Party Food! Easy Menu Ideas & Recipes for Gatherings

As I mentioned last week, I've been getting emails from friends and past clients wanting some menu ideas for upcoming parties they are hosting.  While personally I love smaller dinner parties and get togethers, many big moments in our lives are centered around larger gatherings - open houses, showers and parties.  Even the most seasoned hostess can get a little nervous preparing to entertain 50+ guests.  What kind of food, do I need staff, how much food, how much drink, what kind of decor?

In my catering days I dubbed my business as an Event Planning Co. that specialized in Small to Medium Sized parties in my Clients homes... so, I have lots of answers and solutions for these questions, but I forget to talk about them on the blog because they are a little out of my daily routine now.  I flipped back through the blog (even reached back 7 years!) and pulled some photos from old parties that I did for clients and a couple for myself.  You'll have to forgive the photo quality - most of these photos were taken with my Blackberry very long ago just before I threw off my apron and served drinks to guests.   

Entertaining for our friends is a big part of our life, and I can't wait to get back into the swing when our house is finished in a couple of weeks - it has been something we've really missed.  So, it has been nice for me to look back and relive some of these fun parties. 

Backyard Birthday

I created this event for a client's surprise 30th birthday party for her husband and for 60 guests.  We wanted the event to feel like a casual backyard barbecue that was a little more special than brats on the grill.  The guest of honor was a 30-year-old guy, so we picked all of his favorite foods, but dressed them up a bit.  For example, instead of "potato skins" we made potato canapés out of red potatoes and topped them with bacon, sour cream and chives, and instead of chicken wings, we made buffalo chicken skewers.  This would be a great menu for a high school or college graduation party, too!  More party details, here.

Menu :

Sliders
- Caramelized Onion & Blue Cheese
- Cheddar & Special Sauce
Buffalo Chicken Skewers
Potato Canapés with Bacon
Bowl of Cherries

Drinks :

Beers
Sangria
White Wine

Ladies Night Patio Party

I hosted this party for about 25 neighborhood girls a couple of years ago.  Everything was made ahead of time and I put the food out in a baskets and on platters to make it relaxed.  I spread the food out - some on the patio, some on the porch and some with the drinks in the kitchen so everyone could sort of graze and mingle.
Get all of the details and recipe links, here.

Menu :

Herbed Shrimp Skewers
Summer Tomato, Olive & Zucchini Bruschetta
Creamy Crab Dip & Veggies
Mini S'mores
White Wine & Peach Sangria

You might remember this setup from last summer - my current favorite easy entertaining menu.

 Menu :

Sliders
- BBQ & Onion Ring Burgers
- Classic American Cheeseburger
-Watermelon & Tomato Kebabs
-Guacamole Salad & Chips

Get more details and recipes, here.

I used the Privet Berry Folded Cards from my store to label them - always helpful at a party and an easy opportunity to give the food display some color from your theme.

Ladies Open House

This was a party I did for a Mission Hills client almost 7 years ago - I can remember it was the week after Mike and I moved in our first house and I was so thrilled to be able to make everything in my new kitchen.   It was an open house for a group of ladies in May - heavy hors d'oeuvres and cocktails.   Get all of the details, here.

 Menu :

Mini BLTs on Baquette
Mini Grilled Salmon Sliders with Caper Mayo
Artisan Cheese & Berry Platter with Homemade Cheddar Biscuits
Watermelon & Tomato Kebabs (a favorite I guess!)
Veggies & Creamy Corn Dip
Goat Cheese & Caramelized Onion Tarts

Mini BLTs a favorite of the women that night - and the Goat Cheese & Caramelized Onion Tarts.  I think I wrote out the recipe for a few.















I think cute signs always elevate the look of a food display for parties - makes it look a little more planned and professional.  I forgot how cute these were!

These Salmon Sliders were so good - very easy.  I grilled the salmon earlier in the day, then refrigerated it.  I served it on these mini rolls topped with caper lemon mayo.

