Frequently Asked Questions

1. QUESTION:
   Does anyone have any wedding food ideas to share?
   We are having a small wedding and reception. About 50 people. Food budget is about 250$, 5$ a person. Looking for some fun, easy, satisfying food ideas. Anything goes really, we are not very picky eaters.

   • ANSWER:
     Mexican food (enchiladas,rice beans) or pasta would be the cheapest.A buffet style with most of the focus on desserts would be cheap too.

2. QUESTION:
   Wedding food ideas that don’t cost an arm and a leg?
   Im getting married June 16th of 2012 and need some ideas for REGULAR country type food for my wedding, I don’t want anything fancy that I cant pronounce or anything like that.

   • ANSWER:
     Country food, are you talking about southern cooking? Also are you having this catered? There is a lot of info left out but if you are looking for Southern cooking:

     Gumbo
     Crayfish
     Shrimp and Grits
     Fried Chicken
     Collard Greens
     Mac and Cheese
     Mashed Potatoes
     Chicken and Waffles
     BBQ ( Chicken, pulled pork, ribs)

     Just depends on exactly what you are looking for.

3. QUESTION:
   Wedding food ideas on a budget~buffet style?
   Hi,
   I am getting married in September and we are on a pretty tight budget, I am wondering if anyone has any ideas for classy looking food for a buffet style reception? Thanks

   • ANSWER:
     Well idk if this is classified as classy. But i am also getting married in September & i am just having finger foods. Mini sandwiches, mini bbq weenies, chips & dip, mini pin wheels, etc. Just small things.

4. QUESTION:
   What are some wedding food ideas? ?
   I don’t want any chicken or fish-and I am having a large wedding so I can’t afford lobster or steak. What are some ideas? Preferably that my family could make since we are trying to save money on a caterer.

   • ANSWER:
     have finger foods
     wings
     spinach dip and breads
     cheeses and cracker plates
     fruit platters
     shrimp and sauce
     crab patties
     mushroom pastries
     cookies
     stuffed mushrooms
     finger sandwiches

     or perhaps you could have lasagna and salads?

     some people have cold plates…..cold meats(turkey, ham, roast beef and potato salads)I think it is gross but people do it

     buffet…..get each family member make something

     have it early in the day and just have tea and cookies/dessert?

5. QUESTION:
   Wedding reception food ideas?
   I am getting married in March and plan on preparing my own food for the reception. I have a few ideas, but wouldd like other recipes, and centerpiece ideas.

   • ANSWER:
     I am getting married next year and am planning to have a Hors D’oeuvres reception menu because I want the food to be fun yet satisfying without weighing down my guests.

     So, we’re thinking of foods like: chicken wings, egg rolls & spring rolls, summer rolls, chicken & beef kebabs w/ rice pilaf, samosas & veggie and fruit platters. These foods are very easy to make yourself. I am going to try to make some of them myself and then cater the rest.

     Also, think cash bar instead of open bar for drinks. It will save a lot of money. Good luck!

6. QUESTION:
   Wedding food ideas for pavilion at nice park?
   we are bbq’ing,but need some more ideas for sides.

   • ANSWER:
     wedding food should always be a little more elegant than regular picnic or party food, so add elegant touches to it by using curly kale to edge your platters.

     for fruit, melon baskets are still nice…directions for cutting a watermelon basket online. fill it with watermelon, cantaloupe, and honey dew balls. or make fruit kabobs with strawberries, pineapple, and blueberries or melon kabobs on skewers.

     macaroni salad is a nice side for a wedding bbq. also very nice are stuffed cherry tomatoes….they can be stuffed with cheese, tuna salad, egg salad, crab or ham salad.

     for a veggie tray, put things that are colorful and contrasting out…like black olives, gerkin pickles, baby carrots, brocolli spears, sliced mushrooms, yellow squash or yellow peppers, graper tomatoes.

     of course you can always add potatoe salad and cole slaw. again, the way it is served and displayed is the main thing.

7. QUESTION:
   Does anyone have any ideas on some recipes for finger food for a wedding reception?
   I need some help finding finger food ideas for a wedding but something that doesn’t caost a lot…Money is tight.

   • ANSWER:
     what I’m thinking about doing is ordering a huge platter or orange chicken and a bunch of spring rolls and from panda express (our fave place) and sticking a tooth pick in the chicken and cut up sections of the spring rolls. If you don’t like Chinese food you can try the same idea from different tastes.
     Japanese-sushi,
     Italian- ravoli
     Mexican- mini tacos

     and so on.
     or if you have a sandwich maker you can make gourmet grilled cheese.

     butter the out side of the bread (I like to use french bread but basic white is cheaper)
     fill the inside with cheese and a thinly cut slice of ham (I like smoky ham not any sweet or honey taste weird for some reason)

     the sandwich maker should seal the edges and already cut the sandwiches in 4ths. I like to use marinara sauce or vodka sauce to dip it. You could make different flavors with different cheese or spreads.

     Or if you don’t want to bother or don’t have time you could go to almost any grocery store and look at their food platters.

     hope I helped.

8. QUESTION:
   What are some inexpensive wedding reception food ideas for 200 people?
   Im trying to help my friend who is having a wedding in a few months and she has a strict budget.
   Yeah its kind of too late to not invite people. I just heard about her wedding woes today and she cant uninvite people. So how about pasta, bread, salad, and dessert? That would be good right?

   • ANSWER:
     A buffet of finger foods. Use the cake as dessert and just line up plates of sandwiches, seafood, treats, dip etc.

9. QUESTION:
   wedding food ideas?
   ok we are getting married in october and its at 4:30 and we want to do a buffet style.
   i want to do turkey(sliced) and ham(sliced) and some potatoes
   baked beans, cole slaw,rolls and butter
   but what kind of potatoes, roasted red potatoes, mashed, baked?
   any other good ideas that we could use.
   i want it too be easy and cheap like all they have to do is just set it out and eat!!

   thanks so much:)

   • ANSWER:
     This is a really good recipe

     HERB-ROASTED NEW POTATOES
     Yield: 6 Servings

     1 lb 14 oz small red potatoes,
     .unpeeled (or russets)
     1/4 c Chopped fresh basil or 1 tsp
     .dried basil
     1 tb Chopped fresh oregano or 1
     .tsp dried
     1 tb Olive oil
     1/2 ts Salt
     1/4 ts Black pepper
     2 1/4 oz Grated parmesan cheese

     1. Preheat oven to 425F. Cut the potatoes into 6-8 wedges each.

     2. In a large bowl, combine the basil, oregano,oil,salt and pepper.
     Add the potatoes and toss to combine.

     3. Place the potatoes on a nonstick baking sheet and sprinkle with
     parmesan cheese.

     4. Bake for 20-25 minutes of until tender and golden brown.

     VARIATION: Instead of red potatoes, use small Yukon Gold or Finnish
     Yellow potatoes, both of which have yellow flesh. Substitute 2 t.
     chopped dried rosemary for the basil and oregano.

10. QUESTION:
    who can give some Wedding rehersal food ideas?
    We want to have a beach wedding it isn’t 100% sure because if the weather isn’t right we will find a new place..But i was thinking fried cabbage baked and baked or bbq chicken maybe both any ideas??

    • ANSWER:
      For a wedding rehearsal dinner, you don’t want the evening to be too time-consumed preparing food…after all…the wedding is the next day, right?

      Basically, serve whatever you want as long as you know it will be enjoyed by everyone. People have even done a potluck…or they do an Italian theme with pizza or lasagna and salad and rolls.

      Best wishes for a happy marriage….regardless of whether it’s on the beach or not .

11. QUESTION:
    I’m looking for wedding food ideas?
    My sister is getting married mid-March 2010, and we’re looking for some food ideas for the reception. We’re tired of the same old – same old “Chicken, Beef, Fish” ideas…
    We want to think outside the box. Pasta? Brunch? Her wedding will be very beautiful and traditional, and we don’t want to ‘dumb down’ the reception… we just want some non-traditional food ideas.
    Any suggestions? Been to any wedding that served something different & you loved it?

