Tag: first communion

Great Party Part 2: Food Planning and Prep

     I heard from many of you last week when I blogged last week about an upcoming event – thank you! One of you asked what I meant by Food Prep: “How can you possibly have a party without either cooking all day or catering the whole thing?”  Today I’ll shed some light on party planning and food prep.

     Not everyone wants to cook for big events.  It seems like a lot of work, and early food prep seems like extra work and mess, to dirty the kitchen twice.  Also, I have a client that insists on everything being “fresh”, so she has not embraced my make-ahead suggestions, though she struggles to host big events.  Indeed, some foods are best fresh.  But many foods can be assembled a day ahead of an event to make the event go smoother, and still be fresh.  Prep as much as possible a day or two ahead of your event, and leave the final assembly to right before serving. 

I like to cook for parties and events because:

  1. Making some items is cheaper than catering the whole event.  I would rather spend my money on other things.
  2. Home cooking usually tastes better than catered foods.
  3. My family has favorite foods, and I like making those favorites for special events.
  4. Prepping and cooking food a day ahead of an event frees up my time for the event itself, and after years of practice, it’s not really a hassle anymore. 
  5. I like to cook, and it’s enjoyable for me to put a big event together.

Here is next Saturday’s menu:

Appetizers:  These will be completely assembled, so the first person home from church (probably not me) can place them out for guests.

  • Vegetable and dip platter
  • Fruit and dip platter
  • Chip tray with tortilla chips, salsa and guacamole (from Costco, I like theirs better than my homemade ones)
  • A heated chili-cheese dip (3 minutes in the microwave)
  • Deviled eggs (a family favorite)
  • Relish tray
  • Pita chips and hummus (also Costco, I like theirs better)

Beverages:  These, too, will be ready for the first guests, except for the coffee, which will be ready to brew.

  • Iced Tea
  • Beer / Wine / Soda
  • Coffee

Main Course:

  • Fried chicken (catered)
  • Make-ahead mashed potatoes (warmed in the crock pot, click here for recipe)
  • Homemade Macaroni and Cheese (vegetarian, sauce made ahead, macaroni made the morning of the party, warmed in the crock pot)
  • Quinoa and Black Beans (vegetarian, made ahead, served warm or cold, here for the recipe,)
  • Cole slaw (slaw from a bag, assembled with dressing the morning of the event)
  • Bakery bread and butter

Dessert: Strawberry pretzel salad (my mother-in-law is bringing this), cookies (mine) and Ice Cream Cake (catered)

Start with clean counters for good work space, and a clean refrigerator to store your assembled trays and platters.  Also, use cookie sheets to keep each recipe’s ingredients organized (photo).

 Image

Thursday night, when making dinner:

  1. Assemble serving dishes:  egg tray, platters, lidded baking dish for chili-cheese dip
  2. Hard boil eggs, cool and peel
  3. Clean, peel (sons will help with this) and chop veggies
  4. Shred 2 pounds of cheddar cheese (sons and Cuisinart will help)

After Dinner (an hour):  Assemble and refrigerate

  1. Chili Cheese dip
  2. Deviled eggs (son #2 will pipe the filling)
  3. Dill veggie dip (son #2 will help).  The dip tastes better after a day of chilling

Friday night, when making dinner

  1. Brew iced tea
  2. Make cheese sauce for Macaroni, refrigerate
  3. Peel and boil potatoes, make mashed potatoes (special recipe made with sour cream and cream cheese, is really delicious a day or two later!)
  4. Chop Fruit
  5. Assemble Fruit, Vegetable and Relish trays, cover in plastic wrap, place in refrigerator.
  6. Puree Strawberries for fruit dip and refrigerate (Lauren’s Fruit Dip:  8 oz each of Fruit on the bottom strawberry yogurt, cool whip and pureed strawberries.  Mix all together, serve with cut fruit)
  7. Load big white cooler with beer and soda

     So, next time you have a big event coming up, or even a big meal for your family, look at your menu and determine what you can make a day or two before, to free up your time and attention for other things.

