DS turns 2 this week and we are hosting a party for him next Sat (more
for us than for him). The guest list is small - two of his buddies
plus their parents and our good friends and their daughter. I wanted
to keep the menu simple because both toddlers and adults will be eating
the food, but I think I erred on the side of boring... It was billed
on the invite as a "light lunch". I was sort of thinking people could
build their own sandwiches or graze. Menu is below - any suggestions
on how to liven it up?

Turkey, sliced
Ham, sliced
two breads: sourdough whole wheat roll and a crusty white roll
three cheese selections (suggestions welcome - I was thinking of having
one pepper jack and a cheddar)
sliced tomatoes and avocados
mayo, yellow mustard, grainy brown mustard
veggie and fruit tray (carrots, celery, jicama, cauliflower, radishes,
steamed green beans (if good quality), pineapple, melon(s), apple
slices, mango)
chicken salad
olives (mixed marinated)
steamed shrimp with chipolte/mango dipping sauce
ranch-style dip for veggies
spinach dip with cracker assortment
drinks: mixed cans and bottles (soda, juice, water) in a cooler with
cups and ice available

Birthday cake is pumpkin-carrot with a butter/cream cheese frosting. I
was going to skip the ice cream but DH thinks we should have some on
hand just-in-case.

Do I need the chicken salad and the spinach dip? I was adding both for
variety, and thought the kids might eat the chicken salad.

Any suggestions welcome!
-L.

On Mon 16 Jan 2006 01:27:33a, Thus Spake Zarathustra, or was it -L.?

> DS turns 2 this week and we are hosting a party for him next Sat (more
> for us than for him). The guest list is small - two of his buddies
> plus their parents and our good friends and their daughter. I wanted
> to keep the menu simple because both toddlers and adults will be eating
> the food, but I think I erred on the side of boring... It was billed
> on the invite as a "light lunch". I was sort of thinking people could
> build their own sandwiches or graze. Menu is below - any suggestions
> on how to liven it up?
>
> Turkey, sliced
> Ham, sliced
> two breads: sourdough whole wheat roll and a crusty white roll
> three cheese selections (suggestions welcome - I was thinking of having
> one pepper jack and a cheddar)
> sliced tomatoes and avocados
> mayo, yellow mustard, grainy brown mustard
> veggie and fruit tray (carrots, celery, jicama, cauliflower, radishes,
> steamed green beans (if good quality), pineapple, melon(s), apple
> slices, mango)
> chicken salad
> olives (mixed marinated)
> steamed shrimp with chipolte/mango dipping sauce
> ranch-style dip for veggies
> spinach dip with cracker assortment
> drinks: mixed cans and bottles (soda, juice, water) in a cooler with
> cups and ice available
>
> Birthday cake is pumpkin-carrot with a butter/cream cheese frosting. I
> was going to skip the ice cream but DH thinks we should have some on
> hand just-in-case.
>
> Do I need the chicken salad and the spinach dip? I was adding both for
> variety, and thought the kids might eat the chicken salad.
>
> Any suggestions welcome!

Well, it's definitely more than a "light" lunch, but it sounds delicious!
Yes, I'd go ahead and include the chicken salad and spinach dip. Festive
occasions are always more festive with more dishes on the table. I wish I
was coming!

The pumpkin-carrot cake sure sounds like a winner! Would you mind sharing
the recipe for the cake and the frosting?

Most of all, have a great party and a great time, and Happy Birthday to the
little guy.

--
Wayne Boatwright Õ¿Õ¬
__________________________________________________ ________________
And if we enter a room full of manure, may we believe in the pony.


Remove all "xxx's" from address to e-mail directly.

-L. wrote on 16 Jan 2006 in rec.food.cooking

> Any suggestions welcome!
> -L.
>

Get a bright colored icing on that cake...The pictures of the Birthday
Boy's face covered in Icing will turn out better.

You don't mention anything spicy, perhaps salsa might be a nice addition.
With the toddlers around finger food would work the best for adults being
able to intercept any toddlers in trouble situations quickly. IMO The
adults are there just to provide better crowd control. Hoping this is a
good party for the rugrats.

--
The eyes are the mirrors....
But the ears...Ah the ears.
The ears keep the hat up.

-L. wrote:


>
> Any suggestions welcome!
> -L.

Sounds far from boring! My only suggestion is that you all enjoy
yourselves and wish the little one a happy birthday!