This is a Game Day Party that I've featured several times on the blog.  I put it together just after we moved to Massachusetts and set it up on our patio.  It would also be a great menu and setup for a graduation party or a birthday.   You can get all of the details from the post, here.

Menu : 

Pulled Pork Sliders
Creamy Spinach with Tortilla Chips
Pigs in a Blanket with Mustard Dipping Sauce
Football Whoopie Pies
Pumpkin Beers

 I'm planning to do even more entertaining posts coming up - I'd love to hear about what you are planning!

Moscow Mist | Moscow Mule Cocktail with Sierra Mist for the Holidays

You probably recognize the name of this cocktail as Oprah's favorite.  Around our circle of friends, we know it as Chuck's favorite.  He loved it so much that he gave everyone Copper Mugs as wedding gifts.  Don't worry if you don't have a copper mugs, you can still make this great drink.

Moscow Mules usually contain sugar syrup - which involves melting sugar and water together.  To make it easier, I add Sierra Mist Natural as the sweetener instead of the sugar syrup... and did you know it is made with real sugar, no artificial ingredients, 100% natural flavoring?  The addition of Sierra Mist adds a light, sparkling touch without adding too much sweetness.  Your guests will love this potent cocktail that is refreshingly tart and very easy going down.  A sprig of rosemary dresses it up for the holidays!

Moscow Mist
with Sierra Mist Natural

1/2 lime, in wedges
1 ounce vodka
Fresh lime juice
1/4 cup ginger beer
1/4 cup of Sierra Mist
sprig of Rosemary

In a copper mug (if available), squeeze lime wedges, and put the entire wedges in the bottom of the glass.  Add ice.  Pour vodka over ice.  Top with ginger beer, Sierra Mist and stir.  Garnish with a sprig of rosemary.

I also made some other cocktails using Sierra Mist Natural:

Candy Cane Cranberry Cocktail
Meet Me At The Mist-letoe

THE CONTEST

Create your own Sierra Mist Natural Cocktail!  Share your most creative cocktail recipes with me for a chance to win a Sierra Mist Natural holiday gift pack (shaker, drink garnish/sugars, party glasses & a $50 AMEX Gift Card) to help them do their own holiday entertaining.  Leave a comment with a link to your cocktail recipe!

"Like" the Sierra Mist Natural Facebook for more cocktail recipe ideas!

*Sierra Mist provided me with compensation to include their product on my blog!

Cocktail Party Menu | Festive Cocktail Party Recipes for the Holiday Recipes

Cocktail Parties are the most popular way of entertaining during the Holidays.  When I envision the perfect Holiday Cocktail Party, I think about a bustling house all lit up with twinkle lights and candles, festive music, a special menu, fun cocktails and big glasses of wine or champagne.  When I was catering, I loved to take a minute and observe the ambiance of what we'd created - There is something so magical about how a house feels during a great holiday cocktail party.

Here are some of my tips for planning the menu for a Festive Holiday Cocktail Party : 

A Mini Meal

When I'm planning a cocktail menu, I like to think about it the same way I think about the menu for a dinner party.  I start with the 'entrees,' typically proteins like seafood and beef, and I pick 2-3 options.  Next, I think about side items - items that will compliment the entrees... cheeses, vegetables, starches.  I like to have items that are both filling, and easily eaten in a bite or two.

Here is my formula for putting together a Cocktail Party Menu :

- Seafood (1-2)
- Meat (Beef, Pork or Chicken) (1-2)
- Cheese & Vegetables (2-3)
- Sweet (1-2)

Think Sauces, Not Salsa

As with a dinner party, everything on the menu should go well on a plate together and taste great with a glass of wine - even the sauces.  Although tempting (and everyone does it...) try to avoid serving salsa type dips for the holidays - it doesn't go with much else than a margarita.  That being said, if you're having a very casual Christmas Open House and there'll be kids and soda - then salsa and cheese dip it is.  However, if you're having a festive Holiday Cocktail Party, stick to a menu that will be more complimentary with a cocktail.  Glad I got that off of my chest.  Whew!  Moving on...