    • ANSWER:
      Stations are becoming increasingly popular choices for weddings.
      They are set up all over the reception site. Each station serves a different type of food, so you could have anything from a pasta station to a fajita station to a carving station.

      If that idea doesn’t appeal to you, serving lunch, cocktails/appetizers, or brunch is another unique idea.

      I have never been to a wedding that went outside the traditional beef, chicken, fish entrees, but I have spoken to people who have been to a wedding with stations, and according to them, it’s been the best wedding they’ve ever been to.

12. QUESTION:
    need help with food ideas for a wedding reception?
    i need help with figuring out some food to go at a wedding reception…perfereably not messy and some thing i can do at home….if some one has some recipes or ideas please share them or im me or email

    • ANSWER:
      SHERRY CHICKEN
      Serves 4 to 6
      Bake 350 degrees
      Bake time 1 hour.

      Ingredients:
      6 medium chicken breasts (skinned and boned)
      1 can cream of mushroom soup
      1 1/3 cup sour cream
      1/2-cup cooking sherry

      Methods:
      Place chicken in greased baking dish. Combine remaining ingredients and pour over chicken. Bake for 1 hour.

      SWEET SOUR PORK CHOPS
      Serves 6 to 8
      Bake 350 degrees
      Bake time: 1 Hour

      Ingredients:
      6 to 8 thick pork chops
      1/4-cup soy sauce
      1/4-cup chili sauce
      1/4-cup Honey

      Methods:
      Mix honey, soy sauce, and chili sauces. Place pork chops in greased 3-quart casserole. Pour mixture over chops. Bake for 1 hour

      PORK TENDERLOIN
      Serves 6 to 8
      Bake 325 Degrees
      5 Hours

      Ingredients:
      3 pounds pork tenderloin
      1 can (15 ounces) Tomato Sauce
      1 package dry onion soup mix
      2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce

      Methods:
      Place tenderloin strips on aluminum foil. Mix remaining ingredients; spread over meat. Seal foil and place in shallow pan. Bake for 5 hours. Cut meat into 1-inch slices. Pour gravy in pan over slices of meat.

      TANGY ITALIAN MUSHROOMS
      6 Servings

      Ingredients:
      2 cups fresh mushrooms (sliced)
      ½-cup Fat Free Italian Dressing
      1 large onion (chopped)
      Butter spray

      Methods:
      Marinate mushrooms in dressing for at least 1 hour or overnight, stirring occasionally. In non-stick skillet, sauté onion in butter spray. Drain mushrooms and add to onions. Continue to cook over medium heat until mushrooms are tender, but not limp.

      BAKED ONION RINGS
      Serves 4

      Ingredients:
      2 egg whites
      1 large sweet yellow onion (cut into rings)
      1/3 cup dry bread crumbs
      Salt and Pepper to taste

      Methods:
      Mix egg whites, salt and pepper. Dip onion rings into egg mixture and than coat with breadcrumbs. Place in single layer on greased baking sheet. Bake 10 minutes at 450 degrees.

      ONION CUSTARD
      Serves 6-8

      Ingredients:
      4-6 medium mild onion (thinly sliced)
      3 Tablespoons unsalted butter
      1-cup milk
      3 Eggs

      Methods:
      In skillet, sauté onions in butter for 20-30 minutes. Cool. In bowl beat together milk and eggs. Stir in onions and transfer to greased baking dish. Bake 40-50 minutes at 325 degrees or until light golden.

      PARSLEY NEW POTATOES

      Ingredients:
      2 cans (16 ounces each) sliced new potatoes (drained)
      ¼ cup margarine (melted)
      6 tablespoons fresh parsley (chopped)

      Methods:
      Place new potatoes in buttered casserole. Mix margarine and parsley and pour over potatoes. Bake 20 minutes at 350 degrees. Season to taste.

13. QUESTION:
    Wedding food ideas please answer?
    What are some really good food ideas for a wedding?
    I’m thinking of having a buffet. Also for the dessert to

    • ANSWER:
      Think about having different stations .
      After drinks and appetizers , move ito the reception room.
      One salad and bread station, one main dish and veggie station and the a dessert station.

      The food selections will depend upon your caterer .

14. QUESTION:
    what are some good food ideas for a wedding shower?
    what are some good food ideas for a wedding shower
    my sisters wedding shower is coming up and me and her maid of honor our in charge of the food. what are some good things to make?? theres gonna be about 15 people

    • ANSWER:
      SHOWER SURPRISE

      2 1/2 c. graham cracker crumbs
      1/2 c. granulated sugar
      3/4 c. melted butter
      1/2 gallon strawberry ice cream
      1/2 c. pineapple juice
      1/4 c. cornstarch
      1 c. granulated sugar
      2 c. crushed frozen strawberries

      Combine cracker crumbs, 1/2 cup sugar, and melted butter. Mix well and press firmly into 13 x 9 x 2 inch pan. Bake 15 minutes at 350 degrees. Chill thoroughly. Soften ice cream and spread over crust. Place in freezer until glaze is ready. Cook pineapple juice, cornstarch, and 1 cup sugar until thick, stirring constantly. Add strawberries and cool. Spread over ice cream and freeze until ready to use. Excellent dessert to make ahead. Makes 12 servings.

      SHOWER PASTA SALAD

      2 boxes tri-color spiral pasta

      Cook and rinse in cold water. Set aside.

      1/4 c. red wine vinegar
      3/4 c. olive oil
      Italian seasoning spice to taste
      Pepper
      Lots of grated Parmesan cheese

      Mix and set aside.

      4 green peppers, chopped
      Celery, chopped
      1 bag carrots, peeled and sliced
      2 cans black olives, seedless
      2 cans green olives, seedless
      2 jars seasoned artichoke hearts
      1 lg. red onion, sliced and ringed
      1/2 lg. elephant garlic, chopped fine
      Fresh parsley, chopped

      Mix everything together. Add extra cheese, if desired. Best served chilled overnight.

15. QUESTION:
    Italian food ideas for wedding reception?
    I need help coming up with some italian food ideas! Appetizers and main meal please. I am thinking lasagna or spaghetti and meatballs for main meal but would that fill guests up? Also thinking brushetta, salad and breadsticks.

    • ANSWER:
      Here’s some good looking appetizers. http://www.seductionmeals.com/2008/10/tomato-basil-bruschetta.html

      

      http://cook-eat-love.com/2010/08/watermelon-prosciutto-appetizer/

      This looks like it might be good for supper.

      http://www.southernliving.com/food/entertaining/quick-and-easy-main-dish-recipes-00417000068849/page16.html

      Or you might like this one.

      http://www.tammysrecipes.com/italian_cream_cheese_chicken_pasta

      You could also do Chicken Parmigiana, or bacon stuffed chicken (forget the Italian name) but it’s delicious. Lasagna, spaghetti are delicious, and meatballs can be too if they’re seasoned good. Well one of the links is a bruschetta, so that one could work for you. Salad is fine and bread-sticks are good. Really any of your ideas, or if you wanna use mine, either is fine. You really only need two main meal choices instead of three. Only other thing is I feel like you might be missing some other veggies. Whether it be, cauliflower, broccoli, carrots, or whatever one or two choices you feel goes best with the dishes you choose. Best of luck!

16. QUESTION:
    WEDDING FOOD!!! ?
    we need food ideas for a wedding we have some but we need more and drink ideas too nothing alcoholic we are 17 and 16 now marrying at 19 and 18 planning now yes
    formal i guess she is handling most of it and i really want to help
    We don’t have a lot of money yet and may not have a whole lot then
    we may marry before then but she wants to wait only so her oarents are not involved and have no say
    lets just say we want to be together for the rest of our lives we love each other and really want to spend the rest of our lives together

    • ANSWER:
      What type of wedding reception are you planning?

