Slider Bar/Accompanying App & Side Q?s

Kirss

I am planning my daughter?s first birthday party. We?re inviting 50 people, 40 adults, 4 preteens, 6 under the age of 5.

I am thinking a slider bar with three different types (original burger slider, pulled pork, and chicken parm meatballs)

1.        - How many pounds/pieces of each flavor of sliders?

2.       - Do you think those 3 flavors would work well or should I change one out?

I?m also at a loss for side dishes and apps, how many and how much should I prepare?

*** Bonus points if you can think of garden names for the dishes; the theme is Rosie?s Rose Garden.  (Example ?Dirty? Dill Potatoes, ?Peony? Pizza Poppers, Fruitful Salad) 

 

Thanks for any suggestions/input  

TarHeels&Rebels

I would probably skip the meatballs and just serve the pork and burgers. Reasons: people aren't expecting meatballs, so they won't miss them when they aren't there; meatballs are messy, which can be bad for their clothes and your house; when cooking for 50 people, the less work the better.

If they're the main entree, I would count on 3 sliders per adult. 

For sides, what time of year? I know some moms begin planning the 1st bday when their children are just a couple months old. 

 

Kirss

TarHeels&Rebels:

I would probably skip the meatballs and just serve the pork and burgers. Reasons: people aren't expecting meatballs, so they won't miss them when they aren't there; meatballs are messy, which can be bad for their clothes and your house; when cooking for 50 people, the less work the better.

If they're the main entree, I would count on 3 sliders per adult. 

For sides, what time of year? I know some moms begin planning the 1st bday when their children are just a couple months old. 

 

Good point on the easy factor and eliminating the meatballs.

Her party is late October, in Michigan so who knows what the weather really is going to be like.  

TarHeels&Rebels

October makes for the best parties! I have a Christmas birthday and would love to have a fall birthday for the excuse to throw myself a party every year As it is, I just come up with some random excuse to throw a party lol.

Are you married to the sliders idea? I ask because BBQ and hamburgers don't say October to me. And, well, neither does a garden theme TBH. But two things do come to mind: using inexpensive pork and beef cuts as crockpot roasts or doing a couple good stews if the weather's cold.

With the roasts, I'd serve mashed potatoes, mac and cheese, and maybe green beans. And you know what? I'd get those sides catered. I've cooked for 50, and there's a lot to be said for letting someone else do basic cooking. By the time you've bought all the ingredients and invested hours of your life, the cost oftentimes comes out ahead for the caterer. (Particularly if the "caterer" is a sweet old lady who loves to cook and has been selling dishes from her home for 40 years - I love when I get invited to a party with a caterer like that!)  I'd do a seasonal green salad with cranberries, blue cheese and pecans. And don't forget rolls.

People get so excited about soups and chilis and it's my favorite way to serve a big crowd. This is my husband's favorite soup. Add a vegetable soup and a chili, and put out crackers and rolls and a salad and people will be happy.

Whatever you decide, classic apps like veggies and dip and cheese and crackers always go over well. They're classic for a reason! Serve your veggie dip in a hollowed out squash for some seasonal flair.

I think having cider is a must (along with some spiced rum for the adults ).

And how darling would this be for a bday cake?

I have two fall boards on my pinterest if you want to look - one for fall decor and one for fall recipes.

Kirss

TarHeels&Rebels:

October makes for the best parties! I have a Christmas birthday and would love to have a fall birthday for the excuse to throw myself a party every year As it is, I just come up with some random excuse to throw a party lol.

Are you married to the sliders idea? I ask because BBQ and hamburgers don't say October to me. And, well, neither does a garden theme TBH. But two things do come to mind: using inexpensive pork and beef cuts as crockpot roasts or doing a couple good stews if the weather's cold.

