Forum Thermomix
Welcoming Center, Management and General Chat => Chit Chat => Topic started by: kezza on April 18, 2014, 01:29:48 am
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My sons are turning 30 (where did that time go!) and they would like a party at our place for 60 friends. I am undecided about whether to cater myself or have it catered for me. I thought if I got my act together now I could prepare and freeze a fair bit now I have a food saver. Anyone out there done this before? Any ideas and hints would b gratefully appreciated from food ideas to logistics. I really want to do bite size food, rather than a banquet style.
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Kezza I think you could do it easily. Have lots in the freezer and on the night just keep it coming. On the night you could have pizza pieces fresh. From the freezer Sausage rolls, mini meat pies, Amy's quiches', Judy's caramelised onion tarts, dips that had been made on the previous day with biscuits and perhaps crudités, even little cheese rolls from the freezer that had been heated up.
I'm sure people will think of tons more things.
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Yep, you can do it!
Just have less variety but more of it, rather than alot of variety and not much of each to make it easier on yourself. :)
I would do some things to be served cold that can be prepared and assembled ahead as well as hot food, do you want to serve it all at once or throughout? Could do more snacky for a start (think cheese, crackers, dip etc) followed by a bit more filling savory (sausage rolls, quiches, club sandwiches etc) then finished with sweets (slices, cake, whatever)
just ideas of course.
Good luck, let us know what you decide to make!!! :)
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I tend to cheat and get a nice large piece of beef on the weber and have hot beef rolls with gravy. Dips and nibbles before and sweets after that are easily made the day before.
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There is always the old fashioned prawn night. Banana leaves on the table and dump the prawns on top. I catered for a wedding once and they wanted prawns so i spent all day peeling and cleaning them. The bridegroom was royally pi$$ed off with me as I then learned that peeling prawns for a party was a big huge no no. It is every man for himself in OZ.
Anyway that might make a nice starter and busy hands keep them from guzzling the grog.
Gert
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If you do it yourself make sure you have an army of helpers in the kitchen or else you will be in their yourself all night pulling things out of the oven and putting things in. Maybe look at hiring a pie warmer thing, they aren't expensive.
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Kezza, you can do it. Just a matter of resources and planning. Keep the hot food coming at intervals with cold food available all night. I would suggest ice cream wafers for sweets as well as a spectacular cake. Make ice cream and freeze it in rectangular containers, ( 3 colors is nice). When ready to serve, slice and place between 2 wafers and serve. No plates and everyone loves Ice Cream. A large cheese platter with fruit and nuts is also great. Good luck and have fun.
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60 people is so easy. lots of finger foods, quiches, savoury puff pastry bites, dips, fruit platters, cheese platters, thai fish cakes,
I do a bread stick cut up into slices, top with premade bolognaise sauce, grated cheese, heat in oven.
mini spring rolls,
a bit of planning but easy
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Happy 30th birthday to your boys Kezza. :D
To make it easy on yourself finger food that can be made ahead and then frozen and reheated on the night would be good. Judy's caramelised onion, fetta and mushroom tarts that Cookie mentioned are great - they freeze well and are easy to reheat. Thai chicken sausage rolls, pre marinated kebabs that just have to be thrown on the barbie. Wonton wrappers placed in muffin tins and baked - they stay fresh in an air tight container for up to 4 days and filled with Asian chicken salad or whatever. Vol-au-vents. Chicken wings, they can always be served cold.
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Happy birthday to your boys kezza. As others have said its doable with some pre planning and organisation. I would also add just make sure you have helpers otherwise you will be in the kitchen the entire time.
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i known u could do it Kezza , but really................. get it catered :-))
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Thanks girls for all your input and encouragement. I'll let you know what I decide. If the catering is too expensive (I'm still waiting for quote), I will do it myself. I also think there could be a special announcement in the family later this year where it would be more appropriate for me to use catering! ;)
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wedding bells? ;D
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That sounds exciting news kezza ;D
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I would cater, no stress and enjoy the party.
However its doable with a large freezer :)
What about 1/2 catered & you do 1/2.
News....... Oooh love exciting news :)
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Good luck with your decision kezza.