Cheers
Cathy(xyz)

Mr Libido Incognito wrote:
> Get a bright colored icing on that cake...The pictures of the Birthday
> Boy's face covered in Icing will turn out better.

LOL...the icing will be bright blue, like the ocean. I am doing a Nemo
cake and making the cake look like the sea, placing Nemo figures on
top. I am too lazy to do a nice Nemo figural cake like Denise did last
year.

>
> You don't mention anything spicy, perhaps salsa might be a nice addition.

The dipping sauce for the shrimp is spicy, but I thought about that as
well. Maybe I will add tortilla chips salsa and guac.

> With the toddlers around finger food would work the best for adults being
> able to intercept any toddlers in trouble situations quickly. IMO The
> adults are there just to provide better crowd control. Hoping this is a
> good party for the rugrats.

Thanks. I am hoping it will be a chance for the "Dads" to get to
know each other a little better, too.
-L.

Wayne Boatwright wrote:
>
> Well, it's definitely more than a "light" lunch, but it sounds delicious!
> Yes, I'd go ahead and include the chicken salad and spinach dip. Festive
> occasions are always more festive with more dishes on the table. I wish I
> was coming!

Wish you could come, too.

>
> The pumpkin-carrot cake sure sounds like a winner! Would you mind sharing
> the recipe for the cake and the frosting?

Sure - when I get a minute to put it in the computer.

>
> Most of all, have a great party and a great time, and Happy Birthday to the
> little guy.

Thanks! It just keeps getting more fun.

-L.

cathyxyz wrote:
> -L. wrote:
>
>
> >
> > Any suggestions welcome!
> > -L.
>
> Sounds far from boring! My only suggestion is that you all enjoy
> yourselves and wish the little one a happy birthday!

Thanks! I was just concerned it seemed a little, I dunno - Midwestern
or something.
-L.
(Midwest native)

On Mon 16 Jan 2006 10:35:45a, Thus Spake Zarathustra, or was it -L.?

>
> Wayne Boatwright wrote:
>>
>> Well, it's definitely more than a "light" lunch, but it sounds
>> delicious! Yes, I'd go ahead and include the chicken salad and spinach
>> dip. Festive occasions are always more festive with more dishes on the
>> table. I wish I was coming!
>
> Wish you could come, too.
>
>>
>> The pumpkin-carrot cake sure sounds like a winner! Would you mind
>> sharing the recipe for the cake and the frosting?
>
> Sure - when I get a minute to put it in the computer.
>
>>
>> Most of all, have a great party and a great time, and Happy Birthday to
>> the little guy.
>
> Thanks! It just keeps getting more fun.
>
> -L.

Thanks!


--
Wayne Boatwright Õ¿Õ¬
__________________________________________________ ________________
And if we enter a room full of manure, may we believe in the pony.


Remove all "xxx's" from address to e-mail directly.

"-L." > wrote in message
oups.com...
> DS turns 2 this week and we are hosting a party for him next Sat (more
> for us than for him). The guest list is small - two of his buddies
> plus their parents and our good friends and their daughter. I wanted
> to keep the menu simple because both toddlers and adults will be eating
> the food, but I think I erred on the side of boring... It was billed
> on the invite as a "light lunch". I was sort of thinking people could
> build their own sandwiches or graze. Menu is below - any suggestions
> on how to liven it up?
>

(menu snipped)


That doesn't sound boring -- it sounds simple, but just fine. Sandwiches,
fruits & veggies, fun dippity stuff. Familiar, but a few extras that you
don't always see (like the sliced avocado, and the mango/chipotle sauce --
be careful, or you'll end up having to type in that recipe, too!). Sounds
like at least a light lunch to me! I haven't seen too many toddlers eat
chicken salad, but then, I don't live in the mid-west. Here on the east
coast, toddlers eat sushi and tofu. ;-)

>
> Birthday cake is pumpkin-carrot with a butter/cream cheese frosting. I
> was going to skip the ice cream but DH thinks we should have some on
> hand just-in-case.
>

The cake sounds yummy! Can't hurt to have some ice cream on hand, though
you don't really need it. (But then you can DH could curl up on the couch
with the ice cream some night the following week...so why not?)

