What to Make for a Party?

How about "walking" tacos? Get the little bags of Doritos chips and have all the fixings available for tacos - meat, cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, onions, salsa, etc. Crunch up the chips, open the bag, add the fixings, and eat out of the bag with a fork. This way no one HAS to sit and eat and everyone can add what they like. Even go meatless for the vegetarian!

What I did for my son's birthday party for almost all adults (around 15) was buy some fried chicken from the Cub Foods deli. I think it's like $5.99 for 8 pieces, and I think I bought like 4 packs. I then just bought a big tub of potato salad and had some fruit, etc. It was easy and cheap and everyone really liked it. A suggestion...

Happy Birthday to Mylie! I agree with the suggestions for a taco bar. We did that for my son's 2nd birthday and had little bags of Frito's for the kids that they filled instead of the taco shell. We had the taco meat in a crock-pot so people could eat all afternoon. (Pampered Chef has some great
"freeze" platters/bowls that stay cold if your party is outdoors, or you could use a cake pan with ice and set the condiments in that to keep cool). We also had a ice-cream sundae bar as well- with all kinds of toppings. It was a blast! Enjoy the day- don't stress out too much, make sure you relax also!!

For one party, we did "brunch for dinner" and had made quiches the day before (both vegetarian and with meat since I'm a vegetarian), tons of fruit with fruit dips (the classic marshmellow cream with sour cream dip), plus had protein powder on hand and ice cream and tossed berries in and made everyone smoothies. We did, however, crank up the oven during the day and made over baked thick sliced french toast and maple bacon. The smoothies were still the favorite though. For an other party, we decided to grill the "main course" and had lined up a ton of platters on a banquet table full of raw meats, tofu, vegetables, and even some fruits like pineapple and fresh peaches and then skewers and everyone would make their own kabobs for us to grill. Since I had already pre cut everything and people were assembling their own as they desired, it was virtually effortless and they grill so very quickly and nicely, plus "grill side" conversation is always wonderful. I then offered a lot of cold salads (both tossed, fruit and pasta varieties) and bread. For those who aren't sensitive to artificial sweeteners and are watching our weight, I bought Crystal Light instead of making the usual punch. You could always do a Mexican Tapas bar, Hors D'oevres, or Chinese/Thai (lots of vegetarian options and you can easily do cold lo-mein dishes as well as spring rolls, etc. ). Just some ideas. What a wonderful hostess you are to be thinking so much on how to make it fun for your guests and yet not overwhelming for you!

I made a taco bar for a party one time. Kept the hamburger hot in a crock pot. Bought everything at Sam's club and it was very reasonable. Everyone loved it.

My son had the same problem. It took him a few times to get used to the new texture. I read on the gerber site that if you are trying to transition them to more solids that you should do a half and half feeding (meaning give him a spoonful of the 2nd foods and then a spoonful of 3rd foods). If he totally rejects the 3rd foods try again in a few days.

Good Luck!

We did a party that size and offered a taco bar. It was pretty simple with the ground beef taco meat (or you could offer chicken) in a crock pot or covered griddle to keep warm. What everyone loved was the huge selection of toppings (shredded lettuce, cheese, tomatoes, olives, jalapenos, sour cream, guac, taco sauce, etc.) We offered soft and hard shells and tortilla chips (some created loaded nachos instead of a taco) and salsa & queso.
Most you can prepare the day before.

My second son is turning 2 at the end of July too!
Jen

lots of responses...

1 you could do pulled pork or beef sandwiches, usually inexpensive, just buy the beef or pork and put it in the crockpot...(no oven), and you could serve chips, potato salad or cole slaw, baked beans, and fruit...

even though you don't want to do burgers & hot dogs, you could get away with it, as it is the season....

you could also do boneless chicken thighs (manager packs are great for your size group and being thighs it is cheaper), very good on the grill with Wee Willy's BBQ sauce put on 3 minutes before you pull them off the grill...Very Tasty.