      Sit Down (formal)
      Main Course:
      Fish (tilapia, Salmon, Cod)
      Steak (Prime, Skirt, Rib Eye)
      Eggplant Lasagna (Vegetarian Option)

      Sides:
      Seasonal Veggies (Vegetable)
      Mashed Potatoes (Starch)
      Whole Grain Rice (Starch)

      Salads:
      Ceaser Salad
      Mixed Green Salad

      Drinks:
      Coffee
      Tea
      Sparking Water
      Apple Cider

      This is pretty common fair for a formal sit-down dinner. There are always ways to go cheaper and cut down on the price. Going through a catering company would be best.

17. QUESTION:
    I am planning on having a phantom of the opera theme for my parents wedding anniversary. any food ideas.?
    I am planning on having a phantom of the opera theme for my parents wedding anniversary and I was wondering if anyone knows of any websites that have ideas for menus for a party like that. or have done a party like this and has some ideas. thanks for your time.

    • ANSWER:
      Ok, what comes to mind when you think P.O.T.O.?There’s elements of: formal, refined, scary, tender, and mystery (masks & all). I would have a several course meal that started with hors’odervers & a coctail hour (could be non-alcohol), with champagne glasses, gloved waiters in tuxedos, with a cape, mask & white gloves, like the actors. The guests should be dressed formally like the patrons of the opera. Have the music from the show playing softly in the background-could be a CD or a small band or a pianoist. The hors’odervers would be served on silver platters (you can get silver plastic at party stores that are beautiful) I’d have formal table settings..beautiful table cloths & cloth napkins (either folded fancily or in napkin rings) with several forks, spoons, glasses (water, wine, etc) along with several plates. Start with maybe a fish appetizer (shrimp coctail, crab meat, etc.), then a sorbet to clear the palate. Next, a small fancy salad followed by a soup-anything from a beautiful cold plumb soup (boil fresh Italien plumbs with a little water until very soft. Soup will be dark pink and delicious serve cold with a little cream) or, a consume, a pumpkin, squash–any light soup. This would be followed your main course, which should consist of a protien (fish–lobster to salmon, scallops, beef: roast or filet mignon, fowl-duck ala orange, cornish game hen, veal or chicken picatta, etc) paired with scalloped potatoes, rice with vegetables, cous-cous, buttered noodles, asparagas, whole green beans with toasted almonds, baby peas or baby buttered carrots, all served with nice rolls & butter and either a cranberry relish, homemade applesauce, pickeled whole baby beets, tiny pickels-whatever. Dessert could be a chocolate mousse, baked Alaska, a cocolate fountain with fresh fruit & cake to dip, or, cake & coffee. Have a wonderful time and congratulations to your parents. Your parents are lucky to have such a thoughtful, loving child. As for the menu-these are suggestions and you should choose the foods your parents like best. Congratulations and best wishes for a wonderful anniversary party!

18. QUESTION:
    I need cheap wedding food ideas…?
    I am getting married outside. We will be having the reception inside. I am not having the traditional wedding. I am doing a rice crispy tower for a cake. Then some sweets too. I need ideas for other food. I know there is the fruit and veggie trays. I want something cheap and not traditional. Thanks!!
    Married in the month of April, thinking early before its too hot or late. 11 am or 4 pm
    Was thinking about those times because in TN it can sometimes be pretty warm in April…

    • ANSWER:
      I too am having an outdoor ceremony and indoor reception. My fiance’ and I are having a wedding on a tight budget, and quite a few guests, so we opted to have a 2 o’clock ceremony. The guests would have already had lunch and won’t be expecting a huge meal (something we wouldn’t be able to afford for the number of people we’ve invited). We’re having finger food (think party trays), a candy buffet, and desert. Instead of having a wedding cake, we’re having a cupcake tower with icing gerbera daisies (our wedding flower) decorating them.

      Oh! I forgot to add that a close friend of mine is a chef, and he is making Greek pizza (his drool-worthy personal recipe), and stew-like “stuff” that is equally delicious.

19. QUESTION:
    Cheap wedding food ideas please?
    Any suggestions for cheap wedding food? I don’t want a bbq or anything (I want a classier feel) but I can’t spend like 50 dollars a plate!
    Help?

    • ANSWER:
      You have plenty of options for under 50 dollars a plate. Here are some tips.

      #1- Choose a caterer that is separate from your event location. When venues book the catering for you or when you buy a package from someone, catering tends to cost more.

      #2- In your first caterer meeting- make sure that they know that you are working within a strict budget. If they can’t handle the dollar figure you imagine, don’t give up, just find another caterer. Some caterers think too much of themselves and don’t think you’ll spend the time looking at a competitor.

      #3- Consider not serving dinner. Maybe some really good butler-passed appetizers will give you a classy feel without actually having to serve dinner.

      #4- Think about plated and buffet dinners. Many think that buffets are automatically cheaper, but in many cases these days, its not. Price out your options. Maybe a seated dinner with chicken is cheaper than a buffet with filet.

      #5- Consider out of the box catering ideas. A pasta station? Baked potato bar? A carving station? All are options today. Maybe something like this will give your wedding a classy feel without breaking the bank with a seated meal.

      Good luck and congratulations!

20. QUESTION:
    Wedding reception food ideas. I don’t know if I should serve finger foods or soul food.?
    Can anyone tell me the most prefered foods at a wedding. I just really need food ideas in general.

    • ANSWER:
      Here’s an idea you may not have considered: Do a Potato Bar. My daughter got married last October and this was the neatest thing. You get a bunch of martini glasses, set them in one of those bus boy tubs (with a thick white tablecloth laid in the tub first to make it attractive and protect the glassware).

      You offer a big stainless steel pan of hot mashed potatoes with an ice cream scoop handy (and sterno, or candles below keeping it hot). People come by, pick up a glass, scoop up some mashed potatoes (self serve) into the martini glass, top it with butter, sour cream, bacon bits, chives, whatever. This IS the cat’s meow.

      Nobody in my age group (mid 40s) had EVER seen or heard of this idea before. The young people were nonplussed, content to be showing us older folks one more thing we would have never dreamed of…

21. QUESTION:
    Outdoor wedding–food ideas?
    What are some good choices? We will have proper heating/cooling stuff, but we don’t know what to serve. We want hourdorves(sp?) only, and we think we’re doing a 3pm wedding.
    A family member who caters is doing the food, but we have to tell her what we want. What are some easy, but elegant ideas?

    • ANSWER:
      Since you want appetizers only, go to the frozen section of Costco/Sam’s and see what catches your eye since they are inexpensive. They are also hearty enough that most people can easily make a meal out of 15+ per person since your reception will be during the dinner hour.

22. QUESTION:
    What are some food ideas for a buffet style wedding reception?
    I need some inexpensive ideas of different types of food to serve at a buffet style wedding reception. The wedding is at the end of April. I am having the reception in a historic rustic barn. There are about 65 guests. I feel with such a small number of people, to get a caterer is spending more money than we have to. The reception begins at 5:30 pm. We can not have any candles or sterno type things due to fire codes and this barn is solid wood. Serious answers please, and thank you.

    • ANSWER:
      Barn screams BBQ at me

      Have BBQ pork or chicken; slaw, beans and sweet tea.

      Sounds great to me and probably won’t be very expensive either.

23. QUESTION:
    Need some ideas on wedding reception food?
    any ideas for wedding recpt. food?
    something easy that can be made a day ahead and warmed up?

    • ANSWER:
      Hello!

      Congrats!

      What about italian beef sandwiches?

24. QUESTION:
    Need some cheap but nice food ideas for our Wedding reception in August.?
    We are on a pretty tight budget for our wedding and will be pretty much doing the food ourselves with family. Thinking about sandwiches, salads and finger foods.. Would love some ideas!
    Thanks!