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It has come to light that there could be an engagement! One DS has been with his girlfriend 11 years (can't rush these things!) and I think the time is nigh! DS and girlfriend were over the other night and we were watching a movie about a guy who wouldn't pop the question to his girlfriend of 4 years because of his parent's bitter divorce and DS's girlfriend called out "Try 11 years d...head" :) We all burst out laughing.
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Hilarious Kezza hope he pops the question :)
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I hope he comes good Kezza. ;D ;D
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If it's not an engagement announcement Kezza, it could well be a termination of relationship. He sounds as if he is under pressure at the moment. ;D
I too would have the party catered, life is too short to put ourselves under stress.
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Have you thought about doing it the "old fashioned" way and asking each couple to bring a plate (a bit of co-ordination is required here, though)? This is absolutely no reflection on your abilities to feed so many, but that way everyone has at least one dish that they like and it takes so much pressure off you so you can relax and enjoy the evening.
You could always make a couple of extra special dishes, of course, but I think it has a much more personal feel if everyone has contributed - and it is always a great compliment when you praise each guest individually to show your appreciation for their extra effort to make the evening a success.
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That's a great idea marina.
That poor girl kezza. I thought my 6 year wait was long enough. She deserves a whopper of a ring for her patience.
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I catered a birthday for myself a few years ago. It started with a group of 15 or so and I decided to just do finger food. However by the time the party came around DH had kept inviting friends and it turned into about 80 guests.
It was winter so most of the food had to be warmed up.
My poor oven just couldn't keep up with demand. My mum and SIL had to stay in t kitchen trying to keep trays full and a constant stream of food coming out. You wouldn't make it out the door and the tray would be empty and the poor guests at the other end of the yard would miss out.
My advice - if it was up to about 25 guests, no problem but for a crowd of 60 definitely get the caterers in.
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What a stressful night Chrissa.
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Well I have decided to do it myself. A kind friend has offered 2 pie warmers which will help considerably and I have a few helpers. I am going to pay a couple of nice lads to be the waiters. So far I think I will do JD's mushroom & feta tarts, Michelle's thai chicken sausage rolls, pork san choy bow (served in little lettuce cups), probably buy some sushi, arancini balls and a curry and rice served in bowls for something a bit more substantial and another vege dish. Not sure if the boys actually want a cake yet, so will do raspberry cheesecake brownies and lemon tarts for dessert. Figure a lot can be done in advance with this menu, so fingers crossed.
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Sounds good to me. I found the cooking part relatively easy and satisfying but if I was doing it again I would pay someone to do the waitressing so that I can enjoy the party. So you have made the right decision!
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Sounds like a great plan. The waiters on the night will be a great help.
Can't wait to hear how it goes.
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Good plan.
Gert
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Sounds great!
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Look forward to hearing how it goes Kezza. 8)
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sounds great Kezza
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Just what you need kezza, it takes the pressure off you. Your plan sounds doable, have fun.
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Sounds like a good plan kezza and a good idea to have waiters.
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Thanks everyone - party is on the 17th May so have time to get it organised. Made a batch of JD's tarts today to see how they go vacuum sealing them and how they freeze. I thought my machine was going to squish them altogether while it was removing the air! I stopped the machine and released them a bit and sealed. Now only another 4 batches to make!!!!! They are really yummy and the vegetarians on the night should love them.
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I was very careful not to squash the life out of them when I vacuumed sealed some kezza ;D
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Kezza the plans sounds great, I find it's really the help on the night not the initial cooking that is stressful.
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Sounds good, Kezza. Don't forget to arrange for a couple of people to do the dishes and clean up as well
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kezza, freeze the tarts 1st then seal them
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Yes, freezing them first would be the sensible thing to do Uni! Thanks for that.
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Sounds like it's all coming together Kezza.
DS's girlfriend has the patience of a saint - DS must be worth waiting for. :D
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My DS's girlfriend is just gorgeous and they are so suited to each other. Neither of them were in a hurry to marry, but now I think the clock is ticking!
Michelle, I made a batch of your Thai chicken rolls today. They are very nice, but I thought mine might have needed a bit of salt. Also I will need to be careful not to overcook so the chicken doesn't dry out. Have you frozen these and reheated without drying them out?
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So lovely when you get on well with your future DIL. :D After 11 years together you either want to do it for life or it's time to move on. :)
I agree that the original recipe needs seasoning - I have make the sausage rolls and freeze uncooked - cook from frozen, they don't take long - 15 mins.
