Keeping in mind the ages of these boys,(as a mother of 3 boys and a former den mother), I would say that the boys will be less then hygenic about getting the fruit. I am not easily grossed out, but the thought of that many boys rummaging through a fruit platter might be offsetting to some. Maybe things on toothpicks? (But then you run the risk of 50 boys with swords). I am sorry to be such little help. I would probably do mini Hebrew National hot dogs baked in bread dough. My son loved those at that age, and they are finger food without toothpicks.
Good luck.
Jo

Quesadillas? Little crustless sandwiches? Not sophisticated, I know. Mini pizzas? Aram sandwiches?

What about Meatball Sliders?

Michelle

Here is a link that might be useful: Meatball Sliders

No question.....those mini L'il Smokey miniature hotdog sausage things....served with a catsup based sauce....just dump on some catsup, add a little brown sugar and heat for about 20 minutes in a pan on top of thes tove and I will guarantee they will disappear like snow in August!!
Also baby carrots and a squeeze bottle or dipping bowl of Ranch dressing.
Don't waste time making something time consuming when they will just love this!..Save the meatball sliders for me!
Linda C....who has 7 grand kids and remembers the days when they wre all about that age!

PB&J sandwiches cut with canapé cutters.

I definitely wouldn't serve a dip with that many people. Could end up being gross! IMO

The mini wrapped dog idea sounds good or the mini pizzas, quesadillas.

What about Phyllo Spinach Triangles? These are easily made ahead and are good when served at room temp. Plus, they are easy to just grab one and go (no rummaging).

As a fellow mother of a cub scout, I would certainly appreciate a little 'sophistication' as the food at these gatherings tends to gross me out. I find that the kids like the triangles and they are even a bit healthy with spinach in them.

They are really easy to make ahead and freeze and then just pop in the oven right before you go.

I triple the vote for the mini Hebrew National hot dogs wrapped in crescent rolls. Would you be able to bake them at home and transport them wrapped in foil to the pack meeting location? I make them often for my 8 and 11 year olds' playdates, and they get snarfed down in record time. I love Eileen's idea of PB & J sandwiches cut with a cookie cutter too. What about those pinwheel sandwiches, where you use the soft lavash bread, or flour tortillas. Roll them up with tasty fillings, chill and cut. Mini bagels with flavored cream cheese (already spread and cut in half)?

Good luck Stacy, and don't sweat it. The kids will love whatever you put together, and so will the grownups:-)
DONNA

Stacy, I left a ton of appy links at the toothpick thread..cruise that...

Some good ones below - some are more dessert but others are fun - I like the hot cocoa mix!

I have used this fruit dip from Seagrass before and it is great. Use Cortland apples since they don't turn brown that quickly.

FALL APPLE DIP

8 ounce brick of cream cheese, softened
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup chopped salted peanuts
3 apples, sliced (I like to use a red-skinned apple, a golden delicious and a Granny Smith for a lot of color)
1/2 cup orange juice

Combine the cream cheese, brown sugar and vanilla in a bowl; mix until smooth. Put into a serving dish and sprinkle with peanuts. Dip apple slices in the orange juice, arrange on a platter (alternating colors) around the dip.

Note: the orange juice keeps the apples from turning brown and also adds a very nice flavor.

Here is a link that might be useful: Kraft

Maybe cornbread cups filled with chili and topped with cheese? I don't have a recipe, but I've seen them before and I'm sure they wouldn't be hard to make.

Little biscuit dough or english muffin pizzas?

If you do fruit, maybe you could seperate the fruit pieces into cupcake liners so the boys get their own individual servings and don't *in theory* get their grubby paws on the rest of the fruit.

Fruit is a good thing but....it is done so often...hell it's Christmas!

Stacy I did the sliders for Sara's party.....12 kids under 13...the kids loved them!!! So did the Moms and Dad's. I kept them warm in a crock pot and just stuffed them in the presliced puffs to serve....huge hit. I made savory puffs but store bought mini rolls would do just fine.