    • ANSWER:
      we are making a homemade pasta dinner for 100 with a salad, italian wedding soup(made with spinach, chicken boulion, parmesan cheese, ground turkey or beef, a few eggs and like 3 boxes of the acini d’pepe noodle for the entire group) baked ziti, and a simple shrimp scampi (melt one and a half pound of butter in a pan add one cup minced garlic and 1/4c crushed red peppers sautee 3-4 minutes mix in two 2lb bags peeled frozen shrimp which have been thawed under runnning water and cook until pink or until warm if they are pre cooked. mix in 2 Cups italian style bread crumbs and serve over 6lbs angle hair.) then fruit cocktail and italian cookies(from my local grocery store bakery). the whole thing comes together very well as a meal and only cost us about per person!

      another idea is to do a holiday dinner theme meal with whole turkeys and ham out on platters then just make mashed potatoes, cream corn, green beans, cucmber salad. whatever you usually have at easter or thanksgiving

      or a southern style meal with fried chicken, mashed potatoes, corn on the cob, greens, biscuits and gravy. finish with pies for dessert!

      think of anything used for big family get togethers in different places. depending how formal you do or dont want to be, you can think about a picnic theme, a clambake, even a potluck!

25. QUESTION:
    I am planning a small wedding. The reception is going to be held at our home I need cheap food ideas. HELP!!?
    I am planning to go to Sams Club and get some things but I still need ideas as to what kind of food to have the wedding is going to be at 1:00 Pm and the reception following. I have a few ideas but would like more.Thanks!

    • ANSWER:
      Sam’s Club just released a booklet for the holiday entertaining – and it has all kinds of wonderful ideas in it for parties. Ask at the front desk at Sam’s to get one. My son got married last year – and we did the whole thing from Sam’s. We did the pinwheel sandwiches, the crab rangoons, tiny pig’s in the blankets (which by the way everyone LOVES) with different dipping sauces and quiches and taquitos. Shrimp, Meat, cheese, fruit and veggie trays. They have a box now that has five different kinds of cocktail crackers in sleeves, so you can make a really pretty presentation. We served the spiral sliced ham with some of their little rolls and a nice Dijon mustard, too.

      Another thought though – since you are having your wedding at 1:00 – you really don’t have to serve lunch. You can get away with just serving cake, nuts and candies – punch & coffee – and dessert reception. However, to really make it splashy – Sam’s has a chocolate fountain for like .00, and they sell the big can of chocolate and those big huge strawberries. You could serve pound cake squares, banana chunks, strawberries and pretzels with the chocolate fountain. Everyone loves this, and it looks so pretty and decadent. Good Luck!

26. QUESTION:
    wedding food ideas please?
    Its getting down to crunch time and we dont have any food yet. Here is what we are doing: Wedding at church, reception at church gym, then kind of a “second” reception/party at my aunts house down the street on a lake (so they can have alcohol there.) The first one will be probably like 1:00 or something. My mom wanted to have it a lighter easy type of food at the first one, then more of a dinner at the second one. The reason is that there will be less people at the second one (his family does not drink and a lot would be uncomfortable there so they can leave after the first one which will have the cake and stuff) and it will be more relaxed so we can get a little more messy there (i’m clumsy and would end up spilling on my dress if we had messy food at the first one) plus it will be around dinner time!
    Now for the question: What would be a good food for the first one? The cake will be there. My mom suggested a fancy sandwich bar thing but I dont want people to feel completely gyped if they only attend the first reception and frankly our budget is nearly used up so it would have to be something FAIRLY inexpensive, but i just think people might see sandwiches as completely tacky or something. Could we just have appetizers and cake or something? I forgot to mention my mom doesnt want to be cooking much at all and no cooking during it if possible because she doesnt want to miss anything. I just have no idea what to do
    For the second one my mom wanted to get italian catered, then to save money for the small kids, just buy a bunch of pizzas for them to eat (they’d like pizza better and it would save money anyway)
    *if youre wondering why my mom’s making so many decisions its because she’s paying for it and i really dont care much about the food so i’m just taking her word for it all for the most part*

    • ANSWER:
      For the first mini reception I would serve appetizers, punch, and cake. Make sure you give them program menus with a note that say something like you’re welcome to join us for a hours devours (sp?) and cake reception so they know to eat before hand. If you already have the programs print those out in a nice fancy font and just include the paper inside the programs. Then for the dinner at your mothers house I wouldnt use italian catering. Italian has a lot of weird ingredients a lot of people either don’t like or are allergic to. You could have one italian dish but I’d have something else incase people don’t like that. Id probably have a ham and people could carve off that if you like. It takes hardly any effort to cook. If not, try to find someone to cater that could supply 2 different entrees and like 2 sides. Your mom could also whip up a huge salad to give everyone on their plate before main course. I hope this helped, good luck

27. QUESTION:
    What are some food ideas for a wedding reception?
    I want something that isn’t to fancy and hard to make but nothing to simple (i.e. hot dogs and hamburgers).My family and I will be making the food for the reception. 40-70 guests.

    Any suggestions would be great.

    I know I am doing the following:

    *fruit trays, veggie trays, & cheese & cracker trays.

    • ANSWER:
      How to cater your own wedding reception: http://www.topweddingsites.com/wedding-blog/wedding-reception/catering-your-own-wedding-its-easier-than-you-think

28. QUESTION:
    Food ideas for wedding reception?
    I am needing food ideas for my wedding reception. I need ideas for things that don’t have to be hot. Thank you for your help.

    • ANSWER:
      There are tons of things you can serve for a cold buffet at a wedding! If you’re looking for things on the “classy” side, here’s a few ideas to get you started:

      Melon wrapped in proscuitto
      Sliced figs
      Chicken Salad on croissants
      Tea Sandwiches
      A variety of specialty cheeses with gourmet crackers
      Rolled trays of deli meat and sliced cheese (have a variety of cheeses if possible) with several types of rolls
      Veggie platter–you can use a hollowed out red cabbage for the dip to it a bit more interesting

      Salads are also easy to make ahead of time and filling–especially pasta and potato salads. You can jazz up a potato salad easily by making it with blue potatoes for a different color (it’ll still taste the same). Here’s an easy recipe meant for a crowd that should be made the day before:

      24 Hour Salad

      5 large heads iceburg lettuce, shredded
      5 large red onions, chopped
      2 bunches celery, chopped
      5 large red bell peppers, chopped
      5 carrots, shredded
      5 pkgs frozen peas, uncooked (remove any ice)

      5 cups mayonaise
      3 cups sour cream
      1/2 pound bacon, fried and crumbled
      3 cups shredded cheddar cheese

      Layer the vegetables listed in the order given in a 24″ x 35″ pan. Mix the mayonaise & sour cream and spread over the top layer of vegetables. Sprinkle with bacon and cheese. Cover and refrigerate overnight. Serve as is without mixing.

      Serves 125 people

      Another easy, yet classy, idea is to take a wheel of brie, top it with brown sugar and dried fruit, or jam, wrap it in puff pastry dough and pop it in the oven. Serve this with baguettes or crackers for an easy “wow.”

      You may want to consider having a few hot items as starters. You can rent chaffing dishes fairly cheap from your local rental place to keep a few things warm–like say, meatballs in a sauce. Also, if you are catering your own wedding, it would help to either hire a waitress you know for the day, or have someone willing to be in charge of setting out the food and keeping the buffet moving. You’ll want to enjoy your day, not run around like bridezilla with her head cut off Its a great way to save money, and it can still be a nice meal.

29. QUESTION:
    Finger Food Ideas for a wedding?
    I am getting married April 17 2010. We are wanting to do just finger food bc the wedding is at 3:00 in the afternoon. I have a few items that I want to fix but I need more ideas. I need something that is going to be easy to prepare bc I have to do all teh food prep myself the day before.

    Thanks in advance for everyones help.

    • ANSWER:
      Don’t prepare anything yourself … get ready-made trays from a local deli or supermarket, or big frozen boxes of hors d’oeuvres that you can heat up right before serving.