Not Hot, Not Cold, Just Right

Another thing to consider is how the food will be served and what temperature it will be at its best.  Because I don't like the look of chaffing dishes, I like menu items that are best at room temperature.  If I do want to serve something that is best hot, then I do them passed around on a tray right after they come out of the oven.  It doesn't have to be a 'fancy' party to do passed hors d'oeuvres, you can think of it as a way to make the rounds to say hello to everyone and offer them bite of something special... I even do it at the most casual of events.  

 Holiday Cocktail Party Menu

Crab Stuffed Mushrooms (passed)

Roasted Shrimp Cocktail with Lemon Caper Cream Sauce

Beef Tenderloin with Horseradish Canapes

Caramelized Onion & Goat Cheese Tartlettes

Baked Brie with Caramelized Pecans in Puff Pastry

Artisan Cheese Platter with Berries and Flatbreads

Petite Cream Puffs topped with Fudge

Gingerbread Cookies

Crab Stuffed Mushrooms (passed) : These are so good!  They are creamy - similar to a Crab Rangoon filling.  

Beef Tenderloin with Horseradish Canapes : Such a classic.  They are a great filling option to have as your 'entree.'

 Roasted Shrimp Cocktail with Lemon Caper Cream Sauce : Better than the classic.  The roasting with salt and pepper gives it a rich flavor that is really nice with the Lemon Caper Cream Sauce (made with Sour Cream!)

Caramelized Onion & Goat Cheese Tartlettes : People love this.  It is surprisingly simple with great flavor... it is also impressive looking. 

Baked Brie with Caramelized Pecans in Puff Pastry

Petite Cream Puffs topped with Fudge : Bite-size, store-bought with a little chocolate icing embellishment.  Enough Said.

Pineapple Vanilla Flirtini with Pomegranate Seeds | Cocktails

Every great cocktail party needs a festive flirtini cocktail.  This not too sweet cocktail will be the hit of your Holiday party!

Pineapple Vanilla Flirtini 
with Pomegranate Seeds

2 cups of Pineapple Juice
1/2 cup of Vanilla Vodka
2 cups of Champagne or Sparkling Wine
Pomegranate Seeds

Stir together Pineapple juice, vodka and champagne.  Shake in ice before serving.  Top with Pomegranate seeds. 

Crab Cakes with Panko Bread Crumbs | Red Pepper Remoulade | Bite Sized Crab Cakes

Crab Cakes - they were always the first thing to go at my catering events.  I would have people chasing my staff down for another round of them... Why?  People love something they can pop in their mouth that is bite-size and filling.  Crab cakes are filling, flavorful and great with a drink.

Not having a cocktail party?  Larger Crab cakes are the perfect thing to serve for a dinner party along with a steak for a special dinner.  You can make them ahead of time and pop them in the oven right before dinner.  In fact, I would always recommend crab cakes and beef tenderloin as a great duet entree for weddings - some people can be squeemish around fish, but almost everyone loves crab cakes. 

Crab Cakes with Panko Bread Crumbs

1/2 cup of red onion, diced
1/2 cup of celery, diced
1/2 cup of red pepper, minced
2 tablespoons of parsley, diced
1/4 teaspoon tabasco
1 teaspoon of crab boil spice (Old Bay)
1/4 teaspoon of cayenne pepper
1 pound of lump crab meat (canned)
1/4 cup of mayo
1 egg
1 tablespoon of dijon
1 cup panko bread crumbs

Combine vegetables, crab meat, and parsley.

Entertaining | How to Set Up a Bar | Holiday Cocktail Party | Bar Tips | Self-Serve Bar

If you're entertaining for a small- to medium-sized group, a self-serve bar is the key to a stress-free party.

