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!

Weekly Menu | Chicken Chowder, Pork Tenderloin, Cherry Cupcakes & Spring Pasta

Remember when I used to do this every week... for, like, 8 weeks in a row?  You all loved it and said it was so helpful to you.  It was really helpful to me too - just taking a little extra time at the beginning of the week to get organized... which I've been terrible at lately.  Mike and I are feeling a little overwhelmed right now.  Much too much going on.  Great things, yes, but we've been majorly maxed out.  When that happens we tend to gravitate toward comfort foods - easy and filling.

Like most of America our dinners have looked a little like Steaks, Spaghetti, Tacos, Burgers, etc. a little too often lately.  Sometimes just coming up with what to make for dinner is too much to think about when you have a list of 100 things to be done and decisions to be made.  When we're overwhelmed easy is good, but now I'm even burned out on the easy stuff.  Besides burnout, I get so much pleasure out of coming up with and cooking a fresh dinner that the laziness of "easy" just doesn't satisfy.

So, here I am again.  Monday morning with a Menu for the Week!  I also love to hear what you are making - please share.  We all need some inspiration!

Monday :



Chicken Corn Chowder

This recipe says "Summer" but really sounds good to me this week.  I'll probably make a version of this with Chicken, Cheddar and Veggies.

Tuesday :

Pork Tenderloin

This might seem fancy, but really very easy.  I probably will make the pork with random roasted veggies.  Great on the grill, too.

Wednesday :



Cherry Blossom Cupcakes

Wednesday is going to be a lot of fun - making dessert for a dinner for women at The Sheffield Place, a shelter for homeless women and children.  I'll be joining them for dinner, so Mike and Emma will be on their own :)

Thursday :







































Spring Pasta

Friday :

We're headed to my parents house in Lexington for a Morel Mushroom Hunting weekend with the entire family... so next week, Morels will be on the menu.  Hopefully!

House Update | Trim, Tile, Stone & Paneling Complete

This is going to be quick - just a photo tour with a couple of comments (because I can't hep myself).  I just wanted to keep you in the loop on the latest house progress.  So many of you are so kind with your words of encouragement and excitement for us that I wanted to give you an update!  The trim carpenters finished last week and the painters swooped in the next day covering floors, filling nail holes and perfecting walls.  

I have to tell you the trim aspect of the house was transforming.  Transforming!  I had a completely humbling moment of - oh, it's too much, too nice, too pretty - when they had finished.  We had never lived with too much "fancy" before, and certainly don't need to.  Did we need to do all of this?  We could live with less.  We have lived happily with less in the past.  I've come to realize, while this home is a huge thing to us, I'm trying for it to not mean too much.  It is easy to get so engrossed in the planning, especially with what seem like huge sacrifices (time, money and energy).  But I'm consciously trying not to make it mean too much.  Does that sound strange?  I'm just trying to keep myself in check and not hold too much stock in something physical.  Thinking this way also takes pressure off of excess "needs" and "wants" at this stage in the game.  I am so happy with how everything has turned out.  So pleased.  It is amazing and we will cherish living there.  What I'm trying to say (maybe not quite so eloquently...) is our cup runeth over.  And over.  We'll never take it for granted and I'm hopeful that all of the careful planning and considerations will make our lives a bit brighter living in such a home.

So, back to the recap.  (Smooth transition, right...?)  The garage doors are in (have you seen these yet?  can't remember!).  I love how they turned out to look like two doors instead of one very large.  Will look even better with paint.  We ordered plain doors then had trim added.  It was very inexpensive to transform them from plain to carriage type doors - even under budget, if you can imagine.  I'll post about how I designed them laster.  The driveway was poured yesterday, so even this photo from Monday is dated!  Final deadline is approaching things are moving fast - yeah!

This is the entry... still debating on a fixture.  We opened up the foyer and lost a small linen closet, but I love the addition of the banister railing.  I didn't have my camera before the paper was put down on the floors, so the photos show a lovely red paper where the wood floors are : )

To the right (where the old garage was) is Mike's office.  The wood paneling is awesome.  We had it done in pine, so it has a soft graining.  It was my first choice, and actually the cheapest option... which I didn't even realize.  I love when that happens - not often enough.  We've picked a medium walnut stain with a matte finish.

I love this room.  Very small, but will be our cozy spot.

Back in old front living room looking into new big room.  Emma and I spent an entire afternoon there last week testing paint swatches in each room.  I don't know why I find paint so overwhelming, but I do!  I'll recap final paint choices next week when colors start going up.  



Old mantle replaced in old living room with new wood + stone to match the one in the new hearth area.  It really updated this old room... in an old way : )



Painters prepping in the kitchen.  You can see the beam treatment on the ceiling from this view.



I have to admit I was worried about the beams at first, but they have completely transformed the room and added so much character.  Might be my favorite part now.

Fast forward to the wood butcher block top on the island installed.  It is being stained right now - a medium provincial.  More details later.



Bad lighting : )  Range area.



Baking counter.  Favorite spot!



180 degrees from where I was standing (kitchen behind me now) and here is new fireplace.  The stone is local called, Kansas Field Stone... appropriately.

To the right of fireplace to table area, and into Mike's office.

Upstairs old bedroom - going to be painted all light blue, windows, base and walls.

Master bedroom.

 

Master Bathroom.  Tile complete!  I'm so glad we added the picture frame mouldings in here - really brought it up the next level.

 The splash detail on the vanity was a last minute decision and I love it!  Just a little curve.

Master shower.  You can see paint swatch on wall to the right - very creamy.  Above it was another shade I was considering... too white.  Why is paint so hard!

Emma's Bathroom Floor.  Seems darker in this photo than in real life.

Tiny Bathroom, but it works!  Again, all seems a little darker in this photo. 

Back of house with new porch.  I'll be back later in the week with details about butcher block, stain and paint decisions.  While I'm overwhelmed at times with all of the details, it is amazing to see our vision turn into a reality... and actually look as great as we hoped it would!  Thanks for joining me out or progress tour - just moments away from fixtures and finishings... it is about to get really fun!

Our Easter in Pictures

The Night Before Easter - treats for the Easter Bunny.  Carrots, Radishes, Strawberries and, yes, that is a yogurt pop.

This is just a little photo recap of our Easter festivities.  I'm not as good as I used to be at having my big camera with me at all times anymore.  Now that Emma is a full fledged kid, I feel that it takes me away from being in the moment more than it adds to it.  So, while we had 5 Easter Egg Hunts (and two birthday parties!) starting Thursday thru Easter evening, I only captured a couple of moments from the entire weekend.  And of course,  none of our family all decked out for Church or brunch.  Not even an iphone pic.  I do need to be better about that in the future.  

These photos are more for my memories than anything, so thanks for indulging me - I see this blog as a chronicle of our life and while most of them are posts about our home, recipes, products, etc. are mostly for you, these little snippets our real life are what keep me coming back : )  Enjoy.

 So giddy and wound up ready for the Easter Bunny!

Egg Hunt at Mimi's!

Egg Hunt at Aunt Phyllis's House

Great Grandma Ethel Mae giving Emma lemonade and chips - she knows the way to her heart!