With the roasts, I'd serve mashed potatoes, mac and cheese, and maybe green beans. And you know what? I'd get those sides catered. I've cooked for 50, and there's a lot to be said for letting someone else do basic cooking. By the time you've bought all the ingredients and invested hours of your life, the cost oftentimes comes out ahead for the caterer. (Particularly if the "caterer" is a sweet old lady who loves to cook and has been selling dishes from her home for 40 years - I love when I get invited to a party with a caterer like that!)  I'd do a seasonal green salad with cranberries, blue cheese and pecans. And don't forget rolls.

People get so excited about soups and chilis and it's my favorite way to serve a big crowd. This is my husband's favorite soup. Add a vegetable soup and a chili, and put out crackers and rolls and a salad and people will be happy.

Whatever you decide, classic apps like veggies and dip and cheese and crackers always go over well. They're classic for a reason! Serve your veggie dip in a hollowed out squash for some seasonal flair.

I think having cider is a must (along with some spiced rum for the adults ).

And how darling would this be for a bday cake?

I have two fall boards on my pinterest if you want to look - one for fall decor and one for fall recipes.

 

October is my favorite month, I?m really happy that my water broke 5 days early to have an October baby. Can?t wait for when she?s older to have one of her birthdays at a cider mill/pumpkin patch.

Slider?s not ?married? to it however the garden theme definitely ? Birthday Girl's name is ROSElynn, so it?s ?Rosie?s Garden Party? it?s the only thing DH and I agreed on, and I think it?s perfect.

I love the idea with the squash dip bowl, I think it?d go great with the little glitter covered pumpkin/gourds.

I have to find one of those old lady caterers J I also love that cake, if we also have a Halloween party or for the next birthday party, that cake is going to be on the menu, too cute!

Thank you for all your suggestions, I really do appreciate it. 

Sue-n-Kevin

I think you could "marry" the ideas from TarHeels & yours. A few years ago I hosted a party for about 30 people for my then-fiance's mother's birthday. I made 2 large pot roasts according to directions I found online. I did them in the oven, but they could be done in a crockpot or dutch oven as well. I made a lot of "juice" by using those pre-packaged packets for Pot Roast from the grocery store (ie like McCormick's). I put potatoes, carrots and celery in the pan with the water & the roast. The water needs to be as high as the roast, or you'll have to turn it over half way through so it gets the crumbly texture you want. I used taller, large corningware baking dishes with the lids on to maintain the moisure.

Once the roasts were done, I cut them using an electric knife into slider sized pieces. I took the juices from the roasts and skimmed off the fat, poured off about half the water, and took the juices & veggies and blended them with a blender into a nice thick "gravy". I layred the sliced beef with the gravy in a large corningware container. I did this maybe a week before the party and froze it, thawing and cooking it before the party. I purchased the sweet Hawaiian rolls (perfectly "slider sized") and put that out with the sliced roast so people could make pot roast sandwiches. I also made a horseradish spread because some people like that with beef, as well as a blue cheese spread.

I like the side dish ideas above as well. If you live in Michigan, check out Gordon Food Service if you haven't. They sell large frozen aluminum chafing dishes with mac & cheese, potatoes, they are usually inexpensive and easy to cook. I think I may have purchased the rolls there as well. They also sell party paraphernalia for a large party, like plastic sheeting for tables, plates, plastic utensils, etc.

Personally cooking for that many people is a challenge. You want to enjoy the party. No one frowns upon someone who buys pre-made things.

Also, if you don't have a Costco membership, look into it. Their sheet cakes that serve 48 people generously are $17.99 the last time I purchased one. They have different mousse fillings and fabulous buttercream frosting. The have cute decor for kid's birthday parties, but I also know they have one with garden flowers all over the top in several colors.

Enjoy your child's first birthday. It is SO fun!

TarHeels&Rebels

Gracious, I'm slow this week! "Rose's" garden party is cute, and hello, there's a ticker right there with her age! Could you make it a fall garden with pumpkins and mums and squash?

I love @Sue-n-Kevin 's suggestion of pot roast-y sliders! I think something a little more fall-y while still keeping it casual is a great way to make it festive.