Meal Ideas for Baptism Reception

Tacos!!! You can make up a large amount of taco meat and have it warming up in the crock pot, and already have the toppings cut up in bowls in the fridge, and everything else already sitting out! Good luck!

Sounds like you already have some great ideas.

I was thinking of a crock pot chili that you could just throw together and let it cook while you're gone. Couple that with a sandwich tray (or sube from Jimmy John's... I love that place), and you're good to go.

Hi A.! We had about 12 people back to our house for lunch so we did a buffet brunch of quiche, cream cheese wrapped in smoked salmon, blueberry muffins, fruit salad and warm ham & cheese croissants. I baked everything like crazy the day before and then we just warmed it all as soon as we got home. Everyone stood around having drinks and the smoked salmon while we warmed the food. Now for my son's first birthday party I can't be bothered and we are getting subway platters! :)

I'm with Sandi...we did the deli rolls with a meat & cheese tray. Veggie & Fruit tray. You can also do quicky casseroles like cheezy potatoes (the one with the hash browns, sour cream and cheese), green bean casserole, potato salad, deviled eggs, relish tray, mushroom & rice casserole (you can do in crock pot) etc. The hot casseroles you can pop in the oven right before you leave and they will be ready when you get home.

I would also recommend having someone who is NOT going to be in the after pictures be the frontrunner back to your house to lay everything out. This was IMMENSELY helpful to me! That way by the time we got home with baby 1/2 our guests had already helped themselves to food and were making pleasant conversation. ;)

when both of my kids were baptized we just did the egg roll deli sandwiches and veges and dip fruit and dip type stuff

we also did the deli rolls with meat and cheese, we got ours at hen house and loved them. i like to make my own veggie tray, and we had cheese dip and chips.

Make up some vegetable beef or potato or cheesy broccoli soup that can be put in the crock pot, then when you get back make up some chili, since it doesn't take that long. You could have some baked potatoes in the oven or sausages and cheese in the fridge. Serve cheese, sour cream, sweet pickles and crackers and fritos on the side.

For my first son's baptsm we bought deli trays and brought them home the day before and right after the ceremony my sister headed to my house to set everything out. For my second son we actually ordered pasta dishes from Pizza Hut to be delivered to our house! THAT was super easy and no one had to rush anywhere. While we were still greeting everyone our food magically arrived and all we had to do was uncover it and stick a serving spoon in it! Add a salad and your done.

Lasagna, prepped the night before and cooking in the oven at 350 while you're at the baptism. salad which you put together in the morning and dress when you get home. And rolls and butter. Easy, a crowd pleaser and done!

When my kids were baptized, I made up a bunch of meatballs & put them in the crock pot and had another crock of cheesy potatoes. The meatballs can be made up in advance & frozen. Add the cheesy hash brown potatoes and a relish tray & you are good to go. I am not a baker so I did have someone make a cake. You may also want to have a meat & cheese tray out for people to munch on. Congrats!

What I did was put a roast in a crock pot and had roast beef sandwiches,potato salad,cole slaw.you can even have ham sandwiches.

For my grand-daughter's baptism, my daughter and I did most of the work the day before....cut the veggies and fruit,made other side dishes, cooked the mostaciolli noodles, made the sauce, chopped the toppings for the tossed salad etc. We previously ordered fried chicken from Shop N Save.
The day of the baptism, all we had to do was add the sauce to the pasta, throw it in a large electric roaster/crock, mix the green bean casserole together and put it into another large crock pot,,,,turned it on low, arranged the veggies on a tray, and went to church.
Upon arrival back at the house, we cranked the heat up on the crock pots and roasters, dumped all of the toppings into the salad greens, tossed the fruit salad together, put out the trays of veggies, put out the other side dishes....We had someone go pick up the fried chicken from Shop n Save on the way back to the house!

By the time the chicken arrived, everyone had had a few hors'd'ouevres, had gotten something to drink, and were ready to eat. Perfect timing!! But it removed a lot of the last-minute stress when we all got back to the house. That way, the baby's parents can actually enjoy their company a little bit more, instead of being stuck in the kitchen the first couple of hours. :)

I concur with the sandwich platter. When my son had his first communion, we placed an order with Jimmy John's. They even deliver! We picked up because it was right by the house. No stress about food added to the day was nice. All we had to do is get ourselves ready and go.
Alternatively, you could make something that could be put in the crock pot to keep warm while you are gone.

Hey I have one for you...it's my mom's, she makes it for every reception/get-together, if you have a really large group, she would frequently buy a big aluminum pan at the grocery store, then it would hold everything and could be disposed of when done. It's baked ziti, so you cook the pasta (~1lb/1jar of sauce/1lb meat/veggie). If you used jarred sauce you don't have to cook it first (it already is and when it bakes it will be good). Brown the meat, we used half beef/pork, mixed with Italian bread crumbs, an egg, garlic, parsley, basil (if you opt for vegetarian, I either shred squash or chop eggplant, whatever, but I would cook it in the sauce for a little while before mixing, you don't want to brown it). Then layer in a dish, pasta-sauce/meat mix-moz cheese, then another layer, these should be just one layer of pasta thick so you can get a bunch of layers in there. Once all layered, mixed together with large spoon and top to cover with moz cheese. At this point it goes in the fridge, covered (plastic wrap is fine) until your ready to use it, then from the fridge it's 20' in the oven at 350. This way you have it ready and can throw it in the oven as soon as the first person gets back to the house and it's ready to go. I would not refrigerate it more than 24-hrs, it's not as good. Congrats!! If you want more details...let me know!