Tip #1 : Get out of the kitchen... I like to set the bar in a room other than the kitchen - I find that guests like to crowd into the kitchen and setting the bar in the family room helps them to circulate around the house.  

Tip #2 : Help Yourself...  Make sure you have all of the tools you need for guests to help themselves.  I use one type of glassware for wine, beer and water.  You could also include a pitcher of a pre-made holiday cocktail, if you're feeling festive.  

What you'll Need (right to left) : 

*Pitcher for water

*Snack : I have "Sweet & Salty Caramelized Cashews" served here in a silver bowl.

*Chilled Drinks : I use this large pewter bowl to chill a variety of seasonal beer and white wine.

*Wine & Beer Opener

*Linen Cocktail Napkins 

*Red Wine

*Glasses : I like to keep them organized on a single tray to keep the bar neat and organized during the party.

*Flowers : I always like to have something "fresh" in every room.  It adds special feeling to your display.  These are potted paperwhites - which I love because they will last the entire holiday season.

Holiday Cocktail Party | Light Bite-Sized Hors d'oeuvres | Christmas Cocktail Party Menu

This is a great holiday cocktail party menu.  All of the items work great at room temperature and can be prepared before hand.  I like to have all of the items made and swap out duplicate trays throughout the night to keep everything looking plentiful.

I set the food display on their dinning room table - I like to do one-sided buffets instead of 'circling' around the table - I find it looks more impressive from across the room.

These are puff pastry triangles topped with caramelized onions, a slice of tomato, goat cheese & basil.

Artisan Cheese Tray with berries - always an easy hit.  Along with big hunks of blue cheese, english cheddar and a wedge of smoked cheddar, I used hydrangea leaves to dress up the tray.

Steered Beef Tenderloin cubes and horseradish cream on top of puff pastry rounds.  These are fantastic and impressive.  They work great at room temperature - always important for a cocktail party food display.

Anti-pasta skewers - spicy sausage, fresh mozzarella, marinated artichokes, sun dried tomatoes and fresh basil.

Recipes | Casual Favorites | Mini Slider Burgers & Buffalo Chicken Satay

I prepared simple and casual sliders and satays that could be easily enjoyed without leaving the TV! Football season may be over, but these recipes will be perfect for those March Madness games...

It is very simple to prepare, both the sliders and the chicken can go into the oven at 425 degrees on baking sheets at the same time! I had them prepared ready to go into the oven before the party. When guests arrived, I had a crudites platter and a creamy spinach dip with tortilla chips, then served these about 1 hour into the game.

Mini Burger Sliders :

To make 24 mini burgers...

2 eggs

2 tablespoons of ketchup

1 tablespoon of dijon

2 teaspoons of salt

1 teaspoon of pepper

3 pounds of ground beef

Mix together eggs, ketchup, dijon and salt & pepper.

Add the ground beef and mix together with a fork - fluffing to keep mixture light.

Form burgers with a 2 ounce ice cream scoop. Lightly forming and placing them on a baking sheet. Bake the burgers at 425 degrees for 6-7 minutes, until slightly pink inside.

Above : photo from myrecipes.com - I forgot to take photos during the party!

Buffalo Chicken Satay :

These are great healthy alternatives to buffalo wings... they are skinless and baked!

2 pounds of skinless chicken tenderloins

1 tablespoon of olive oil

2 tablespoons of Franks Red Hot

1 tablespoon of parsley, chopped

Salt & Pepper

Mix together oil, franks red hot & parsley.

Cut chicken tenderloins in to 2 pieces and toss them in the hot sauce mixture. Skewer them on mini bamboo skewers and salt & pepper. Bake them on a baking sheet for 10 minutes at 425 degrees.

I serve these with ranch or blue cheese dressing!

Do you remember these Salmon Sliders from my Easy Hors d'oeuvres post? They are a great way to add a special element to your party!