Rough draft menu

6fsn

My baby is turning one in mid March and I'm digging the strawberry theme.  I'm starting to collect a few ideas for decor and favors and food.  It will be 30ish people arriving around noon and they usually stay until 6ish so we feed the people. 

For apps:  strawberry bruschetta, some sort of veggies and dip plus probably a shrimp dip and crackers.  Then these little pizza bites

For the meal: a baked hoagie (it's a gooseberry patch recipe with bread and meats and cheeses baked together), italian beef sandwiches, a strawberry spinach salad, broccoli tortellini salad, potato salad (?)

Dessert: strawberry cake pops (?), a giant chocolate cupcake with pink frosting, and mini strawberry pies

Thoughts?  Input?

Jim&Jaime

I like it, and I like that it incorporates a these while still making a complete meal for both kids and adults. Sounds delish!

notkateanymore

That's a really good menu. If you have any non-meat eaters, you don't really have a main dish for them...though they could probably make a full meal of all the sides and apps. 

A good dip for veggies is the Buttermilk Peppercorn dip from Martha's Hors d'oeuvres book.

 

6fsn

I should have mentioned there are no dietary restrictions.  (unless picky counts)

Lisa07033

What about a warm german potato salad I think it would work well with the beef sandwiches.

wejustwant2:)

So cute!  Your menu looks awesome.  Maybe add a Strawberry Punch?  I have a recipe from Taste of Home here somewhere... I'll look for it.  I didn't try it - but it looked delish.

wejustwant2:)

Found it... here you go. 

Strawberry Party Punch:

Ingredients:

6 cups fresh or frozen unsweetened strawberries, thawed

3/4 cup thawed limeade concentrate

1 can (6 oz). unsweetened pineapple juice

4 cups chilled lemon-lime soda

ice cubes - optional

 

1. Place strawberries in a food processor; cover and process until smooth.  Stir in limeade concentrate and pineapple juice.  Chill until serving.

2. Transfer to a punch bowl.  Just before serving stir in soda.  Serve over ice if desired.

HTH  - your menu makes me wish I had a spring/summer child...

 

6fsn

Mmmmmm that punch sounds delish.  We'll see what house we're in when the time comes and how much I care about my carpet   I did also consider the german potato salad because it's one of my favorites.  I could also easily convince my mom to make it.

notkateanymore

You have to let us know how the bruschetta is...sounds good and very different!

TarHeels&Rebels

Sorry for taking so long to respond.  Would you believe my brain's so full with the beginning of the semester that I haven't had the brain cells to de-strawberry the menu enough to see what's there?  How lame of me!!

The apps seem just a bit disjointed to me: strawberries + shrimp + pepperoni is kind of a wacky combo.  Strawberry bruschetta, check; veggies & dip, check; aaand that's where I feel like you need something more neutral than what you have listed.  Maybe the shrimp dip's ok in that list, but maybe not alongside pepperoni.

Lunch sounds good.  I'd keep the potato salad so you'd have a side besides the tortellini.

If labor gets intensive, I think you can scrap the strawberry pies (or the cake pops, whichever).

6fsn

I get what you mean about the apps.  The shrimp dip is really more just another veggie dip (kind of like hummus).  The pepperoni bites just sounded good and I thought it might sort of go with the hoagies and italian beef sandwiches.  I may have to save them. 

I can do the cakes and cake balls ahead of time and freeze.  I'm searching for an easy way to do the strawberry pies.  I was thinking about buying wonton wrappers, baking, then filling the morning of.  Or phyllo shells.  Something that would just leave me to chopping strawberries and dumping them in.

TarHeels&Rebels

6fsn:

I get what you mean about the apps.  The shrimp dip is really more just another veggie dip (kind of like hummus).  The pepperoni bites just sounded good and I thought it might sort of go with the hoagies and italian beef sandwiches.  I may have to save them. 

I get it now.  I think you're good then.

6fsn:

I can do the cakes and cake balls ahead of time and freeze.  I'm searching for an easy way to do the strawberry pies.  I was thinking about buying wonton wrappers, baking, then filling the morning of.  Or phyllo shells.  Something that would just leave me to chopping strawberries and dumping them in.

  

Since I don't think phyllo shells are terribly tasty, what about shortbread shells?  I've seen those in our freezer section.