Two Weeks to a Great Party!

4 Comments

    The original title had “easy” and “stress-free” in it, but who am I kidding?  Yes, parties require some work and perhaps some stress, but let’s keep both to a minimum!

     Also, there are a few things that have to happen prior to 2 weeks before a party, like guest lists  invitations (4 weeks) and space rental (as early as possible), if necessary.  I shared the date with out-of-town family and friends months ago.  But the point of today is to help you plan and have a great party with concerted effort and minimal stress.  Yes, it can be done.

     I am working on a very specific event this week, a First Communion Party the first weekend in May.  These ideas can work for any event, though, birthday, anniversary, graduation, just for fun – You name it!

     We have two weeks until our big event. I stood in my living room today, imagining what it will look like when everyone is gathered.  Friends and family.  Food and beverages.  Fresh flowers, balloons (my little guy loves balloons), candles, a display of photos and Sacramental items on the sofa table.  I will keep that vision in my head during my planning. 

     Remember your “WHY”.  We’re having a party to celebrate my youngest son’s First Holy Communion, so our “Why” is to commemorate him and this special milestone in his life.  Remember, too, WHY people are coming to your home.  It is to enjoy your company and hospitality, not too look in your dresser drawers or under your bed.  Focus on the essentials, let the other stuff go.  Everything else falls into place if I keep the “WHY” in mind.

     Do NOT let every hour for the next two weeks be about the party.  Too often we obsess over details until we dread or resent the event.  You have a life, a job, a bedtime.  Live your life, have fun with your planning, and relax.  

House Prep and Planning Ahead Week (this week)

  • Monday / Tuesday:
    • Today we head to the craft store for supplies for his Communion banner.
    • Over the weekend, I made sure everyone has clean, dressy clothes that fit (they’re growing so quickly these days!!).  Now we just need to iron the clothes, and ignore them until the big day!
    • Check your kitchen inventory.  Save money and make room this week by using what you have.
    • Determine your menu, and what you can outsource.  For example, my son chose his menu for his party.  I will order the ice cream cake and fried chicken.  The rest I will cover myself.
    • Based on tentative numbers of people attending, make your grocery list
    • Ask friends and family for any extras you need – folding tables, extra chairs, chafing dishes, coffee urn, etc.
    • Plan / order / shop for gifts and treat bags or favors, if you need them
  • Wednesday – Start major cleaning projects (windows, carpet shampoo, big things)
  • Thursday (our trash day) – more major cleaning, if needed, but also removing clutter by dropping off bags of donations, e-waste recycling, garbage and other recycling
  • Friday – clean the fridge and freezer really well, make a note of food items you have that you can use for the party, start the ice maker

 Week Of Party:

  • Monday – check your guest list for final RSVPs, place your food orders based on your menu and number of guests.  I will also purchase flower planters for my deck and front porch.
  • Tuesday – Wrap up major cleaning projects, plus yard maintenance 
  • Wednesday – Now that things are cleaned up and de-cluttered, and the fridge is clean, do your grocery shopping for food, paper goods, liquor, beverages, etc.
  • Thursday – weekly cleaning, yard maintenance rain date, photos and Sacrament display
  • Friday – food prep and final touches, et up tables and chairs.  Dinner in the crock pot.  We have house guests for the weekend, so I’ll change bedding and lay out towels, too.
  • Morning of event:  Final cleaning and prep, pick up ice and ordered food (send a spouse or friend!), wipe down the front door and hang porch flag, blow up and hang balloons
  • Last hour – get yourself ready, wipe down the bathrooms, vacuum, take out trash, empty dishwasher, light candles and put on some music

 See, I told you – You Can Do This!  Remember your WHY, and do a little bit every day.  Relax and enjoy!