It would be kinda fun to do the sliders as mini "burgers" and the chile sauce "sausage things" as mini "hot dogs" using mini croissants for the "dogs" and mini rolls for the "burgers". I can see them all on a tray litle burgers and dogs!

Forgot to say Stacy that you could be forgiven for buying frozen meatballs for the sliders...no need to make your own just simmer them in some store bought sauce.

Some great ideas here! Thanks everyone.

forgot to mention that one of the few things that I know about the whole thing is that one "entree" is meatballs and another is "pasta w/ sauce" and another is "chicken spaghetti".

No one around here makes mini rolls - and I"m not making that many, so I think mini burgers is out...I love the idea though, and will keep this for a smaller, more appreciative(?) group - and make my own mini buns.

Or am I being naiive? Is there an alternative to actual mini hamburger rolls? I can't think of any store bought rolls that would work.

Terri, I will check out your links as soon as my head stops pounding...been doing that all day...sigh.

I like the little wrapped hot dogs or in Linda's sauce, though. And the wrap sandwiches pinwheels...could do a variety - some kid ones and more adult ones...

I was thinking about spinach brownies - knowing Will loves them, but wondered about the other kids.

Maggie that dip sounds great.

Dawn, cornbread cups with chili and cheese sound awesome! I'm going to remember that one.

Jo, thanks for the warning about the toothpicks/swords - lol.

Got to go close my eyes a minute I have a weather headache today.

Stacy

Make your life simple - buy a box of 80 pigs in a blanket at BJs and make that. After the Sweet 16 party I just helped with a few weeks ago I can guarantee there won't be a single one left over. (Put out a few small bowls of ketchup and mustard if you want).

It was recommended by several people on this forum and it was the best suggestion I ever got

Alexa

This are delicious and everyone loves them. You can even make them ahead and freeze then just thaw and warm wrapped in foil.

Barbecue Beef Cups
Submitted by: Karen
Rated: 4 out of 5 by 383 members Prep Time: 15 Minutes
Cook Time: 25 Minutes Ready In: 40 Minutes
Yields: 6 servings
"Refrigerated biscuits are formed into cups, filled with a barbecued beef filling and topped with cheese. Serve for lunch or an anytime snack."
INGREDIENTS:
3/4 pound lean ground beef
1/2 cup barbeque sauce
1 tablespoon dried minced onion
1 t. brown sugar
1 (12 ounce) package
refrigerated biscuit dough
1/3 cup shredded Cheddar
cheese
DIRECTIONS:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease the cups of a muffin pan.
2. In a large heavy skillet over medium heat, cook beef until evenly brown. Drain excess fat. Stir in barbeque sauce and dried onion. Simmer for a few minutes over low heat.
3. Flatten each biscuit, and press into cups of the prepared muffin pan. Make sure the dough comes to the top of the pan. Spoon a portion of the meat mixture into each dough cup.
4. Bake in preheated oven for 12 minutes. Sprinkle with cheese, and bake for 3 more minutes.

too bad you aren't doing dessert you could bring brownies

(darfc)

Jesse - LOL . . . too funny!

Stacy, I almost mentioned spinach brownies too, but forgot. My kids love them and I served them at a holiday party last year and all the kids ate them. I cut them to just bite sized for parties. Good luck!

Hope your head is feeling better Stacy, are you in the Midwest too? The last few days have been awful for sinus headaches.

I make the mini hot dogs and sausages in sauce too, kids usually love them. I use a bottle of good quality sweet and sour sauce and add a few dollops of a hickory smoke flavor BBQ sauce to it, it's delicious! You have to be careful if your BBQ sauce is spicy though.

And mini buns for sliders, you can use the little Hawaiian Bread rolls! They are nice and soft and just the right size, much easier than making your own. If I'm going to spend time making rolls I hate to see them dunked in ketchup.