      It will probably cost you just as much as it would to buy the individual ingredients and make everything yourself. And even if it is a little more expensive, it will certainly be worth it in terms of your time and your peace of mind.

      I would also recommend NOT putting out and serving the food yourself. Also, don’t rely on a family member or friend/bridesmaid to do this, because they should be enjoying the party and not working. Hire a college kid, someone off Craigslist, a sibling’s friend who wouldn’t otherwise be invited to the wedding, or a waiter or two from a local cafe who’s off on your wedding day and wants some extra cash. Pay them a few bucks, or send them home with the leftovers or a case of beer or something. Or trade work with someone … maybe ask a neighbor to help you out, and in return you will mow their lawn for a month. (Just an example.)

      Cheese and cracker trays
      Fresh fruit trays (yogurt and chocolate dip)
      Vegetable trays (with sour cream dip, spinach dip)
      Deli meats, sliced cheese and fresh rolls
      Cocktail shrimp
      stuffed mushrooms
      Assorted dips and hummus, with pretzels and crackers and chips
      Pigs in a blanket
      Brie in phyllo dough or crescent roll dough
      Bacon-wrapped scallops
      Chicken fingers
      Cocont shrimp
      Mini quiches
      Sandwich or wrap platters, or a big sub sandwich cut into individual servings
      Potato and noodle salad
      Big pans of lasagna or ziti, with salad and fresh bread
      Mini burgers/sliders, or pulled pork with some fresh rolls nearby to make sandwiches
      Deviled eggs
      Olives and pickles
      Chicken wings
      Spring rolls and potstickers
      Meatballs on toothpicks
      Mini crab cakes
      Red baby potatoes with sour cream
      Corn and black bean salsa, with chips
      Quesadillas
      Sesame chicken chunks, or sweet and sour chicken on skewers
      BBQ beef skewers
      Potato skins with cheese and bacon bits
      Cupcakes and brownies for dessert

30. QUESTION:
    What are some good ideas for food for a wedding reception that can be prepared a day or two ahead of time?
    My sister & friend are making all of the food & I’d like some ideas of some foods that we can put together like a day or two before the wedding & just cook the day of.

    • ANSWER:
      baked pastas can me made ahead and reheated. just make sure there is enough liquid in there so it doesn’t dry out when you reheat it. or you can cook the pasta and sauce before hand and keep them seperate until you are ready to reheat.

31. QUESTION:
    I need wedding food ideas?
    I am getting married jan. 10. I have no food ideas at all. I’m not on a real tight budget, but I’m looking for inexpencive foods. I need simple ideas. please help me!

    • ANSWER:
      Were are you having this at? Send me an email if you need help.

32. QUESTION:
    Golden wedding buffet food ideas?
    It is my nan and grandad’s Golden Wedding soon and me and my mum have decided to have a party at there place.

    I need ideas for food there, like the usual (cocktail sausages, fairy cake, etc)

    There will be a few of the grandparents friends and the rest of the family popping round so would need a wide range of different food so everyone will enjoy the buffet

    Thank you for your help

    • ANSWER:
      Sandwiches, different kinds of salads (bean, potato, pasta, fruit), appetizers that you can get in the frozen section (like mini quiches, beef turnovers, potato puffs, etc) fruit tarts, veggie trays with dips, cheese and crackers, taquitos, chicken skewers or satays, lumpia or spring rolls, sushi, chicken fingers with dip, mini pizzas. If you have a wholefood store, such as Costco, Sam’s, or BJs, you can get catering trays or buy huge containers of appetizers or salads, so you aren’t doing so much work. Have fun!!!

33. QUESTION:
    What are some finger food ideas for a wedding reception?
    I need ideas ASAP!

    • ANSWER:
      When my mom had a catering business, she would make tiny cream puffs [without the cream] and fill them with chicken salad, tuna salad or a salmon salad. There are many possibilities using these little pastries. You can also do a sweet version, but I would think you would have cake.

34. QUESTION:
    wedding reception food ideas anyone?
    our wedding is in october and the ceremony is at noon. what should we do for the reception in terms of food/drink? it’s too early for a dinner, though that’s what i’ve always pictured… and a little late for lunch.

    any ideas would be appreciated

    • ANSWER:
      With a midday reception, I would still serve something substantial but lighter than what you would serve during a sit down dinner. You have to understand that people will eat around 1-ish and that’s still lunch time.

      * Salad – October is perfect for a salad mixed with some pear and gorgonzola or dried cranberries and goat cheese.
      * Sliced roast beef – serve them on toasted crostinis with a horseradish spread
      * Chicken and beef satay – they are portable and substantial enough to be filling but not overly heavy
      * Pasta – a light pasta primavera or a simple marinara sauce
      * Coconut shrimp
      * Bacon wrapped scallops
      * Crab cakes
      * Chicken Marsala or Chicken Francese would be nice for a lunch
      * Potato pancakes can be passed around
      * Baked clams
      * Cheese and fruit
      * Cookie platters
      * Cake

35. QUESTION:
    help wedding food ideas?
    My friends are getting married and they asked me to do the food for them. I have been catering for about ten years so I know what I am doing, but they dont have any idea what they want. I am looking for suggestions on food. They want it to be fun, it will not be a sit down dinner, so more like finger foods and appetizers. any suggestions would be grealty appreciated. Thank you

    • ANSWER:
      Cocktail meatballs
      Chicken wings
      Pigs in a blanket
      Fruit trays
      Veggie trays
      Petit Beef tenderloin sammies
      Skewers of chicken or beef with veggies
      Mashed potato bar with scallions, sour cream, cheese and bacon
      Spanakopita ( for vegetarians )
      Bruschetta
      Cheese and crackers
      BBQ sausages
      Eggrolls
      Southwestern Fried chicken wraps
      Crab cakes
      Stuffed mushroom caps
      Quesadillas
      Tropical chicken roll ups (made with cream cheese, chicken, red pepper, scallions, cashews, mandarine oranges and pineapple)
      Shrimp and cocktail sauce
      Mini croisant sammies
      Pasta salad

      That is all I can think of right now…

36. QUESTION:
    What are some inexpensive food ideas for my wedding reception?

    • ANSWER:
      We did mostly finger foods at our wedding reception, and most of it we made ourselves! Pigs in a blanket, sausage balls, ham rolls (with cream cheese and green onion in the middle), salami rolls (with cream cheese and sweet pickle in the middle), chicken and tuna salad sandwiches cut in half (be careful or the bread will dry), fruit tray with dip made out of cream cheese and marshmallow creme, vegetable tray with dip, tortilla chips served with dip made out of cream cheese and can chili, mushroom bread wedges…that’s all I can think of that we had right now. It was all pretty simple to do and fairly cheap…and we also had a variety of sodas (lol…my dad is a preacher so no alcohol!) and I made “white wedding” punch…went over very well! Good luck!

37. QUESTION:
    hey i need food ideas for my wedding?
    Hey can anyone give me any ideas on foods and how to make them…. like i want to have like finger foods like:
    maybe fruits and a chocolate fountain and so veggies and so sandwiches and stuff but i dont know help

    • ANSWER:
      This is fast, easy and inexpensive to make. I made one jar for me and three jars for my neighbors on the first try at making jam. Save peanut butter jars, olive jars or baby food jars to put it in or buy new mason jars. It can be frozen.

