Garden Party Food!!

[ellarella]

I am throwing a soir�e in the garden on Saturday (24th May) and am preparing to cater:

Gaspacho (in gold paper cups)
Cocktail sausages cooked in honey and wholegrain mustard.
Homemade houmous/hummous.
Homemade tzatziki
Pitta bread
Fruit kebabs

BUT I would like to perfect the menu as it is my 20th birthday and I would like to impress...

Any suggestions (bearing in mind smoked salmon caviar bellinis are not within my price range!) something fabulous but easy to prepare and not too expensive...?

Are any of you experienced party throwers, who could give me any wonderful suggestions?

Thanks

[joggerjayne]

Mini bite sized yorkshire puddings filled with a slice of rare beef and a blob of horseradish, always seem to go down well with the men.

[EmEd1984]

ooo mini anything is always brilliant at soirees! how about mini kofta burgers with feta? theres some lovely recipes online. or still on the feta, how about a spin on cheese and pineapple on sticks? or rip a load of ideas from your local tapas restaurant (breaded goats cheese in honey and red onion, chicken satay skewers...)

i throw bbq's quite a bit, but i guess thats not the sort of thing you're after :(

[4getmenot]

Excellent, I'll be there. Whats your address?

[4getmenot]

Just go morrisons, they usual have a seperate fridge for party food. Or Iceland do good deals and lovely food

[Eve]

Little tarlets look lovely, either savory with say cherry tomato and feta or sweet with some fresh fruit (you can set them with gelatine or put some custard on the top then cool them to set).

I had some great canapes at a do once, mini fish and chips, a few small chips and a little bit of battered fish in a mini newspaper wrap.

You could do kebabs with oven roasted veg like peppers, courgettes, onion and tomato (vine ones the best).

You've already got one of my favourites, honey and mustard sausages.

[ellarella]

Thank you both for your great ideas.

I was thinking more along the lines of something picnicy, maybe cucumber sandwiches... not sausage rolls or scotch eggs... maybe bruschetta..? Hmm.
I love the tapas suggestion (particularly because I live very close to the most wonderful meze restaurants), and the only fear of cheese on sticks is that pineapple will be on the fruit kebabs. Tomato + cheese is never a popular choice! :)

Thanks

[ellarella]

Great ideas everyone!

Q: You can buy pre-made tartlets can't you? Where from?

Maybe Marks and Spencer will be a good place for inspiration. For years I thought my Grannie was the best chef in the world until I discovered that she would buy most things already made from M&S. haha. Love it!!

[ellarella]

Ohh! What about cheese and chorizo? Maybe a manchego cheese?

I am making myself so hungry!

[4getmenot]

If you dont have alot of money for smoked salmon you really dont want to be going to marks and spencers. Why spend loads on food thats just going to be eaten anyway. I'm sure 20 years olds arent too bothered where it comes from

[EmEd1984]

a couple of good suggestions here:

http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/food-a nd-drink/features/party-time-creating-drinks-p arty-food-425510.html

some are a little mad though! but they suggested pear and gorgonzola for cheese and pineapple...

*gasp* cheese and tomato never popular?! PIZZA!!

lemon & garlic potato salad
cous cous
voul au vents
quiche! (classic picnic)

you could make your own bruschetta pizzas, perhaps with pesto?

i'm bloomin marved now.

[ellarella]

4getmenot -My friends aren't limited to the general hurly burly students that accept cheese on toast as a feast, the age range will be between 18-35 I reckon. Age doesn't really matter though. I want the party to be 'just so' you see?

And M&S was only for inspiration! They always have plentiful canap�s and party food that you can draw some ideas from.

It may not be neccessary, however, as you all have some excellent ideas! :)

[4getmenot]

I didnt say they were did I, I just said the food is gone. you were the one that said you couldnt afford salmon so I was just suggesting a cheaper alternative to Marks & Spencers.

http://www.play.com/Books/Books/4-/1055486/The -Complete-Illustrated-Book-of-Appetizers-Buffe ts-Finger-Food-and-Party-Food/Product.html

[jack daniels]

This is from another thread but I make it the same way - I make a simple coleslaw with finely sliced white cabbage, grated carrot and finely chopped onion. Adjust proportions to taste. I use about one quarter the volume of the cabbage for the onion and carrot. Mix in mayonnaise (Hellman's). I add about a teaspoonful of English mustard and fresh ground black pepper. Serve chilled. This always goes down a treat for my family.

I make potato salad like this -

1lb New potatoes, skin left on, cut into bite size pieces & boiled until tender - I prefer chanterelle or something similar.
4 - 6 tablespoons mayonnaise (add more if required)
bunch spring onions - finely sliced
1-2 teaspoons english mustard from a jar (to taste)
4 hard boiled eggs chopped
1 teaspoon dried mixed herbs
salt
pepper

mix all of the above and keep in the fridge until required. Can be made day before, goes great with home made coleslaw too.

[motb]

What about brushetta it lways looks nice and colourful. Hope you get nice weather