Entertaining Ideas
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Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.
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Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.
What is your favorite make-the-day-before party food?
Hi, I mostly lurk on this board. 
I am throwing my daughter's 4th bday party on 1/8 and it starts at 10 (we had planned on the afternoon but a classmate is having a party at the exact same time and we don't want people to have to choose).
Having the house ready for guests and a party fully ready to go at 10 is early for me. So... I'm hoping to make as much of the food the day before and was wondering what ideas you all might have to share? I'm thinking of cutting up cheese to put out with crackers, a fruit tray, carrots & celery with ranch dip and buffalo chicken dip (which I'll prep the night before and warm in the crock pot), popcorn "chex" mix in cones. The kids will be aged 3.5 to 6 and each will have a parent. Party of 30+.
Thanks!
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Re: What is your favorite make-the-day-before party food?
These look fun for a kids party...
http://joelens.blogspot.com/2010/10/mac-cheese-muffins.html
The mac n cheese muffins can be served warm or at room temperature. (I haven't made them, but I want to!)
My first thought was the 50 pack of chicken nuggets from McDonald's- $10 and someone else makes them!
Honestly though, I would consider doing more breakfasty stuff. Especially since kids will have another party to hit. I also like the mac and cheese muffin idea for a lunch or breakfast.
I'm not sure how many people are going to dig into buffalo chicken at 10 am.
So here's what I'd probably do: get a spiral slice ham (for cheap right now) cook it and slice it up the day before. Serve either cold or warm with some nice rolls, swiss cheese and mustard. Add some veggie mini quiches; the mac and cheese muffins; apples, celery, and graham crackers with peanut butter dip; a hash brown casserole and a tossed salad. Or you could skip the veggie quiches and do deviled eggs.
When we threw a party for my five year old niece (My SIL had the flu so my B moved the party 3 blocks to our house), the biggest hit with the kids was warm biscuits and apples with peanut butter dip. We had 14 grown ups and 10 kids in the 2 to 7 range. They add up those before the pizza
The biscuits were from a refrigerator pack. The dip is a 3 oz block of softened light cream cheese 2/3 cup peanut butter and 1/4 to 1/2 cup plain yogurt. Blitz PB and CC and 1/4 cup yogurt in a blender. Add more yogurt until you reach dipping consistency. We served it with apple wedges and triscuits.
It needs to be refrigerated overnight and softened before the party. Leave on the counter to soften.
I have made mac and cheese muffins many time and they are always a hit. To avoid the sticky fingers factor, use paper cups.
When we threw a party for my five year old niece (My SIL had the flu so my B moved the party 3 blocks to our house), the biggest hit with the kids was warm biscuits and apples with peanut butter dip. We had 14 grown ups and 10 kids in the 2 to 7 range. They add up those before the pizza
The biscuits were from a refrigerator pack. The dip is a 3 oz block of softened light cream cheese 2/3 cup peanut butter and 1/4 to 1/2 cup plain yogurt. Blitz PB and CC and 1/4 cup yogurt in a blender. Add more yogurt until you reach dipping consistency. We served it with apple wedges and triscuits.
It needs to be refrigerated overnight and softened before the party. Leave on the counter to soften.
I have made mac and cheese muffins many times and they are always a hit. To avoid the sticky fingers factor, use paper cups.