      Rose Petal Jam

      1 batch

      1 cup fresh rose petals (must never have been sprayed with any chemicals)
      3/4 cup water
      1 lemon, juice of (1/4 cup)
      2 1/2 cups sugar
      1 package pectin (ie. Sure Jell)
      3/4 cup water

      1. Puree rose petals, 3/4 cup water and lemon juice in blender until smooth.
      2. Slowly add sugar.
      3. Blend till all sugar has dissolved; (leave in blender) Stir 1 package pectin (ie. Sure Jell) into 3/4 cup water, bring to a boil, and boil hard for 1 minute. Pour mixture into blender with rose petal mixture until well blended.
      4. Do this very quickly – it sets up FAST!! Pour into baby food jars.
      5. Let set for 6 hours, till firm.
      6. Will keep one month in refrigerator.
      7. Freezes well.

      http://www.recipezaar.com/3160

      ***********

      Watermelon Fruit Bowl

      Ingredients:
      1 large watermelon
      1 cantaloupe, halved and seeded
      1 honeydew melon, halved and seeded
      2 (15 ounce) cans mandarin oranges, drained
      2 (20 ounce) cans pineapple chunks, drained
      2 cups halved fresh strawberries
      2 cups seedless grapes
      1/2 cup water
      1/4 cup white sugar
      2 tablespoons grated lemon zest

      Directions:
      With a large, sharp knife, remove the top 1/4 section of the watermelon. With a melon baller, scoop flesh from inside of watermelon, removing as many seeds as possible. Leave 1/2 inch of flesh inside the shell of the watermelon. Scoop cantaloupe and honeydew in the same manner, removing as much flesh as possible, and discarding the rinds. Refrigerate fruits separately until ready to assemble.
      In a small saucepan over medium-high heat, bring water and sugar to a boil. Remove from heat, and continue stirring until sugar has completely dissolved. Add lemon zest, and set aside to cool.
      To serve, place watermelon balls, cantaloupe, honeydew, oranges, pineapple, strawberries, and grapes, in a large mixing bowl. Pour syrup over, and toss thoroughly. Transfer mixture to watermelon bowl, and serve. Set aside any fruit mixture that will not fit. There will be enough fruit to refill the bowl.
      Yield: 20 servings
      Prep Time: 30 Minutes
      Cook Time: 5 Minutes
      Ready In: 50 Minutes
      Servings: 20

      http://www.recipeatlas.com/appetizerrecipes/fruitappetizerrecipes/watermelonfruitbowlrecipe.html

      *********

      Tropical Thai Fruit Salad, Served in a Pineapple

      This healthy and exotic Thai fruit salad will be the hit of your party – especially when served in a pineapple “boat” (a carved out pineapple). Create your own assortment of tropical and local fruit – whatever is fresh and in season. Serve with ice cream, whipped cream, or on its own for a fresh fruit feast. Makes a terrific addition to a potluck, BBQ, or dinner party. Carving instructions for the pineapple are included with the recipe – just follow the steps (with pictures).

      INGREDIENTS:
      1 fresh, ripe pineapple (to check if pineapple is ripe, hold it up by one on the top leaves – the leaf should detach)
      Juice of 1 lime
      2-3 Tbsp. brown sugar
      An assortment of tropical or local fruit, such as: papaya, banana, lychee, watermelon, kiwi, etc…
      optional: a few leaves of fresh basil as a garnish

      PREPARATION:
      To make the fruit salad, peel and cut up the fruit you have chosen into bite-size pieces.
      (If you have carved out a pineapple, add chunks of the carved out fruit to the mix.) Place fruit together in a mixing bowl.
      In a cup, mix together the limejuice with the sugar. If you prefer a sweeter salad, use 3 Tbsp. brown sugar instead of 2.
      Pour the lime juice/sugar mixture over the fruit and gently mix the salad.
      If serving in a carved-out pineapple, spoon or scoop the fruit into the pineapple (reserve as much of the liquid as possible, as it will leak through the bottom of the pineapple. When actually serving up the fruit salad, you can spoon the reserved liquid over each portion). Garnish with a few leaves of fresh basil, if using. Note: be sure to place a plate or bowl under the carved-out pineapple, as it is porous and may leak.
      Serve this fruit salad on its own, or with ice cream or whipped cream.
      Leftovers will keep in a covered container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.

      http://thaifood.about.com/od/thaidesserts/r/Thaifruitsalad.htm

      Creating a Pineapple “Boat”
      Choose the best side of your pineapple.

      Choosing the best side to cut

      ·Start with a ripe pineapple. When purchasing, look for nice color both in the leaves and the skin. Check for ripeness by lifting the pineapple by a single leaf (choose a leaf toward the top). If the leaf comes out, it’s ripe. Try this test several times on the same pineapple. Avoid buying pineapples whose skin is easily indented, which means they are overripe.
      ·Now lay your pineapple on a counter or table. Turn it to find the most attractive side. Take into consideration how it lies (will it lie flat, without tumbling over?). Also, choose the side with the best looking leaves.
      ·Rotate the pineapple slightly. Using a serrated knife, begin to make a slice (no more than 1/4 of the pineapple) along the best side. Note: You should not cut the leaves.

      http://thaifood.about.com/od/thairecipesstepbystep/ss/pineappleboat.html

      Slicing off the top side of the pineapple

      Slicing off the top side of the pineapple
      ·Completely slice off the top side of the pineapple. Disgard this side.

      http://thaifood.about.com/od/thairecipesstepbystep/ss/pineappleboat_2.htm

      Cutting the inside of the pineapple.

      ·Cut the flesh into cubes first by making long slices down the length of the pineapple, then cross cuts approximately 1 inch wide. Again, be careful not to cut through to the other side.

      http://thaifood.about.com/od/thairecipesstepbystep/ss/pineappleboat_3.htm

      Cutting the pineapple flesh into cubes.

      Cutting the flesh into cubes.
      ·Cut the flesh into cubes first by making long slices down the length of the pineapple, then cross cuts approximately 1 inch wide. Again, be careful not to cut through to the other side.

      http://thaifood.about.com/od/thairecipesstepbystep/ss/pineappleboat_4.htm

      Scooping out the fresh pineapple.

      Spooning out the fruit.

      Using a large spoon, scoop out the flesh and set aside.

      http://thaifood.about.com/od/thairecipesstepbystep/ss/pineappleboat_5.htm

      Fill Your Pineapple “Boat” with Fruit Salad or Pineapple Fried Rice.

      http://thaifood.about.com/od/thairecipesstepbystep/ss/pineappleboat_6.htm

      ************

      Fruit tray with fruit dip (Paula Deen)

      2 whole pineapples
      2 large clusters green seedless grapes and several clusters Champagne grapes
      6 oranges, peeled and sliced into wheels
      1 cantaloupe, cut into cubes or balled
      1 honeydew melon, cut into cubes or balled
      24 long stemmed strawberries
      6 to 8 kiwi, peeled and sliced
      2 cups blueberries
      Red Leaf lettuce, to line silver tray
      French Cream, recipe follows

      French Cream:
      1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese
      1 cup powdered sugar
      1 cup whipping cream
      1/4 cup granulated sugar
      1 lemon, zested and juiced
      Pineapple juice

      Soften cream cheese and then whip with powdered sugar. Whip cream and sugar together until it forms soft peaks. Combine beaten cream cheese, whipped cream, lemon juice and zest; continue to beat, adding just enough pineapple juice to achieve desired consistency. Serve with fresh fruit tray or fruit salad.

      http://www.foodnetwork.com/food/recipes/recipe/0,1977,FOOD_9936_26862,00.html

      ************

38. QUESTION:
    wedding food dish ideas?
    I cant think of what kind of food i want for my wedding, you got any ideas? i don’t want a buffet, i want them to bring each guest there own prepared dish , meal

    • ANSWER:
      Here are a few ideas:

      - think about you and your fiancees ethnic heritage and serve food that reflects that… ie. serve Mexican or Italian food,
      - where was your first date? or where he proposed? what did you eat? choose a menu that reflects this…
      - what is your favorite restaurant? look up their menus for inspiration…

      To keep costs down and make life easier, try to choose one first course that everyone can have (salad or soup), offer two or three main course choices, and then dessert (or to save $$$ have cake for dessert – no one needs both anyway!). If you and your fiancee have sophisticated food tastes, try to make at least one main option something simpler, that most people would like. Use the hors doevres selection as an opportunity to reflect your wilder tastes…

      Congrats!

