First Birthday food rec?

karatechrissy

I'm hosting my DS's first birthday party at our home in a couple of weeks. The party is from 3-? And will basically just be family and maybe 2 other couples (just close friends of our family). I was wondering what you would recommend I serve for food? I know it's around that dinner-ish time so I can't get away w just appetizers, and I don't want pizza for adults, but I don't want anything too difficult that I'm going to be having to deal with and miss a lot of my sweet boy's day. It is a Dr. Seuss theme, but I don't necessarily need to have food to match the theme. Just want everyone to be fed and not complain. The only kids there really will be my SS (6) and my DD (2). 

Jim&Jaime

I don't know if there's a reason you don't want to do pizza, but it can be a great option. I incorporated it into DS's last birthday rather nicely, if I do say so myself:

 http://jaimecooks.wordpress.com/2011/10/24/carter%E2%80%99s-3rd-birthday-pizza-party/

Magdala9

Our family parties tend to be buffets with a roasted meat (turkey, ham, roast beef), macaroni and cheese, a second pasta dish, two different vegetable dishes, two salads, a loaf of fresh bread, cake and two other desserts.  

For mother's day, I cooked a roast turkey with macaroni and cheese, angel air pasta with salmon and dill, sesame roast asparagus, steamed string beans with toasted pecans, homemade ciabatta, a spring salad (strawberries and spinach with poppy seed dressing), and lemon squares.  B & SIL brought a chocolate cake and a caesar salad.  S brought a fruit salad (as a dessert) and deviled eggs (as an app).  

purplelilacs2012

Our last family bday party was a baked potato bar with two varieties of chili, broccoli and cheese, and sour cream and butter. Throw in a couple of salads and you're set. We all loved it and it's pretty easy if you do a pot luck. Finished off with the family favorite - chocolate cake.

SpitsNGiggles

Crockpot bbq is easy. Put a pork loin in the crockpot & add a can of cherry coke or rootbeer & let it cook til done ( I do 8 hrs on low). Drain liquid, shred meat & add bbq sauce. You could do it the day before, then return to the crockpot to reaheat before the party.

alltheusernamesaretaken

I second the crock pot idea. What I do for the meal part of our parties is have a bbq pulled pork in the crock pot with the rolls, pickles, chips laid out on the side. People can help themselves and have as little or as much as they want. I make up the bbq pork the day before and then wash the crock pot and put the meat in a hour or two before the party to warm it up.

blu-eyedwife

My friend is throwing her son a first birthday party at the end of the month with a Seuss theme!  She's having a taco truck come though so less stress on her part.

For my son's first birthday we'll be having:

pinwheel sandwiches

hot dogs

cookies

cake

fruit salad

green salad

pretzel rods

marshmallow twists

 

 

edwardschristina87

I think pizza is a great option to look for as Jim said. You can have everything done quickly and nicely.

M&M227

We had pretzel tray, fruit / dip, pretzels, chips, pulled pork, chicken fingers, lunch meat, salad, pasta salad, and cupcakes for dessert.  We had about 40 people.

LoveLossHopeRepeat

We've made a variety of these over the past 5 years: burgers and hot dogs on the grill, chicken salad with croissants, shredded pork BBQ in the crockpot, pinwheels with veggie and non-veggie options, ham & cheese mini sandwiches (these things are incredible - Annie's Eats is one of many blogs to feature them), ChickfilA nugget tray, macaroni and cheese, shrimp pasta salad, potato salad, Caesar salad, spinach & artichoke dip, fruit trays, hummus with veggies, onion dip with chips, salsa and guac with tortilla chips.

Absolutely everything has gone over well with friends and family.