Playful Office Baby Shower

I found these amusing baby shower pictures from an office party Richard and I catered last October. The hostess, Sheri, has a delightful sense of humor which made it fun to create a "tongue in cheek" menu for the party.

To create a menu that is fun and entertaining, start with a list of dishes that will appeal to a variety of appetites. 

Here are some suggestions for success;
Be sure you consider "good taste," especially in an office setting. Re-naming dishes and select clever serving pieces to reinforce the theme, both are an easy way to have fun with the menu and guests love it.

Here is the menu for Sheri's event if you can use to add some whimsy to your own baby shower!

Playful Office Baby Shower

Menu for 25 guests

Lamaze-gna

creamy spinach lasagna with a plump belly

Brats in a Blanket

sausages wrapped in pastry served with grainy mustard

Baby Greens Salad with Baby Bottle Dressing

candied pecans, raspberries and Mandarin oranges

Conception Eggs with "Swimmer" Garnish

black olives top stuffed eggs 

Savory "Lollipops"

deli meats and cheeses in a wrap, sliced and skewered

Watermelon Baby Carriage

Fruit Salad

Fruit salad in a watermelon baby carriage

"Swimmers" decorated stuffed eggs

Lollipop Pinwheel Deli Skewers

 "Brats in a Blanket", brat sausages wrapped in pastry

 Raspberry Vinaigrette served in a baby bottle

I didn't find the picture of the "Lamazegna" I used the Spinach Lasagne from my recipe in Cook like a Caterer. I added some extra filling in the middle to make it look like it had a "baby bump" giving it a theme name (a play on Lamaze) is fun too. The stuffed eggs recipe, the quantity of fruits needed for the fruit salad and the raspberry vinaigrette are also in the cook book at cooklikeacaterer.com.

Fall Soups and Stews- Curry Butternut Squash Soup

Beautiful fall colors from our apple picking adventure last year

It's hard to decide what season is my favorite to cook in. Winter begs for baking, spring calls for salads and summer barbecue is a must. In Fall making comforting soups and thick hearty stews is what I most look forward to. The desire to whip up a soup must be instinctual because the weather has not actually suggested soup as yet. However with autumns calendar arriving it's good to be prepared.

At the recent cooking class for the nice folks at the Santa Fe Springs Public Library, time allowed for me to teach only three recipes. Narrowing it down was difficult, there are more great choices then cool days to enjoy them in the weeks ahead!

In the end I chose a Mexican Albondigas Soup, small seasoned meatballs in a light broth that can host additional vegetables and even a bit of rice to be a little more filling. Tuscan Chicken White Bean Stew, a delicious thick and healthy crock pot meal that can be made with simple pantry items. Finally Curry Butternut Squash Soup that is creamy rich, velvet smooth and is everything from color to flavor intensely fall.

Creamy, smooth Curry Butternut Squash Soup served in hollowed mini pumpkin.

Today lets explore my favorite Curry Butternut Squash Soup. Why, yes! The recipe serves 32, a "party sized recipe" from my book Cook like a Caterer. It makes a huge pot perfect for entertaining and to fill up the freezer for the cool months ahead. Cutting the recipe in half makes a generous amount, but don't shy away from making it... soup is for sharing!

Curry Butternut Squash Soup

Many first time tasters are surprised that the curry in this recipe is not overwhelming and the color is as delicious as the soup. Curry butternut squash soup is especially nice for a Fall party and is charming served from a mini hallowed pumpkin.

Serves 32

8 tablespoons olive oil

8 cups onions chopped

6 teaspoons curry powder

1 teaspoon ground ginger

1 teaspoon cayenne pepper

8 quarts butternut squash cubed

3½ quarts chicken broth

3 cups heavy cream

1. Heat oil in large pot, add onions. Cover and cook over medium heat until soft, stirring often (about 5 minutes).
2. Add curry powder, ground ginger and ½ teaspoon of cayenne, stir 30 seconds. Add squash and broth, bring to a boil and reduce heat to medium low. Cover and simmer until squash is very tender (about 30 minutes).
3. Puree soup in batches, in blender, until smooth.
4. Return to same pot. Stir in cream and add salt, pepper and cayenne to taste.

COOKS NOTE

• Vent blender when pureeing soup to keep steam from building up.
• The soup can be made in advance up to where the cream is added and will freeze well. 
• You can decrease the curry for a milder flavor or substitute pumpkin pie spice if you like.
• Serving in hallowed out mini pumpkins is great for a plated single serving... a larger pumpkin is great on a buffet.

Darling mini pumpkins and gourds make great vessels for soup and to add to your fall decor!