      Good luck and have fun!

39. QUESTION:
    ideas for wedding food?
    so my wedding is January 26th (they sneek up so fast!). my mom, aunt and I are planning the food ourselves to save a big chunk of money. Ive come up with a few ideas (its going to be casual food~ maybe some finger sandwiches and stuff like that)

    does anyone have any ideas of things we could serve thats not too expensive?
    I think my families more concerned with a good liquor bar than food lol

    thanks in advance!

    • ANSWER:
      An assortment of cold salads would be nice, along with a relish tray, for starters. You may want to set it up buffet style, and you could include some carved meats with rolls and dressing. Add an easy to prepare but well like vegetable, glazed carrots, maybe.
      You could do a fruit salad, a pasta salad, and a mixed greens salad.
      You could also do a heavy hors d’ourve reception. You could have the relish and fruit tray with some cheese and crackers, then make some dips, chicken peices, etc. You could even do things like cocktail weenies if you wanted to, and a tortilla roll. spread thick cream cheese and salsa on a tortilla, roll it and freeze overnight, slice it in the morning. You can do the same thing by preparing them like cold cut sandwhiches. Very tasty, easy to make!

40. QUESTION:
    Looking for food ideas for an outdoor BBQ wedding?
    Looking for food ideas for an outdoor bbq wedding for early Sept. I am trying to eliminate using the grill so we can actually enjoy the day! should be about 40 people, any ideas?

    • ANSWER:
      pulled pork sandwiches
      potato salad
      pasta salad
      watermelon

41. QUESTION:
    Wedding Shower Food Ideas?
    Help!!! I am the maid of honor in a wedding and I have to plan a shower for the bride to be. The shower is going to be outside. I need some food ideas for what to make for about 30-40 people.

    • ANSWER:
      you have to make the food? wow…that’s alot of work. well, if i were you, i would go to my favorite all you can eat buffet and get them to make up their best dishes for you.

      if you want an oriental meal, go to an all you can eat chinese buffet and go for chinese green beans, coconut chicken, chicken on a stick or broccoli chicken, spring rolls and their macaroons. add a fruit tray with watermelon wedges and pinapple wedges and cup cakes or a cake and your done.

      or go to your local all you can eat family style restaurant and get a selection of meats and veggies, add some cole slaw or macaroni salad and a fruit tray with watermelon, cantalope, honey dew and strawberries and some dessert like those mini eclairs from the frozen section in the supermarket.

      or go to costco or sam’s club and get them to make you cold cut platters with some roast beef, turkey, ham and nice cheeses, a veggie platter and a fresh fruit platter. and get some mini croisants to make sandwhiches. get a great cake from a good bakery and little dixie cup ice creams.

      serve ice cold lemonade with fresh lemons in it (use the store frozen kind, but add fresh lemons), limeade with fresh limes in it, and/or raspberry iced tea with fresh raspberries and a small sprig of fresh mint leaf frozen in the ice cubes.

42. QUESTION:
    DIY wedding Food–ideas/suggestions?
    What are some foods I can make ahead of time for a wedding that are simple but elegant and filling?

    • ANSWER:
      Okay, this is totally doable. I’m listing some here that are best served cold – that way, you don’t have to worry about chaffing dishes and such. You might need some trays underneath the dishes that can hold ice, but that’s the worst you’ll have to worry about. Hope you like some of these:

      Beautiful, nontraditional shrimp cocktail. Get some frozen, cooked, peeled and deveined shrimp and let it thaw/marinate in Italian dressing. Drain and put in a beautiful bowl. It’s super easy and soooo delicious. Everyone at our wedding loved this.

      Antipasto or Italian salad. You can make this yourself, but it’s even easier if you call up your best local pizza place and order a few the day before the wedding. It saves a lot of time and probably doesn’t cost any more than buying all of the ingredients yourself. If you want the tuna salad with it, have them put in on the side. Mix the salads together in a huge bowl, put the tuna is a pretty bowl off to the side (if you’re including it), and provide a selection of salad dressings.

      Then there are the standard fruit and cheese platters – everyone always loves these, and if you take time with the presentation, they can look really elegant.

      One dish I make that always goes over really well is sort of a crab dip/loaf. Mix a couple of blocks of cream cheese with a small package of imitation crabmeat and about five diced dill pickles (the long wedge slices). This is if you want to serve it as a loaf; if you want it to have more of a dip consistency, add a little sour cream and maybe a little of the pickle juice until you get the consistency you want. Serve with nice crackers.

      Pasta salad looks festive and is very filling.

      Consider slicing a cooked chicken breast and serving it cold. A little different from traditional coldcuts and super yummy. You can get the precooked rotary chicken from your local supermarket for this to make it even easier. Serve with a selection of rolls, cheeses, and condiments.

      For bread, think of things that are easy and can be served at room temperature – denser rolls and breads that are more hearty and less fluffy/flaky work well. You can put some regular butter and some honey butter out in pretty dishes.

      Good luck!

43. QUESTION:
    We are having a pink and brown themed wedding and need food ideas.?
    I am getting married in June 2009 on the beach in FL. Our reception is going to be held at a boat club by the water and our colors are brown and pink. We are trying to find food that we can make ourselves and serve. We have had a friend offer to do bar-b-que but were also thinking of doing a chocolate theme or finger foods. Any suggestions?
    To clarify, I didn’t mean having pink and brown food necessarily, that would look odd. I was thinking more along the lines of if we have barbeque, what kind of finger foods would go well with that?
    Thank you everyone for your wonderful suggestions. We were thinking of pulled pork barbeque with mini buns or something like that. We want things to be easy. We cannot afford to have it catered so it will definately be a family affair as far as that goes.

    To answer Brittany, our date is Friday evening June 12th.

    • ANSWER:
      It really depends on what you want to do – you can serve a full meal and do BBQ, or you can have a variety of finger foods along with some chocolate. But, I don’t think that I would do a chocolate theme – that would be a lot of sweets.
      If you did a BBQ I would suggest doing some BBQ chicken and/or steak. I would stay away from anything to messy like ribs. The last thing you want is to get something on your dress.
      If you did the BBQ then you would just have to come up with some side dishes to serve with it – bread, rolls, green salad, potato salad, pasta salad, cornbread, roasted veggies, etc.
      If you decide to do finger foods/appetizers you could always give your guests a wide variety of selections to choose from like; Baked Brie, Cheese and Crackers, Petite Meatballs, Veggie tray, Fruit tray, chicken wings, devilled eggs, stuffed mushrooms, shrimp cocktail, spinach dip, mini quiche, pinwheel sandwiches, etc. You can go over to Costco/Sam’s Club – they have lots of frozen appetizers that they sell for a fairly good price.

44. QUESTION:
    Wedding reception food ideas & recipes? finger foods & dinner ideas?
    my brother is getting married october 6th.
    i have decided I am going to buy lots of food and make it, but don’t really have much of an idea of things that would STRETCH. (possibly 300 or more people will be there!) Here’s what I have so far:

    pinwheels, mini sandwiches, baked mac& cheese, chips & dips, fruit plate, veggie & dip plate, kabobs, potato salad, alfredo pasta, meatballs & little weenies, (haha) , soups & crackers, maybe a gumbo or jambalaya, veggie & squash quiches, baked or roasted chicken…

    theres lots of people to please. not everyone will like what I choose…what else could I make?

    • ANSWER:
      Wow thats a big job =) really sweet of you to do it for them =)

      Finger food~
      mini quesadillas, tacos, hot wings,mini meatballs with BBQ sauce(yum).

      Roasted chicken is a good idea, Curry chicken skewers(recipe below) is another. Make a nice rice pilaf or spanish rice that will go with everything.

      If you are going to be doing all the cooking, I would limit it six appetizers and three dinners that have side dishes that interchange.

      Another option would be to do all appetizers and have like twelve different type and a couple desserts.