Good Morning A., for myself when we have parties or special times I get subway platters. They feed about 20-25 people for $20.00. Can get a variety or one type.
Pick up some salads at Wal-mart or Dillon's, chips etc..
It's good and very simple to get ready for. Your not spending all your time in the kitchen getting things finished or prepared. You get to visit and celebrate with your friends and family

My Brother, Sister and I are hosting a Surprise Birthday Party for our Step dad this weekend, this is what we are doing. So much easier and cheaper then catering or cooking our selves.

God Bless you and your family on this special occasion.

K. Nana of 5

we have a large extended family...with my husband's side totally more than 35 just with siblings & their kids. So we're used to serving 50 people at a pop.

To do this, we rely on simple recipes prepared in modern conveniences. We toss a huge turkey or ham in the electric roaster (ham works better 'cuz it doesn't need to brown), we throw meatballs or shredded smoked meat (smoked the day before) with some bbq sauce in the crockpot, & we order in 50pcs of chicken. We also use a #10 can of green beans in another crockpot....doctored up with onion, garlic, cracked pepper, bacon, & a little bit of red wine vinegar & brown sugar....it's a delicious update on the more traditional green beans & always receives rave reviews. We also serve all of the side dishes made the day before: potato salad (treasured family recipe!), a mixed green salad, relish tray, vegies & dip, fresh bread, & usually some type of fruit tray or compote. It's definitely a "comfort" meal...& smells wonderful when we walk in!

This game plan is proven quality....& has worked for us for the past 30 years. We change up the menu on a regular basis, always adding in new & exciting side dishes. We've also substituted hot sauce for the bbq sauce....& have also been known to try redeye gravy, whiskey sauce, & many others. The whole key is to do all prep prior to the party. Sometimes this is a challenge, as it was with my older son's 1st Communion - I was at the end of my 2nd trimester....& had premature labor from that day on! But it was one of the best menus I've ever put together & is still talked about today.... I consider this a tribute not only to me, but also for my Mother/Grandmother who both taught me how to throw a party! & the importance of being able to feed a crowd....

Oh, & for dessert: check out the websites for Betty Crocker, Duncan Hines, etc.....I have never/ever had a cake that failed using their recipes. & as always, feel free to contact me if you want actual recipes/ideas! Have fun!

I suggest BBQ pork. You just put a pork roast in a crockpot with a can of pop (not diet) and a jar of BBQ sauce and let it cook. After the meat is cooked you just shred the meat. You could even make it up the night before. Just serve with buns, BBQ sauce, chips and baked beans. Congrats to your LO. We dedicated my LO last Sunday.

I want to go have lunch at Annie's house! It sounds delicious! :)

Seriously, I was going to suggest almost the same thing! I love "brunch" type meals - regardless of the time of day!

Italian Beef served on hard rolls is really easy. You could put it in the crock pot the day before and have it ready to go the day of the Baptizm. Its not only a favorite of many and very simple to make but the aroma in your home will be amazing!
Here's one recipe: http://southernfood.about.com/od/crockpotbeefrecipes/r/bl....
I've made it without the salad dressing and canned broth and it's just as good.
Blessings for your son!

Hi A.,
Depending on the # of folks, perhaps crockpot lasagna would work (or more than 1 if you have a LOT of people)? The recipe we use takes about 4-5 hours on low and it's great and the house smells good too (I'm actually making that now for a birthday party tonight)! Then you can pair it with a few sides, or just salad and garlic bread and you're done. Good luck!
R.

we had people back at the house after my son's baptism and we just had lee's chicken catering. it worked great, they bring cups and plates and silverwear and plates and serving utensils, with chicken and biscuits and whatever sides you want as well as their tea~ this was a good idea. hope everything works out and good luck. if you are looking for something to have cooking while you are there, i would say maybe some meatballs or something in a slowcooker. im not sure how many people you are going to have coming over, but also like a mustacholi(spelling is way off sorry) and some bread. or i mean if worse comes to worse, little cesars has 5 dollar hot n ready pizza! congrats on the baptism!

When we have events like that, we usually order food from P'sghetti's in South County. We usually get a couple of their sub sandwiches and a big pot of the mostacolli. If you picked up the food before the baptism, you could put whatever pasta you get in a crock pot on low setting to keep it warm. Then just cut up the sandwich when you're ready to eat. Add a couple bags of chips or cole slaw, potato salad or baked beans - all of which are really easy to make the day before - and you've got a meal everyone likes.

Enjoy your day!