Catering A 50th Anniversary Luau

Fond memories of Hawaiian celebrations motivated Ruth and Wayne to nix the idea of a stuffy, fussy, gold leafed 50th Anniversary celebration and embrace a colorful tropical themed event. Having catered for the family many years, it was a great honor to be part of such a special occasion.

The Fresh Ideas Crew prepared salads and cooked on site. Guests enjoyed delicious grilled Teriyaki Chicken and Kalua Pork served from a theme decorated buffet. The following menu is fresh and simple, perfect for any Luau Style entertaining.

50th Anniversary Menu for 120

Appetizers

Tropical Fruit Array,

Island Fresh Spinach Dip with Vegetable Sticks,

Pacific Shrimp Cocktail,

Spicy Mango Cheese Ring with Crackers

Buffet Dinner

Hearts of Palm, Jicama and Papaya Salad

with Coconut Green Onion Dressing,

Sesame Noodle Salad,

Teriyaki Chicken with Grilled Pineapple,

Hawaiian Rice 

Kalua Pork with Guava Habanero Sauce,

Assorted Rolls

Dessert

Banana Cake

Plate from the dinner buffet and server, Olivia, setting shrimp out on the appetizer table.

Guest tables are islands of color dressed in poppy, coral, lime and hot pink. The canopy offered shelter from the sun. The temperature soared in the 100's, but the relaxed setting kept guests comfortable.

Celebrating 50 years of marriage, Wayne and Ruth relax and have fun with family and friends. 

The festivities included renewing of vows and inspirational words from those who have been closest to them. 

Blessed with a family of musicians, the entertainment was home grown.

Tropical touches on cake tiers blended tradition to theme. The banana cake is resting on glass vases of various heights. 

The vases hold sea shells I collected and use for tropical events. Other desserts would also do well presented on clear plates over these same vases.

Very clever, Ruth created these darling treat bags with fun little things to play beach party at home. Island inspired goodies are fairly easy to find in party supply stores or on line to make your own great giveaways.  Easy and breezy-sea shells, leis, fish net, Hawaiian print fabric, bamboo items, palm leaves are all affordable items, perfect for low cost party decor.

A few simple theme props set the stage and entrance to the backyard event. A collection of island and beach items were organized to create a designated back drop for memorable photos.

While Polynesian style is most often reserved for birthday, retirement and graduation parties, a Luau will add delicious fun for any special event. Have you ever hosted a tropical theme event? I'd love to hear your ideas!

Tapas for an Exceptional Anniversary Party

The same weekend we catered the perfect surprise birthday taco party, we had another gem. Since it's hard to believe we could cater two perfect events in one weekend... we'll call it an exceptional party.

This exceptional party had perky umbrellas dotting a neat stretch of lawn bordered by orange trees and garden roses.
Roses and oranges, oh my!... their scent lingering heavenly in the breeze-less afternoon.

The sun was very high, very hot and stayed put right over the backyard.While warm like a August summer day usually is, it offered in return the bluest sky ever. A cloudless canopy stretching endlessly overhead.

A setting as beautiful as the occasion...

Celebrating 50 years of marriage!

On the patio, stretched two draped and decorated buffet stations near a babbling waterfall and pond. Koi fish delighted the guests... especially the little ones! Food, beverage and dessert stations enjoyed a lush backdrop.

 When the hostess suggested a Spanish Tapas style menu, I was surprised, delighted and intrigued.

Tapas are snacks and finger foods, something that I would normally pitch for an afternoon garden party but rarely do I get the go ahead.
I got the go.
Planning a Tapas menu is creative  there is so many unique and tasty options. Even if some of the appetizers are labor intensive, they are every bit worth the effort.

50th Anniversary Tapas Menu

110 guests

                                                                                                                                               
 

Tapas Platters

 grilled vegetables, marinated lima beans, cured pork, marinated artichokes, chorizo, marinated mushrooms, pickled carrots, roasted peppers, spanish stuffed olives, manchego cheese, kalamata black olives,

 melon wrapped in cured ham, herb goat cheese, dried fruit, grapes and berries

Fresh Summer Fruit

Shrimp Gazpacho

with avocado, capers, onion, celery, dried chili, lemons and lime

 Chevere Torte with Red Onion Jam

cracker assortment

Chafer Items

Spicy Stuffed Sausage Mushrooms

Manchego Cheese Popovers

Spanish Albondigas

Chorizo and Black Bean Empanadas

Station Items

Bruschetta freshly Toasted and

with Three Tomato Pomodoro Sauce

Saffron Seared Chicken Skewers

Sherry and Garlic Braised Beef "Sliders" 

Dessert Cupcakes

Guests gathered to celebrate five decades of special memories. All were treated to a exceptional afternoon of music, good food and friendship.