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Thanks Michele, I'll freeze uncooked.
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Here are a couple of pics to show that I am going well with prep for the party this Saturday. JD's caramelized onion and mushroom tarts, Michele's thai chicken sausage rolls and the cottage rolls. All ready and frozen. I've also been to my local family owned liquor store and organised all the alcohol from them rather than give the money to the big guys and they will have everything chilled and I only have to pick up closer to the time. They are also giving me bags of ice for free. Went to the cash and carry and bought plates, cutlery and serviettes etc. All we need now is nice weather, not torrential rain like their 21st!
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That looks very impressive, kezza! Fingers crossed you have the best weather possible!!! ;)
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Fantastic Kezza 8) Everthing crossed here for nice weather for you. ;) :)
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You have been busy. You will get such a sense of satisfaction when everyone is commenting on the lovely food. I'll keep my fingers crossed for good weather.
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Great start Kezza, wishing you all the best for Saturday night.
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That's great Kezza. All the best for the big event.
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Fingers crossed here too for fine weather.
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Kezza you are doing well. Have fun on Saturday night.
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looks great Kezza
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Well done Kezza.
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You have been busy, well done.
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Looking good :)
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Thank you everyone for all your encouragement. The night was wonderful and I had heaps of food thanks to great recipes from this forum. Thermie made life so much easier. Leftovers tonight with a few things added as today is actually my DS's x 2 30th bday and my DD's x 2 28th birthday is tomorrow. So more celebrating tonight and then a BIG rest tomorrow!
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Happy Birthday to all your children. Many busy celebrations in your house, a day apart! Expensive time of the year. You must feel blessed.
Well done with all your catering.
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Super to hear everything went smoothly Kezza.Happy Birthday to your children.
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Glad it all went to plan, Kezza - congrats. :)
You must have been so busy when they were all young... 8)
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I'm glad it was a great night Kezza and celebrations are still underway. I agree, life must have been hectic when all the kids were little.
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Congratulations kezza. Glad it went well and happy birthday to everyone.
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Well done Kezza ;D
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Congratulations, Kezza!! Absolutely brilliant job all round!! :D I think I'd be apoplectic if I were faced with the same task . . but I'm still keeping notes . . ;D ;D
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Birthday wishes to you all. Wow 2 sets of twins - multiple blessings. :)
Glad the party went well.
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today is actually my DS's x 2 30th bday and my DD's x 2 28th birthday is tomorrow.
:o :o :o I have twin puppies which I thought were keeping me on my toes - you are amazing!
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Congratulations Kezza, glad everything went well. Birthday greetings to all :)
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I have passed on all your lovely birthday wishes to my darlings! Now it's all over I am sleeping so much better ;D
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Is it any easier now they are growing up? I'm sure the worry isn't though.
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Kezza, just like the Bobsey twins 😄😃
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Kezza, could I ask for the list of what you prepared for the night? What a wonderful family celebration all round!!
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Of course, goldfish.
I made JD's caramelized onion, mushroom and feta tarts (started making 2 weeks in advance, cooked and froze them)
McMich's Thai chicken sausage rolls (started making 2 weeks in advance, did not cook and froze). Cooked on the night
Cottage rolls which are vege sausage rolls (started making 2 weeks in advance, did not cook and froze). Cooked on the night.
San Choy Bow served in cos lettuce cups (these were very popular). Cooked day before by friend.
Teninas KIS Red cabbage salad served in cos lettuce cups.
Meatballs (veal and pork) in a tomato sauce (served in big bowls in the sauce with little sticks in them (very popular with the men!).
I also served two curries after the finger food, in bowls with saffron rice - a beef curry made the day before by a friend and I made a Yellow Vegetable curry in the slow cooker on the day.
Dessert was lemon tarts using Teninas shortbread recipe and her lemon curd and Raspberry Cheesecake brownie which is a Taste recipe I got off the internet. These were made the day before and I piped the lemon curd into the shortbread cups before serving.
Anything else you need to know, just ask away. :)
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That is just amazing, Kezza!! Thank you so much for that .. and particularly your notes on the timing!! Very much appreciated!! And very impressive!!! :)
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Wow!!! Hats off to you Kezza. What a fabulous spread 😋
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We'll done Kezza, what an assortment. Bet your DS's were proud of you.