      ~Curry chicken skewers~

      1 lb chicken tenders or chicken breasts, cut into long strips
      3 garlic cloves, minced
      12 stalks green onions, minced
      2 tablespoons fresh lemongrass, minced
      2 tablespoons curry powder
      1 tablespoon honey or light brown sugar
      1 tablespoon soy sauce
      2 teaspoons fish sauce
      2 teaspoons fresh lime juice
      1 teaspoon paprika
      1/4 teaspoon black pepper
      1/4 cup water
      2 tablespoons vegetable oil

      In a large bowl or ziplock bag, put chicken meat, garlic, onion, lemon grass, curry powder, sugar, soy sauce, fish sauce, lime juice, paprika, black pepper and water, mix well, add vegetable oil, mix well.
      Refrigerate overnight (or at least 4 hours.)

      When ready to cook, skewer chicken meat with soaked wooden skewers and cook on grill with low heat till both sides are golden brown. (About ten minutes)
      Serve hot as appetizer with mango salsa.

45. QUESTION:
    wedding food ideas on a tight budget?

    • ANSWER:
      First of all how tight is your budget? Ours is 1000 for all needed foods. We feel we have over budgeted some but wanted to be sure we allowed enough, reception for 138( mostly firefighters and their families). Below is our menu and a legend that tells you how far in advance an item can be made. Take any idea you desire and check the legend schedule for prep timetable in relation to the menu. There are 3 family members cooking. And some things we are buying. Most stuff is being bought at sams club because of bulk purchase prices.Please realize this is served buffet and chafing dishes are needed for some items.
      AMBER’S WEDDING BUFFET

      Appetizers: (Waiting for pictures to finish)
      Trays and set up on appetizer table.
      * Assorted Cheeses (Deli/grocery)
      @ Jalapeno Cheese ball (up to 3 weeks and freeze)
      * Fresh Veggie Trays (Deli/grocery)
      @ Marinated Mushrooms ( 2-2 1/2 days- in advance)
      * Canapés (sams)
      # Coffee

      Entrees:
      @ Seafood Salad on lettuce leaf (mini dishes at the place setting) (2-3 days ahead. seal airtight. Add mayo at last minute place on dishes with lettuce and garnish)
      *# Baked Spiral Sliced Ham (Sam’s club) (glaze and heat)
      * # Fried Chicken Strips with dipping sauces ( Sam’s Club) ( heat)
      Honey mustard, BBQ, Ranch, Cranberry/apple conserve @ make 1-2 weeks in advance and freeze.
      *# Swedish Meatballs (Sam’s Club) add cream sauce and heat

      Vegetables:
      @ Sweet Potato Souffle’ {*# in pastry cups (Sams club for cups or use baked won tons for cups)} Souffle” (1-2 weeks in advance)
      # Sour Cream and Chive Mashed Potatoes/ Cream Gravy @
      # Green beans
      # Corn with butter sauce
      @ Mac n Cheese with Bacon Casserole- (1-2 weeks ahead seal and freeze)
      @ Peas/asparagus bake (1-2 weeks ahead seal and freeze)

      Salads:
      ^ Broccoli/ Cashew Salad ( 24-36 hrs ahead sealed container add honey mayo, cashews at last minute)
      ^ Waldorf Salad ( soak apples in fruit fresh drain well and mix with chopped celery, seal in container after binding with mix of Mayo and cool whip, add pecans day of)
      # Chopped fresh spinach and bacon salad ( add bacon late in day day of)

      Breads:
      @ Assorted mini yeast rolls /Yogurt Biscuits (store frozen)( 1-2 weeks ahead)
      @ butter molds ( freeze) (3 weeks ahead)

      Viennese Table:
      # Mini Cream puffs and E’clairs @ (Custard for eclairs made 2-3 days in advance, 24 hr ahead for pastry)
      Assorted flavor mini petite fours/
      @ Rum Almond Pound Cake (1 week freeze)
      @ Chocolate Peppermint Petite Fours ( 1 week for cake ice/decorate 24 hr ahead poured fondant)
      @ Pecan and fruit tarts/ cream Cheese pastries (1-2 weeks ahead freeze)
      @ Cheese cakes , brownies (1 week ahead)
      # Fruit Picks and Chocolate, white chocolate,and caramel fountains (24 hrs ahead and sealed in airtight container

      @ Wedding Cake (3 days)(5 days in advance if we use poured fondant)
      @ Grooms Cake (3 days) add strawberry topping warm rum and just before flaming

      Drinks:

      # Coffee with International Creamers purchased at grocery
      # Iced and Hot tea
      @ Punch ( 1 week ahead and freeze ice ring, add ginger ale last minute)

      Children’s Buffet:

      Chicken Nuggets
      Mac n Cheese Green Beans
      Brownies, cookies, cup cakes
      Assorted milks and fruit juices

      Legend
       Purchased finished just heat or put out as is. *
       Heat and serve or prepare at last minute #
       Prepare in advance @- freeze when possible up to 2 weeks in container add garnishes when heating
       Up to 24 hrs in advance with maybe a last minute additive ^

46. QUESTION:
    Food ideas for a wedding?
    My fiance and I have alot activities going on I need idea’s. We are on a bit of a budget. First we are having a couples bash its out doors we decided on this so the men and women will be together. What food should be do? Then there is the wedding rehearsal food? Reception hall?

    What are food ideas for
    Couples bash
    Wedding rehearsal
    Reception

    • ANSWER:
      For the couples bash keep it simple. Do finger foods and appetizers.

      For the wedding rehearsal maybe go for BBQ style meal.

      For the reception why not go with a buffet style meal. Have fruit and veggie trays. Maybe a couple meat options like: chicken, pork loin, roast, turkey, ham, steak, lobster, other types of fish, offer some veggies, maybe rolls, and salads.

47. QUESTION:
    Cheap wedding food ideas.?
    Me and my fiance are getting married September 12. It is going to be held at my house and there is about 150 guests. We are on a budget and need to plan for food. It will be about 2 pm so people aren’t really that hungry….or is there a better time? HELP!!

    • ANSWER:

48. QUESTION:
    Wedding food?
    My best friend is getting married in April. It’s going to be a very small affair. The planning is also kind of rushed, her fiance is in bootcamp for the navy right now and they are going to get married during the week he is home after graduating before he leaves again to go the Navy School. Anyway we are doing most of the work ourselves, we are making the cake and all the food, flowers etc. We already knoe what we’re doing for the cake but we need some food ideas, we are just going to do like finger foods and appetizers, so does anyone have any good ideas or recipes? Thanks.

    • ANSWER:
      Do you have a Sam’s Club nearby??? Seriously, they have all sorts of great appetizers, like “deli spirals”, also known as tortilla rollups and little quiches. You can do a fruit and cheese tray. Something like this would make it much easier since you are already doing the flowers, cake, etc. You all want to enjoy the day, so let someone else do some of the work (ie Sam’s club or a deli at your local grocery store!)

49. QUESTION:
    Good Wedding Food Ideas h’orderves only!?
    We are getting married in a few months and we are having h’orderves only. Its an afternoon wedding around 1pm. Its low key and we want it to be inexpensive.

    Right now im thinking:

    Swedish Meatballs
    Cocktail weenies
    Fruit, veggie and cheese tray
    Sausage balls
    and…………. Please help!!

    • ANSWER:
      You can do mini ranch burgers, kabobs, mini pig in a blankets using the cocktail weenies,

      Hope this helps!

50. QUESTION:
    French food ideas for a paris theme wedding?
    I am getting married soon and we are planning on doing a paris/french theme. Any ideas on what food we can serve for the reception? Not so worried about easy to make as I am about the cost, we will be serving a lot of people so we need something that is gonna be cost effective. Thanks.

    • ANSWER:
      Crepe wraps,Pastries,Duck…French fries.hehehe
      Ice coffee,Entrees on the french persuasion.Type in
      French foods Recipes…