Every year we have a barbecue for my daughters' B Day July 6th. We ask everyone to bring a dish to pass and we make chicken breast, hot dogs, brats and hamburgers. Why heat up the house with the oven on?
We even have veggie burgers or veggie kabobs for the vegetarians. In addition my daughter is having a sleep over this year. I know you don't want to go the hamburger route but its the most cost effective for us. We go to Aldi's for the hamburgers, hot dogs, and buns. We had a pinata last year and set up the slip and slide out back for the kids.

For my son's 2nd b-day I made sweet n sour meatballs (always a hit!) with white rice. The meatballs are precooked, preferrably home style not italian, 2 bags of those and 1 can of pineapples, cubed/diced, and 1 gallon of bbq sauce. Put them all in a crock pot and cook as directed on package of meatballs. Also, the white rice can be made in a rice cooker if you don't want to make it on a stove. Good Luck!

Tam

I love all the responses you've received already. Another idea would be the typical summertime cold salads - my 2 year old daughter loves Italian flavors and anything with pasta or cheese pieces. I think it would be easy enough to keep some salads vegetarian as well. Hope you have a great party!

I agree with others...a taco bar or the walking tacos (to reduce costs you can just have baggies and the larger bags of doritoes....the smaller bags of chips could prove costly????)

For the vegetarian (and others) get black beans...keep warm in a smaller crock pot, and make your meat ahead of time and keep warm in a larger crock pot (we buy a huge thing of taco seasoning at Sams...dry mix you add with water to the burger..very inexpensive and if you do tacos or taco salad alot like we do....very economical).

Last weekend we had a surprise 60th for my FIL...and we kept the cold things cold by having a very small kiddie swimming pool filled with ice..and the bowls of cold things set into the ice....stayed cold for many hours!

So meat, black beans, salsa, sour cream, shredded lettuce, cheese, tomoatoes, onions, black olives, guacamole, chips (or hard and soft shells if ya go that way)...baggies if ya do the walking variety...or toss away bowls and have it be a taco salad deal (lettuce is cheap).....sounds yummy......

Maybe do a whole Fiesta thing.......sounds easy and fun!

My problem with the BBQ parties (we have done several over the years) is that my husband never gets to participate much in the party cuz he spends the whole thing cooking or whatever...watching the grill...never a good combo with little kids running around (a hot grill).....

Have a great party!!!!

K., Our family loves to do anything in the crock pot. Super easy everyone gets to enjoy the party and pretty simple cleanup. One of our family favorites is the little weiners(kids just love that little size of hot dog) in B.B.Q sauce/Meatballs. We usaully have plenty of cold salads and Fruits and veggies to. We also love to do a punch bowl that we make a ice ring for. You put cherries in the bottom of a bundt cake pan and then put water in it and freeze it then in the punch bowl we get 1 jug of hawain punch(or something like that) and 1 jug of sprite/7up and mix it together and put the ice ring in. It is always a hit and goes pretty far since pop is so expensive. Good luck I hope she has a fantastic b-day

We have made a couple of pork roast in the crock pot(can even be done the day before). Shred up the pork and voila. You can spice them up however you would like ie, b-b-q, mexican and serve with tortillas and taco toppins, asian and throw it on top of a salad. This can also be one with chicken or beef. Keep it simple and save your sanity. Good luck and Happy Bithday to your little blessing. -H.

we have a dish that always goes over great for family gatherings and parties! It is super easy and very inexpensive! It is hot turkey or beef sandwiches. Like a sloppy joe but more classy! You buy a frozen butterball turkey breast ( I think it's like 3 lbs ) put that in your crock pot, add one can chicken broth and one packet zesty Italian seasoning. Cook it the night before on low, as the meat starts to cook start to shred it with a fork until it's all shredded up. Continue to cook on the low the juice will start to absorb in the meat. If you want beef follow all above just use beef broth instead of chicken. ( chuck roast seems to work best ) then we usually serve them with mayo, slice cheese, horseradish, lettuce and a bun! I also have some really easy dips that are impresive but take little time and money. Let me know if you'd like them! Good Luck with the party!

