Entertaining Ideas
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Dinner for High School Kids...
OK...so I am a first year theatre teacher and I have been nominated to host the annual UIL One Act Play dinner out my house. UILOAP is a big deal...so it needs to be a little "fancy" and special. I will be feeding about 17 kids and 4ish adults. What could I make that seems sit down and special, but that doesn't take a huge huge amount of time to prepare? I need entree, side dishes, and dessert....
Re: Dinner for High School Kids...
Could you do pizzas with fancy toppings like goat cheese and grilled veggies? With salad and cheese cake for dessert?
I think the challenge is pleasing 17 kids with "fancy" foods. I would go the italian route with some sort of pasta dish. And you do a house salad or ceasar. Or you could do a salad that's a little different with dried fruit/nuts/chesses. Tiramisu for dessert!
GL!
Ricotta Gnocchi with Rosemary Brown Butter Sauce paired with a green salad and Strawberry Napoleons with Chantilly Cream for dessert. The gnocchi are so heavy that the lightness of the dessert would balance it out.
ETA: I wouldn't try to do anything "kid-friendly". At that age, I very much wanted to come across as mature and adult, so if someone had tried to serve me chicken fingers and fries, I would have been highly offended.
My first thought was "Mystery dinner", but that would take some prep work, although fun!
I don't have any meal specific ideas though, I am sorry.
I agree with the italian idea. What about one dish with meat and one without? You could do either lasagna, stuffed shells, or a nicer baked ziti with colorful veggies. All of those could be made with meat or without. Plus you can prep ahead of time and just bake right before dinner.
Pair it with salad, garlic bread, and a desert. You could do bruschetta or an antipasto platter as an appetizer.
I really don't mean this to be snarky, and I apologize profusely if it comes across like I am, but if you're trying to do "fancy" or "gourmet" baked ziti and lasagna won't cut it. In all of the times I've been a guest, I can't remember a single time that I was impressed by either of those. However, I do like the idea of bruschetta or an antipasto platter and think that, if you decide on Italian, those would be a great addition to your menu.
Is there a budget? Any diet restrictions?
My first thought is a mocktail party. Instead of a sit down dinner make it a cocktail party with lots of apps and maybe a DIY carving station. You could have different stations with different themes- Italian, French, Greek, sushi. You could have some signature mocktails named for theatre things.
Whatever you decide remember that presentation and mood can make things fancier.
I do agree with kimnelson that baked ziti and lasagna isn't my fancy thought for fancy.
I would be careful with the whole "mocktail" thing. It's one thing for an adult or pregnant woman to enjoy one, but the idea of minors being served fake cocktails does not sit well with a lot of parents.
I'm not saying I'd personally be bent out of shape, but it's one thing for a child to order one of these out with their parents, but it's very different for a school group, or whatever, to provide something like this.
I agree that lasagna and ziti aren't necessarily "fancy", but doing anything I would consider really fancy for more than 20 people seems pretty challenging for me. I'm just getting into the cooking and entertaining thing though... so maybe it would be easier for someone with more experience.
I guess I just thought that you could take some more typical dishes and find more unique recipes to dress it up a little. By adding fancier sides/apps, it would make the dinner seem more special.
I like Kim's idea because it's a fancier pasta dish, it looks relatively easy, and it looks like it will appeal to most tastes.
I understand the mocktail thing. When I was in HS, we had a Luau with a Tiki bar. The school went nuts over the fact that we called it a Tiki "bar" and we were underage. Personally, I found it so stupid, since we only served pineapple juice and fruit punch, but I understand that some parents might not be ok with it.
Anyway, what if you do sparkling cider?
Do you know what the kids like? 17 is a lot of people to serve one thing that everyone will like. Do you need a vegeterian option?
Chicken with a mushroom/artichoke heart/lemon sauce is yummy and easy to do for a crowd, but some teens might not eat that. I have a recipe if you're interested. You could also do a sliced london broil with 2 or 3 sauces.
You could do a grilled veggie and mozarella tower for the vegeterians if you have any, or a pasta with pesto and veggies.
For sides, a green salad, roasted potatoes and sauteed green beans would likely appeal to most.
I agree about the mocktails...not to be a fuddy duddy, but why borrow trouble...don't do it. Keep it strictly rated G.
Is there a budget?? MAJOR concern when you are planning a menu for this many people
I love the bruschetta idea, how about stuffed mushrooms, crab cakes, melon and proscuitto, chicken skewers with peanut sauce, etc.
Entree: how about roasted new potatoes(and other assorted veggies if you want) with a big luscious salad, a grilled steak or chicken breast with a reduction sauce (there are hundreds to choose from) some great crusty bread, and herbed butter, olive oil for dipping. Dessert can be fancy-- creme brulee, triffle, a torte, or just get a cake with an inscription about the event.
I would do a punch and bottles of soda for beverages...they are kids after all.
A little fancy but simple.
I'd have to agree. It kinda promotes the idea that drinking is cool.
Though for the college age-group, I'd think it would be acceptable & totally fun!
I'd go with a theme, maybe Twilight....how fun:
http://tarastwilightparty.blogspot.com/
the idea of using a theme is a really bad idea. in highschool, these kids want to be seen as adults and if you choose to use a theme, it would remind them too much of being ten and going to a birthday party that was dora the explorer themed or w/e.
I would not go for lasagna or ziti. Yes, they are fast but no they are not impressive or "fancy". I would go for sushi or grilled tuna steak. Tuna is incredibly fast to cook and tastes great with a mango salsa and rice. Broccoli goes well with this dish.
You could even do a stir fry. And give them the option of Steak, Chicken or Vegetarian. This idea would be SUPER easy and cheap. If they go for the vegetarian be sure to add thinly sliced potatoes and tofu. One good appetizer for this (or side) would be sushi. Teenagers LOVE sushi. They sell it at Price Cutter's if you have one around you and the Better Homes and Garden's cookbook has a recipe for how to make it yourself which would cut down on cost. You could make it that morning, and throw it in the fridge while making the other things. Be sure to serve this idea with chopsticks!
For dessert, serve lemon sherbert with berries if you serve the tuna. With the sushi, serve chocolate fondue with bananas, strawberries, cubed pound cake, mini marshmallows and fortune cookies. Everything is better dipped in chocolate. This idea is really fast to prepare. And cheap. Simply put chocolate chips in a double boiler and stir until melted. Put chocolate into separate dishes for each kid to prevent cross contamination or put one dish per table so they don't have to stand up and congregate around one specific area.
I hope this helped!
ditto this, i wouldnt like the idea or cocktails being glamourized to my teenagers, if i were their parent.
and i disagree with the idea that the italian food wouldnt be fancy, if its presented fancy, itll be fancy, a super easy appetizer is sliced mozzerella cheese, sliced roma tomatos drizzled in balsamic vinager and sprinkled with shredded basil.
I teach FACS and do similar more formal events with classes. Below are some of their favorite dishes that seem "fancier" than they are difficult to prepare. Consider the atmosphere you set with room regarding table linens, background music, candles, fresh flowers etc. For most kids that is what makes the event seem special.
Assuming you have a moderate budget and no dietary restrictions:
Apps:
roasted garlic w/ brie & sundried tomatoes- easy super tasty
Mini crabcakes (premade frozen)
Ensalate bites
Tossed Salad (ranch dressing of course!)
Entree:
Porkloin w/ cranberry and mandarian oranges
Twice Baked Potato Casserole or reshelled
Sweet and Sour Green Beans
Rolls w/ strawberry butter
Desserts:
Cheesecake
Red velvet cake