Anyone up to a menu challenge?

[cleo]

My brother is getting married in June. I volunteered to 'cater' his rehersal dinner for apx 25-30 people. Here's where the challenge comes in...

We'll be in Disney up until two days before the wedding. That leaves me an evening and a day to do it all, but I'll have helping hands and I can leave a shopping list so everything's ready when I get there. I'd like to do a meal rather than a buffet, but something that's not too heavy. If a few things can be made ahead of time and frozen, so much the better. I will also have a grill and a crock pot available.

So... a semi-formal meal that can be done in a short amount of time. Anyone up to the challenge? What would you serve?

 

[magic]

I have catered a bridal luncheon and rehearsal dinner for family before, it is alot of work but very appreciated.


A menu I have used is:

Chicken Divine
Uncle ben's wild rice
String beans with bacon and almonds
Fruit salad
rolls
Strawberry crepes for dessert

Chicken Divine:

Line bottom of pan with dried beef
Place a deboned-skinned chicken breat that has been wrapped in bacon on top
mix a container of sour cream and a can of cream of mushroom soup and pour over chicken
For 30 chicken breast you will need probably 4-5 makings of sour cream and soup.

Bake for 1 hour with foil over at 350 degrees, remove foil and bake for 30 more minutes.


Fruit Salad:

1 large can peaches
1 large can fruit cocktail
1 jar cherries
2-3 cups of walnuts (these are good soaked in a little apricot brandy)
4-5 bananas
3 cans of peach pie filling
1 bag of frozen or fresh strawberries
1 can of chunk pineapple
any other fresh fruit that looks good (kiwi, grapes)

mix all together and ref. till serving. This can be made early in the day.

 

[TigerBear]

Wow, that is quite a challenge! I'm not much of a cook so I can't really help with ideas, but please let us know what you decide to make. Good luck

 

[gina2000]

Cleo, I have a great recipe for phyllo triangles that can be made weeks ahead of time and then frozen. Pop them in the oven with butter and they are a great hor d'oeuvre.

Mesclun salad with dijon mustard dressing (easy to make)

Fillet mignon grilled (whole)

Shrimp wrapped in prosciutto, grilled

cous cous salad - served at room temp

asparagus dressed with olive oil and parmesian cheese

green beans, almondine


fresh fruit salad

ice cream

and another dessert - gotta think on it

Fairly easy, simple food that is elegant to boot.

 

[wdw_dine_junkie]

Recipe goldmine has menus for a crowd:

http://www.recipegoldmine.com/crowd/crowd.html

Maybe the beef tips or swiss steak as an entree? Or pasta for those who don't want beef? Pasta would be easy in big batches. A big roast beef is not too time consuming, only oven time.

I don't have any great appetizer recipes so I'll let someone else answer that one.

Off to salad... Caesar is easy. Another one of my favorites is a spinach salad with red onion, mandarin oranges, toasted pecans and bleu cheese crumbles. I use either a citrus or rasberry vinagrette. Both and can be mixed right before serving and put on individual plates.

Maybe a couple of cheesecakes for dessert?

Please let us know what you are serving. You are very brave!