amanda and congratulations to the groom to be!

I know that you already have a pasta but not all adults really like mac and cheese. Have you thought about a pasta salad?
annie1992
Original Author
16 years ago
"Girls and cheese go together". (grin) Thanks, Michael. Maybe you're right, just a veggie tray.....

Alexa, I first thought about a ham and some sweet potato biscuits, I'd either have to slice the ham ahead of time and let everyone make their own sandwich, or make them ahead of time and risk the biscuits getting soggy or hard. So what? Cold sliced ham and a choice of bread/rolls?

What? Beverly, I'm not the only person in the world that doesn't really like macaroni and cheese? I'm shocked. LOL yeah, I know, I thought about that, which is why I was considering sandwiches but maybe a cold pasta salad too...

I'm trying to keep this to things that I can make ahead and just heat and serve or serve at room temperature, but I don't know if that's going to work.

Thank goodness for Nancy and her "hot box", it's definitely going to be pressed into use for this!

Annie
Tracey_OH
16 years ago
How exciting. That wedding is going to be here before you know it! Here's a few things that might work. Ranch pasta salad, mexican layer dip, 7 layer salad, mini pizzas. And you could do cheesecake bites/pops in place of a traditional cheesecake. Everything tastes better on a stick you know :)

Tracey
User
16 years ago
Seconding Alexa's idea. I'd do a ham with the mac and cheese. The ham could be served warm or cold. Yeast rolls, not biscuits, and maybe baked beans pretending to be a veggie. If not then perhaps a potato salad. You already have pasta going on in the mac and cheese.

Sounds like fun!
wizardnm
16 years ago
Ham.

Broccoli salad with dried cherries.

The other things you are planning sound good to me.... what time? :P

Nancy
gbsim1
16 years ago
Got to be ham!! Maybe just a barely warm spiral sliced?

Grace
annie1992
Original Author
16 years ago
It seems like ham would be the overwhelming favorite here, LOL, and Grace is right, probably a spiral sliced ham, I could roast it that morning and then put it into Nancy's magic food warmer to stay hot. Rolls could be served cold and baked beans could go into a roaster..

So we don't need more veggies? Just more desserts?

LOL, Tracy, everything's better on a stick. I wonder how I could do that with mac and cheese? (grin) Nope, don't tell me, ROFL, just let my imagination run wild. :-)

Actually, I doubt I'll have time for the cheesecake pops because I'll need to decorate the cake and I won't have much refrigerator room to keep a tray. I'm taking the day before off work, but that's all, and I'll need to transport everything 20 miles to the hall on the day of...

Oh crap, I suppose I'll have to decorate, I didn't think of that. Sigh. And Amanda reminded me that we should have games. Great.

I'm off to google "bridal shower games"....

Annie
caliloo
16 years ago
Okay Annie - you asked for it!

Paula Deen has seemingly taken a rectangle of cooked cold Mac & Cheese, wrapped it in bacon, put it on a stick and deep fried it.

1. DEEP FRIED MAC & CHEESE
Watch in amazement, shock, and probable disgust as Paula Deen wraps mac & cheese in bacon, deep fries it to a golden brown, and eats it before your very eyes. According to an FN reader named Hannah, "I swear to God, only a southern woman could survive that mouthful of heart attack on a stick."
triciae
16 years ago
Alexa, I saw that Paula show just last week. It was disgusting. I think Paula is getting defiant, or something, because her recipes are getting more & more what many would describe as unhealthy.

Annie, I also think ham would be good with your menu & I'd serve it room temp or cold. You could make rolls from your usual yeast potato dough & substitute sweet potatoes for the white & have something 'similar' to the sweet potato biscuits without the soggy issue.

Congratulations on the upcoming nuptials!

/tricia
annie1992
Original Author
16 years ago
OMG, mac and cheese on a stick, deepfried AND with bacon? I can't even imagine eating that....

Thanks Tricia. Somehow ham sandwiches just seem too easy, gotta make it hard on myself you know. Maybe I should quick raise a pig and smoke the ham, LOL.

Annie
beachlily z9a
16 years ago
Annie, if Amanda thinks there should be games, let her come up with them. I'm sure she's played some funny games at her friends' showers. You are making it too hard on yourself!
Teresa_MN
16 years ago
Ham seems like a good choice. I don't know about the weather in Michigan, but here in Minnesota September 11 could turn out to be really cold. We had a day in early August 1994 where the high was 48.

With a pre-sliced ham you could serve it hot or cold depending on the weather. Lot's of good suggestions for side dishes, but if she has asked for mac n cheese I think you should have that. But again for me personally, I would wait to decide on what side dishes because the weather can be so wacky here.

That Paula Deen mac n cheese sounds awful! Is she trying to kill someone?

Teresa
obxgina
16 years ago
Annie, don't have much to add to your menu, everyone had such good ideas, you should be covered there! Just want to say congrats to Amanda, how exciting! Your parties are always the best! Don't forget the pictures!
Gina
User
16 years ago
Shower games? I'd assign that job to the sister of the bride.
lakeguy35
16 years ago
Sounds like ham is the winner here. I'd serve it cold. I did that for Justin's send of party last year. Another option might be pulled pork. YOu could smoke it ahead of time, freeze, and reheat in a roaster. Some good slaw for the sandwich or on the side. Probably not bridal shower food though?? Congrats again to Amanda and David!!

David
annie1992
Original Author
16 years ago
Bridal shower food? Anything goes with us, David. No pretention, no restrictions, no putting on airs. I just didn;t mention pulled pork because they're having a pig roast for the reception!

Annie
sheshebop
16 years ago
Annie, I am the shower game queen. I'll let you know some games.
trixietx
16 years ago
I think spiral sliced ham and baked beans would be perfect with what you have planned, and easy.

Congratulations to David and Amanda and I will look forward to pictures of the shower and wedding!
lakeguy35
16 years ago
It's been years since I've been to a good ole pig roast Annie. My ex stepdad's family always had one every summer for their annual family reunion. YUM! He was one of 15 kids so as the years went on they made two to feed the crowds of extended family members. Great memories for sure, but no DJ to um...well you know...LOL!!!

David
lpinkmountain
16 years ago
I second the Wiz's suggestiong of broccoli salad, the kind with nuts and raisins and or miracle whip dressing. My recipe is for cauliflowr and broccoli. But if everyone hates broccoli, then maybe that pea salad of a similar ilk? Something green. And then yes, do what the Bunnyman said, just a plate of cut up veggies, easy to do ahead and folks can pick what they like. In September I'd maybe do something with tomatoes. I make a BLT salad with tomatoes, bacon bits, (for me the fake kind) and avocado. Serve it usually with a balsamic dressing, but you could do ranch. It's good!

Bridal Shower Menu Help Needed

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