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.
baby shower ideas for food
Hi everyone -
I am new to the nest (married 3 weeks now), but was a frequent on theknot's DIY board. I am throwing my new sister in law a baby shower (this is her first, and the first grandchild for my in-laws as well as her parents) in November. I am trying to set my menu for a Saturday afternoon shower (2pm). So far I have:
cheese plate with some fruit (grapes, strawberries and/or apples)
chocolate dipped apple slices
lemon squares
pasta salad
what are some great finger foods that you've had at showers?
Re: baby shower ideas for food
What sort of shower are you going for? At 2 I'm assuming you just sort of want some apps and snacky food? Is there a reason you've picked the things you have? Does the mom-to-be have any aversions or has she developed diabetes?
I'll be honest that it's sort of an odd mix. Unless these are specific requests I'd start by dumping the pasta salad. I like the other stuff, but it's fruit and cheese. I'd probably add a couple of little hot items maybe something with meat and some sort of veggie.
I'm thinking maybe a shrimp cocktail or a shrimp dip (the dip is good because you can use it with a veg tray and bread). I saw Paula Deen do a little sauteed spinach, mushroom, cheese, spread on puff pastry sliced and baked that looked really good/easy/appropriate. Depending on logistics I'd also consider something wrapped in bacon (chicken, water chestnuts)
Welcome
Are you set on doing an afternoon shower? The brunch menu I posted below is super easy. I built it off a baby shower I went to that was similar to it
Don't forget fall flavors - everyone loves pumpkin and spice flavors and a November shower is the perfect place to use them.
I might revise the menu to look like this:
crackers and cheese
fruit, some of which can be chocolate dipped
a spinach puff pastry thing like 6 mentioned
salted nuts
pumpkin fluff with cinnamon graham crackers
Think twice about using pasta salad - the menu I created doesn't require forks - if you had pasta salad or something similar, you'll need to break out the forks.
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At 2:00 pm, I would still serve a lunch. However, I think you need to have variety and a good amount of food. For example, I don't think Tar Heels had much of an offering and that is probably why everything went.
I would think:
Appetizers- cheese/crackers tray, vegetable tray, fruit tray, and a maybe 3 other things as well.
Light Lunch- ham or sandwiches, green salad, pasta salad, rolls, cheese, and another salad. This is if you don't want to serve a wam meal.
Dessert- cake, cookies, coffee/tea etc.....
Beverages - soda, bottled water, iced tea, wine etc.....
Most showers I go to are a full meal (including hot dishes). Good luck! Either way, it will great and a very kind gesture for the mother to be!
Whoa, I think we've gone from one extreme to the other here. IMHO, 2:00 p.m says heavy apps and dessert. So, you could start with what TarHeels suggested, and then add a couple things like Kentucky Hot Brown Bites, sausage balls, stuffed mushrooms, veggie tray, fruit tray, Mini Fruit Pizzas, and/or cupcake/cake. Again, not all, just 2 or three. I think it would round things out and fill up your guests during this inbetween time.
Also, you did't mention drinks, but champagne is always a hit.
So I'm sort of stunned.
Regional differences in entertaining are very real. I'm going to guess you're from Pennsylvania, Ohio, NJ, that part of the country? You guys there really have a thing for serving A TON of food at all meals for all occasions, no matter what. It's not right or wrong, it's just your local tradition. It might not make sense to me personally, but I'm not going to insult your party if you do it that way.
My guests had a fabulous time. The compliments didn't stop from the time people walked in the door til the time they left. People ate everything because after years of honing my skills, I've finally mastered quantities, not because I didn't offer enough food. Guys (straight ones lol) actually got out their cell phones yesterday to snap pics of the table before we ate because they were so excited and wanted to show their fiancees and moms.
Entertaining is really expensive. Unless OP's from your part of the country, people coming to her party won't expect a full meal and she'll waste food if she plans for it. After years of entertaining and posting successes and failures on here, I can tell you there's a lot to be said for a simple menu, elegantly displayed.
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Well, you're stunned, because this was a little rude.
There are regional and familial differences in entertaining. That's why I was asking the op what she was going for. I'm from Oh and can't imagine 2 pm being any sort of mealtime.
There's nothing wrong with stating your opinion. Example: "I don't think lemon squares are a good fit for a November party." Inoffensive and helpful. Example: "We typically serve more food at parties here - I'd like to see you offer more dishes." Inoffensive and helpful.
But it is rude to insult someone's party and say they didn't offer enough food and enough of a variety, especially when you had nothing constructive to say before the party. (I checked my three planning posts - you didn't respond to any of them.) Your words: "I don't think Tar Heels had much of an offering and that is probably why everything went."
While I think your suggested menu above is too much, I wouldn't have said a word if you hadn't insulted my party. My post above is in direct response to your comment about me.
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It's Jaime. Thanks!
Ok, Jaime
Ladies - Thank you for all of your opinions. While this is my first baby shower with this family (it will be all DH's side of the family), I have been to several bridal showers. Most of them have been thrown starting at 2-3pm and offer a decent number of hearty apps/finger foods. Certainly some of which have required forks, but not necessarily needing knives as well.
While I am hoping to stay with a fall theme/inspired menu and have done a lot of research on fall apps since my original post, the mother to be has chosen yellow and grey as her color palate, and lemon squares fit with that. I also don't think lemon squares are ever a bad idea as I love them, and are a nice, light ending to a heartier fall menu.