 "An anniversary is a time to celebrate the joys of today, the memories of yesterday, and the hopes of tomorrow."  ~Author Unknown







 

"OH MAYO!" Catering a Mexican Fiesta

Personally, I love Mexican food, I always have. It's not just the flavor I love, it's the comfort feeling that tags a long...warm, relaxed, and colorful. When a event comes a long with an opportunity to put a Mexican theme to it, I don't just want to serve authentic dishes, I want guests to feel the party too.

Cinco De Mayo is a good reason for a fiesta, but don't stop there! Affordable ingredients, ease of preparation and wide crowd appeal makes Mexican dishes an excellent choice for entertaining year round. A Mexican menu can be as simple as tacos, beans and rice or can have the addition of favorites like; Enchiladas, Tamales, Taquitos or Quesadillas. When made with simple fresh ingredients any Latin inspired dish is a good fit for a fiesta.

At this fiesta theme birthday party for 230 guests, a staff member, made tortillas to serve with the meal. Tortillas are inexpensive to make, and watching them being freshly made adds interest to the buffet. 

Just like menu, the festive look is easy to achieve. Bold color, vibrant flowers, warm terracotta, rustic pieces in wood, iron and clay work well for decorations. Use new serapes as table runners, fresh chilies, tomatoes and limes make great centerpieces, and paper flowers or pinatas keep cost down.

Bigger pieces rented from a prop house can turn a backyard tennis court into a Mexican village. Live Mariachi music is a wonderful treat at a special event. Having service staff in costume, and asking guests to dress up, adds to the fun.

(It only looks like the donkey is having a bite!)

The best way to offer fresh food at a fiesta is to cook on site at cooking stations or to create an open kitchen. Guests enjoy seeing the preparation which is part of the entertainment. The vegetables for this salad were grilled first, then the grill was used for cooking the Ancho Chicken for the main course. Once the vegetables cooled, the salad was assembled and served with Cilantro dressing.

 Fiesta Menu 

 230 Guests

Black Jack Quesadillas 

with Salsa Fresca

page 16

Carnitas Soft Tacos

page 142 

Taquitos Poquitos 

with roasted garlic guacamole

page 40

Cabo Shrimp Cocktail

page 20

Crab Green Chili and Cheddar Dip 

with fresh made tortilla chips

page 57

South American Grilled Vegetable Salad with Cilantro Dressing

page 97

Ancho Chili Grilled Chicken with Verde Sauce

page 132

Mexican Red Rice

page 123

Pinto Beans

Handmade Tortillas

page 216

Sliced Fruit Tray
page 65

Apple Flautas
page 184

Kahlua Chocolate Flan
page 199 

Classic Margaritas
page 227

 Recipes can be found in Cook like a Caterer...Party Sized Recipes for Entertaining

On Lulu or also on Amazon.

Catering A Gypsy Theme Event

I was planning an event for a client who has had so many parties, it seemed like every theme we thought of had been done before! Someone suggested the idea of a Gypsy Party, at first I was stumped. What seemed like it would be a challenging theme to work with, ended up a lot of fun.

The party was for the hosts birthday and 275 guests were invited to his private residence, (turned Gypsy Camp), in Yorba Linda, CA. The property is lush with mature trees and rambling gardens, the perfect forest look for a Gypsy camp. Props, menu and entertainment added to the flavor.

I rented a few old world style backdrops such as a cottage, forest, and thatched roof house. These were set dressed with luggage, tools, barrels and trunks. A few tents, wagons, wishing well, some farm animal props and bench seating helped with the camp look.

Most of the cooking was done on site in full view of the guests. The dishes were served on wagon covered buffets to protect the food as well as add to the rustic look. The party lasted into the night and everyone had a ball!

  ~Appetizers~

Market Fair Fruit, Cheese and Vegetables

Piroshki Russian Tiny Turnovers

Mystic Meatballs

Beggars Purse

Rosemary Steak Skewers

                                                                           ~Dinner~

Chicken Paprikash
Hungarian Beef Goulash
Rag Noodles
Rose Potatoes with Olives in Basil Oil
Chopped Peasant Salad 
Goat cheese, cucumber, tomato, shaved red onion and wine vinaigrette,
Rustic breads 

~Dessert~

Mixed Stone Fruit Cobbler with fresh whipped cream

Bread Pudding with Whiskey Sauce

 Tartelettes

~Beverages~

Lemonade Iced Tea and Campfire Coffee

Tavern Bar

~Entertainment~

Crystal ball reader, Tarot Card Reader, Gypsy Dancers, Strolling Music Playing Duo and a Theme Gypsy Band.

Prop tent makes a fun setting for a crystal ball reader

Props and buffet station settle nicely into the lush yard

Fortune Tellers tent

Benches and props set to watch the entertainment

Gypsy dancers liven up the evening

A colorful party