We just had our youngest son's 2nd birthday...and we had somewhat of a potluck. I made most of it myself--fruits and veggies, cocktail weinies, cream cheese pinwheels, and taco salad, and then my mom, stepmom, mother in law, and a grandmother-in-law each brought a dish. Worked out perfectly for the low-cost thing, and there was something for everyone. I had them bring: cheese potatoes, finger jello, a pasta salad, and ham and rolls. Most people (close relatives especially were more than happy to help us out). It saved me time, money, but made sure we had something that everyone would like. Good luck!

How about make your own subs and baked potatoes? You can have somne of the same fixings for both??

Yes, the taco bar is GREAT! We did that for my daughter's second birthday. We got everything at Sams such as tortilla, guacamole, nacho cheese (pour in to a crock and heat), et. It was very resonable and EASY!! Everyone LOVED it. We re-did the whole thing for Easter this year too.
C.

You could do a bunch of cold hors d'oeuvres? Perhaps some pinwheel sandwiches, cheese and cold meats, fruits, and veggies. Stuff like that. That way it's easy for the kids to eat and good for the adults as well. I don't know if that's any help. My daughter's first is coming up and I think we're going to do something like that, just because we don't want to have to worry about keeping a bunch of food hot..

K.,

I recently had to baby shower to throw and was in the same position about what to make (affordably) for 60 people. I ended up making tacos. They are inexpensive (especially if you go to sams or cost co) and people can put what they want on them. You will have to fire up the stove to cook the meat but, who doesnt like tacos?

T.

How about BBQ-ing? People love that and it's nice to hang out in the back yard. You could buy the beef patties already made or braats and buns, potato salad or chips. I also really like the taco bar idea. Who doesn't love tacos!?!?!

Good luck. Happy birthday to your little one!

I had a make your own wrap party a couple of years ago and it worked out great. I was able to make everything ahead of time, and it didn't require turning on the oven. I got the idea and recipes from cookinglight.com. Here's the link to the wrap party article: http://www.cookinglight.com/cooking/mp/entertaining/packa...
I made the Indian-spiced shrimp, Italian balsamic chicken, and Tuscan White beans as the main proteins. Then I made the mango salsa and antipasto salsa as condiments. I bought raita. I just added a mixed green salad to round out the meal.

How about Shish Kabobs? You could do Steak or Chicken. Lot's of veggies and that would be good for all.

Or pulled pork sandwiches.

Good luck!

A.

Two things I have done:

1) I made sandwiches ahead of time and used cookie cutters to cut out shapes or trimmed them to make tea sandwiches. I made three different varieties (ideas includes...ham and cheese, cheese, peanut butter/jelly, egg salad, tuna salad, turkey, etc.).

2) I made kabobs but ones that did not need to be cooked...just make sure parents know to remove the food from the kabob and cutting it before giving it to smaller kids. Here is a list of ideas:

fruit kabob (alternate 3 fruits of choice)
ham- cheddar cheese-pineapple
salami-green pepper-mozzarella cheese-black olive
turkey-baby corn-cherry tomato

I can't remember the other combo I included but the possibilities are endless. At that party I also served dinner rolls in a basket, a separate fruit tray, and some homemade chocolates (melt chocolate in a double boiler; spoon onto wax paper and sprinkle with chopped dried fruit, chopped nuts, and/or candied cherries). You can also do white chocolate, or dip some strawberries into the chocolate for variety. These can be made ahead and refrigerated.

We did fried chicken for your son's baptisim and everyone really liked it. We kept it warm in a crockpot or you could also serve it cold. Good luck with the Birthday party. C.