Chris

Gotta say it looks like you're feeding more than 6 adults - that's a
LOT of food!
```````````````````````````

On 16 Jan 2006 00:27:33 -0800, -L. wrote:

> DS turns 2 this week and we are hosting a party for him next Sat (more
> for us than for him). The guest list is small - two of his buddies
> plus their parents and our good friends and their daughter. I wanted
> to keep the menu simple because both toddlers and adults will be eating
> the food, but I think I erred on the side of boring... It was billed
> on the invite as a "light lunch". I was sort of thinking people could
> build their own sandwiches or graze. Menu is below - any suggestions
> on how to liven it up?
>
> Turkey, sliced
> Ham, sliced
> two breads: sourdough whole wheat roll and a crusty white roll
> three cheese selections (suggestions welcome - I was thinking of having
> one pepper jack and a cheddar)
> sliced tomatoes and avocados
> mayo, yellow mustard, grainy brown mustard
> veggie and fruit tray (carrots, celery, jicama, cauliflower, radishes,
> steamed green beans (if good quality), pineapple, melon(s), apple
> slices, mango)
> chicken salad
> olives (mixed marinated)
> steamed shrimp with chipolte/mango dipping sauce
> ranch-style dip for veggies
> spinach dip with cracker assortment
> drinks: mixed cans and bottles (soda, juice, water) in a cooler with
> cups and ice available
>
> Birthday cake is pumpkin-carrot with a butter/cream cheese frosting. I
> was going to skip the ice cream but DH thinks we should have some on
> hand just-in-case.
>
> Do I need the chicken salad and the spinach dip? I was adding both for
> variety, and thought the kids might eat the chicken salad.
>
> Any suggestions welcome!
> -L.

--

Practice safe eating. Always use condiments.

"-L." > wrote in message
oups.com...
> DS turns 2 this week and we are hosting a party for him next Sat (more
> for us than for him). The guest list is small - two of his buddies
> plus their parents and our good friends and their daughter. I wanted
> to keep the menu simple because both toddlers and adults will be eating
> the food, but I think I erred on the side of boring... It was billed
> on the invite as a "light lunch". I was sort of thinking people could
> build their own sandwiches or graze. Menu is below - any suggestions
> on how to liven it up?

<snip>

Sounds like a wonderful menu! (I'd leave in the chicken salad and spinach
dip, BTW.)

Happy Birthday to J!!! Hope he has a great day.

Mary--who's having a b-day party for her daughter this week, too, but having
it at one of those "inflatable party zone" places so I don't have to do the
work!

-L. wrote:
> DS turns 2 this week and we are hosting a party for him next Sat (more
> for us than for him). The guest list is small - two of his buddies
> plus their parents and our good friends and their daughter. I wanted
> to keep the menu simple because both toddlers and adults will be eating
> the food, but I think I erred on the side of boring... It was billed
> on the invite as a "light lunch". I was sort of thinking people could
> build their own sandwiches or graze. Menu is below - any suggestions
> on how to liven it up?
>

>
> Any suggestions welcome!
> -L.
>

It sounds delicious. I'd add Swiss or gruyere cheese for the adults and
some string cheese for the kids, who are more likely to graze than eat
sandwiches. It does sound like quite an elaborate menu for two year
olds, but there will be enough edults to enjoy it.

Ice cream is really traditional. Are you adverse to serving beer and/or
coffee?

Are grandparents not invited or too far away to attend?

Happy Birthday to DS and party success to you.

gloria p

MareCat wrote:
>
> Sounds like a wonderful menu! (I'd leave in the chicken salad and spinach
> dip, BTW.)
>
> Happy Birthday to J!!! Hope he has a great day.
>
> Mary--who's having a b-day party for her daughter this week, too, but having
> it at one of those "inflatable party zone" places so I don't have to do the
> work!

I was thinking about R! Hope her party is fun. She's a big girl
now - 3!! Cyndie's (cynderella from AIA - doesn't post any more)
daughter K. turns 2 this week too.
-L.

Puester wrote:
>
> It sounds delicious. I'd add Swiss or gruyere cheese for the adults and
> some string cheese for the kids, who are more likely to graze than eat
> sandwiches. It does sound like quite an elaborate menu for two year
> olds, but there will be enough edults to enjoy it.
>
> Ice cream is really traditional. Are you adverse to serving beer and/or
> coffee?

DH will probably drum up some beer, and coffee will be offered with
cake.

>
> Are grandparents not invited or too far away to attend?

