Hors d'ovres and Appetizers (catering a wedding reception)

[Courtney]

I've been placed in charge of food for a friend's wedding reception on July 10th, and while I am typically a really creative and fabulous chef, I am used to making meals and dished for about 4 people. So this is a whole new turf for me. There are going to be around 25 guests, and I need some ideas for hors d'ovres and appetizers that are fairly quick and cheap to prepare. I know I want to make crab-stuffed mushrooms (because I have a really good recipe for them, and it seems easy to make them in bulk), but other than that I really have no clue. I'm also making a majority of the food the night before the lunch-time reception, so they need to be things that keep fairly well overnight. I'll probably do the mushrooms in the morning just to be safe.

Any help would be appreciated.

[GoDC]

Pigs in a Blanket are always a hit. Crescent rolls and cocktail weenies.

A nice cheese tray and maybe some fruit with it.

A layered dip with chips. Here is one variation http://appetizer.allrecipes.com/az/71685.asp

Some sort of crab or shrimp dip with crackers or french bread is also good but could be a bit expensive.

[Courtney]

It's in Northern Virginia in the heart of snob-country, so I'm trying to avoid stuff like pigs in a blanket. There will definately be fruit and veggie trays (I'll put Margot in charge of those), but I gotta come up with more substancey stuff.

I was thinking maybe mini-cheesecakes for dessert stuff, but want to have more options available than that.

[fidlerre]

mini-quiche loraine.

easy to make in advance and heat up just before the festivities.

[GoDC]

Mini quiche is a good idea and anyone who thinks they are too good to eat Pigs is a fool!!!

[PSU92]

Spinach & Feta in Filo dough

[fidlerre]

let me offer up the best site for recipes...this it the link to the appetizers section...

http://appetizer.allrecipes.com/default.asp?lnkid=211

i use that site all the time to find new recipes...check it out.

[Mad_Bishop]

whole waterchesnuts wrapped in either bacon or proscuitto. Mmmm...

[fidlerre]

whole waterchesnuts wrapped in either bacon or proscuitto. Mmmm...
you can also do the same with scallops for an "upscale" feel.

[Courtney]

Spinach & Feta in Filo dough

I actually thought of that awhile ago but forgot, thanks!





Side note: I won't touch any thing that came from a pig.

[Courtney]

let me offer up the best site for recipes...this it the link to the appetizers section...

http://appetizer.allrecipes.com/default.asp?lnkid=211

i use that site all the time to find new recipes...check it out.

Fabulous!

[fidlerre]

Fabulous!

seriously...best recipe site ever.

i have used it from everything from appetizers to desserts.

those star.ratings of recipes are dead on.

[Courtney]

Okay, someone else is bringing shrimp and cocktail sauce, and someone's mom is making a big wedding cake.

I'm going to do the stuffed mushrooms, quiche, a pasta salad, maybe some kind of pinwheely thing with turkey, fruit/veggie tray, and baclava.

And it's 30 people.

I might scrap the turkey for chicken fingers or something.

It's at 7pm. Which means it has to be meal quantity/quality and I can't go to the Old 97s show. Booo.

[Mad_Bishop]

Side note: I won't touch any thing that came from a pig.

Then you're missing a whole ton of great foods. Proscuitto is God's swine gift to man...unless you spell God G_d or Allah I guess :)

[Courtney]

Then you're missing a whole ton of great foods. Proscuitto is God's swine gift to man...unless you spell God G_d or Allah I guess :)

I spell him with a lowercase g. I had a dissection incident about 5 years ago, haven't touched the stuff since.

[nicodemus]

I was going to suggest the super easy bacon crackers. Easy easy easy to make and people go mental over them.

[Footer Phooter]

It's in Northern Virginia in the heart of snob-country,

Western Loudon County?

[Courtney]

Western Loudon County?

Great Falls.

[GoDC]

Western Loudon County?

Hey, watch it.

Scallops wrapped in bacon is another good one. Get over your pig problem.

[Footer Phooter]

Hey, watch it.

Scallops wrapped in bacon is another good one. Get over your pig problem.

I apologize. Western Loudon County is probably not as snooty as Great Falls.