Baptism menu help

DomsMom09 · April 2011

I'm having Owen's baptism hopefully outdoors in June. I would prefer not to grill. Its mid afternoon, like 2:30 pm. Is it inappropriate not to offer a main dish and just have appetizers and cake? I'm working on a semi low budget. Thanks for your opinions in advance!

Adb6283 · April 2011

I think it depends on the guests/your family's style.

In my mind and with my side of the family, it's completely fine, but we can never do it that way b/c DH's side of the family would want more food than that and it would be looked upon negatively to not have enough food. Then again, his family tends to also give higher valued gifts in return, so it does end up making up for it.

With that said, here are some options I'm thinking might be good in either case:

- A big thing of salad (don't go crazy - just lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers maybe...and if your family likes olives add those)
- Fruit salad - Strawberries & blueberries are in season then and should be SUPER cheap. Slice those up, add in some melon and pineapple maybe. A little money will make a TON!
- Calzones - again, if you can make your own, can probably do it relatively in expensively.

If you decide to do a main dish, I did a chicken dish for G's baptism (Chicken with Sage Gravy on Pam's site which was the most labor intensive thing, but not too bad) and bought the big buy sets at Stop & Shop when they were on sale $1.49 per pound and then pounded them out and cut them in half to make more. I also did baked ziti (just cooked the ziti and put sauce on it and popped it in the oven to melt some cheese on top), meatballs (frozen pre-made ones in a crockpot), and lasagna. (Can you tell it was very Italian themed?)

My mom made a deli tray too, although not a lot was eaten and I think the deli tray cost more to make than anything else.

melissa4252008 · April 2011

I think it is totally appropriate. All we did for B's was have deli meat and cheese with little finger rolls so people could make sandwiches, chips, a garden salad and this chickpea and rice salad my Mom makes. We had iced tea and lemonade for drinks and a cake. It was really perfect and very simple. So I think something along those lines/appetizers and cake is totally fine.

Kris&Jay08 · April 2011

I think as long as you have enough apps (I don't mean a variety, I just mean in quantity) it is fine...Who doesn't love picky foods...Also, I consider bakery pizza an entree item, lol

pfal6 · April 2011

What time is the actual baptism? My question is only based on what time you think the party will be over. If it's a 2:30-4:30 event than I think apps and cake are fine as long as you have enough with a good variety. But if you think that people might hang out longer, like heading into 5 or 5:30, then you run into dinner time. I think you might find that you could spend more on apps than if you just did 2 basic dinner items. Pasta is generally cheap to serve in bulk. My mom always does a marinated turkey that is very easy and always a hit at parties. I serve it with rolls and it's done.

melissa4252008 · April 2011

Oh I agree with Pam that time of day could be a factor. Our baptism was right after 10:30 mass, so our reception at the house started just after noon. Hence the light lunch we provided.

DomsMom09 · April 2011

The ceremony is at 1:30, and my house is literally a 2 minute walk from the church, so I'm guessing it will be no later than a 2:30 start time at my house. End time is whenever people leave, but I'm gonna guess that it will be a relatively short event, 2 hours tops.

Wedding18 · April 2011

I agree with PP. It would depend on what is typical and expected from your family. I could never get away without having real food at a baptism. For Ella's I made a couple of lasagnas and meatballs and had a salad. I had other things too but that was the majority of the food. I think I may have made sausage and peppers. I can't remember now. Hmm. Anyway, it is up to you but I would think that most guests would expect a meal.

sacey21 · April 2011

I think it depends if the guests will also be at the church. If they are at the church with you and then go to your house for a party, then I think you need to have something somewhat substantial-even if it is just apps.

We catered my mom's 50th BD party for under $100 by ordering tacos from a local mexican place. We also made empanadas and had chips, salsa & guac.

For Liza's Dedication we ordered a few trays of food (chicken parm, meatballs, and chicken marsala) from a local deli and it was around $100 and fed about 30 people!

LoveOfMyLife04 · April 2011

I went to Walmart in Attleboro and bought the Sandwich ring and it was very good, it only cost $25 if you cut it in 1 ? slices 15-20 people and cake do a salad, pasta salad, etc. (We bought them from BJ?s as well).

You can do a Crockpot full of meatballs ? Bj?s sells a bag for $11 and they are not bad at all w/a side of pasta

MrsRoDeBa · April 2011

Kris&Jay08:
I think as long as you have enough apps (I don't mean a variety, I just mean in quantity) it is fine...Who doesn't love picky foods...Also, I consider bakery pizza an entree item, lol

This...and it sounds like it will be a mid-afternoon thing so doing that with cake & ice cream I think is fine. But as someone said it all depends on the family...they all have different expectations.

Baptism menu help

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