J only has one left - Grandma (DH's Mom), and she is on the East coast.
We live in OR.

>
> Happy Birthday to DS and party success to you.

Thanks! And thanks to everyone else who responded as well.
-L.

On 16 Jan 2006 00:27:33 -0800, "-L." > wrote:

>DS turns 2 this week and we are hosting a party for him next Sat (more
>for us than for him). The guest list is small - two of his buddies
>plus their parents and our good friends and their daughter. I wanted
>to keep the menu simple because both toddlers and adults will be eating
>the food, but I think I erred on the side of boring... It was billed
>on the invite as a "light lunch". I was sort of thinking people could
>build their own sandwiches or graze. Menu is below - any suggestions
>on how to liven it up?

Your menu sounds great to me. I'd be happy to see all the below at a
birthday party. I don't think it needs livening up, but I will
throw out a few suggestions.

>Turkey, sliced
>Ham, sliced
>two breads: sourdough whole wheat roll and a crusty white roll
>three cheese selections (suggestions welcome - I was thinking of having
>one pepper jack and a cheddar)
>sliced tomatoes and avocados
>mayo, yellow mustard, grainy brown mustard

I would enjoy Swiss or provolone cheese. Maybe add a "fancy" spread
or mayo -- chutney, wasabi mayo, aioli. You could serve some
cornichons and peppers on the side.

>veggie and fruit tray (carrots, celery, jicama, cauliflower, radishes,
>steamed green beans (if good quality), pineapple, melon(s), apple
>slices, mango)
>chicken salad
>olives (mixed marinated)
>steamed shrimp with chipolte/mango dipping sauce
>ranch-style dip for veggies
>spinach dip with cracker assortment
>drinks: mixed cans and bottles (soda, juice, water) in a cooler with
>cups and ice available

You don't really need the chicken salad and spinach dip, but I
wouldn't be sad to see them on the table, either. Maybe add some
interesting chips to go with the sandwiches? Terra makes the most
addictive root vegetable chip mix -- sweet potatoes, yucca, parsnips,
beets, etc. -- and it is very colorful and pretty in a glass bowl.
Some blue or red tortilla chips would be fun, too.

Tara

In article .com>,
"-L." > wrote:

> Mr Libido Incognito wrote:
> > Get a bright colored icing on that cake...The pictures of the Birthday
> > Boy's face covered in Icing will turn out better.
>
> LOL...the icing will be bright blue, like the ocean. I am doing a Nemo
> cake and making the cake look like the sea, placing Nemo figures on
> top. I am too lazy to do a nice Nemo figural cake like Denise did last
> year.
>
> >
> > You don't mention anything spicy, perhaps salsa might be a nice addition.
>
> The dipping sauce for the shrimp is spicy, but I thought about that as
> well. Maybe I will add tortilla chips salsa and guac.
>
> > With the toddlers around finger food would work the best for adults being
> > able to intercept any toddlers in trouble situations quickly. IMO The
> > adults are there just to provide better crowd control. Hoping this is a
> > good party for the rugrats.
>
> Thanks. I am hoping it will be a chance for the "Dads" to get to
> know each other a little better, too.

Don't forget to include one or two items that your son will enjoy,
besides the birthday cake.

"-L." > wrote in message
oups.com...
>
> MareCat wrote:
>>
>> Sounds like a wonderful menu! (I'd leave in the chicken salad and spinach
>> dip, BTW.)
>>
>> Happy Birthday to J!!! Hope he has a great day.
>>
>> Mary--who's having a b-day party for her daughter this week, too, but
>> having
>> it at one of those "inflatable party zone" places so I don't have to do
>> the
>> work!
>
> I was thinking about R! Hope her party is fun. She's a big girl
> now - 3!!

Yeah...3 going on 30. LOL.


> Cyndie's (cynderella from AIA - doesn't post any more)
> daughter K. turns 2 this week too.

I know so many kids with birthdays this week! There are a bunch of birthday
kids in my moms' group and several in a.i.p.

Mary

Stan Horwitz wrote:
> Don't forget to include one or two items that your son will enjoy,
> besides the birthday cake.

Oh, he's a good little eater, so he will be happy with everything. He
especially likes mango so I will go to lengths to get some for him.

Thanks for the reminder!
-L.

Tara wrote:
> You don't really need the chicken salad and spinach dip, but I
> wouldn't be sad to see them on the table, either. Maybe add some
> interesting chips to go with the sandwiches? Terra makes the most
> addictive root vegetable chip mix -- sweet potatoes, yucca, parsnips,
> beets, etc. -- and it is very colorful and pretty in a glass bowl.

Yes! I had thought about those - thanks for the reminder!

Everyone has such great suggestions - thanks again!

-L.