September 2014 Moms

Food Ideas for Shower

A little back story first: My mom is throwing my baby shower next weekend and had asked my MIL if she wanted to help out. MIL was super stoked since DH is an only child and hit the ground running with starting to plan food ideas. My best friend is helping out too.

MIL's mom has Alzheimer's and is in a memory impaired facility...but recently got sick and has been in the hospital until they can find a nursing home able to care for her. MIL is super stressed and told my mom this week that she won't be able to help anymore since she's so focused on getting her mom taken care of. Mom was left in a lurch b/c now she doesn't have any sort of a menu nailed down and doesn't have anyone to help her cook. My best friend doesn't cook and doesn't have the money to help buy food.

I know it's frowned upon to do stuff for your own shower, but I offered to help my mom figure out food and to help her cook. She does not want to order food. I was wondering if you ladies had any ideas for some light, summery food that would be easy to transport and serve from chafing dishes or bowls. The venue has a small kitchen, so stuff can be refrigerated. Mom really wanted to make a variety of quiches, so anything that could go along with that would be awesome. If it makes any difference, the shower is from 3-5 in the afternoon.

Thanks for reading and thanks for the help!
{Me:27, Dx:PCOS, LPD, & rob(14;15)}
{DH:31 all clear, "super sperm"}
Ecstatically married July 30, 2011--TTC since Jan 2013:::Baby #1 due 9/11, Conceived on cycle #5 of Femara + Hcg + IUI
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Re: Food Ideas for Shower

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  • JD83JD83 member
    That's a really rough situation, and my heart goes out to your MIL.

    As for food, a salad bar, fruit salad/skewers, quiches, small sandwiches, croissants/other baked goods. I know you said that they don't want to buy food, but a deli platter and a box of bakery stuff would go a long way toward making life easier for all of you.
  • Something that I thought was super cute at mine was a friend brought mini Dixie cups, Hummus and sliced carrots, peppers & celery in a huge ziploc bag. When she got to the shower, she put 2 tbsp of hummus in the cups and then poked the veggies into the hummus to stand up like colorful little arrangements. They took a total of maybe 15 minutes to put together and everything could be brought in a plastic grocery bag. And it was yummy. :)

     

     

     

  • Depending on the time of the shower, I say take the easy way out! Fruit and veggie trays transferred onto nice platters are easy and always perfect.
  • Quiches sound so yummy!  You could always do salads/pasta salads, & a fruit/veggie tray to keep it summery.  Here is a link to a website I use for a lot of my go-to appetizers:

    https://www.chef-in-training.com/recipes-by-category/

    I love a lot of her game day appetizer recipes.  There's a ton of dips and easy finger foods on there. 

    Good luck & I hope your shower goes great!

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  • I am not having a shower for this baby (#3), but when my girlfriends thew me a shower for DD1 this is what we had:

    Ina Garten's chicken salad veronique with rolls

    Ina Garten's shrimp and orzo salad

    Fruit salad

    Veggie tray with dip

    Cake
  • My go to recipies for showers are :

    Copycat Willowtree Chicken Salad ( I use day old cooked chicken from the super market, easy and cheap)

    Ingredients

    • 1 pound cooked chicken breast
    • ¾ cup mayonnaise
    • 3 tablespoons finely minced celery
    • 3 tablespoons finely minced onion
    • 1 tablespoon brown sugar
    • 1/8 teaspoon garlic powder
    • Pinch of salt
    • Pinch of pepper

    Instructions

    1. Using a stand mixer with paddle attachment, blend chicken breasts until thoroughly shredded, or shred by hand. (Note: Shredded chicken rather than diced chicken pieces will help recreate the original Willow Tree chicken salad texture.)
    2. Remove bowl from the stand mixer and add in all other ingredients. Stir by hand to mix well.
    3. Serve over lettuce leaves or in sandwiches

    Salted Caramel Shortbread

    Recipe adapted from What's Gaby Cooking

    Ingredients:

    for the shortbread layer:
    10 tbsp unsalted butter, at room temperature
    1/2 cup sugar
    1/2 tsp salt
    1 egg yolk
    1-2/3 cups flour

    for the caramel:
    1 cup unsalted butter
    1 cup light brown sugar
    3/4 cup light corn syrup
    2 tsp sea salt, plus more for sprinkling on top
    4 tbsp sugar
    4 tbsp heavy cream
    1-1/2 tsp vanilla extract

    Directions:

    Line an 8×8″ pan with parchment paper, leaving some hanging over the sides to make removal easier.

    In a large bowl, combine the butter, sugar, and salt with a pastry cutter or fork. Add the egg yolk and continue mixing.

    Add the flour and use your hands to combine the dough until coarse crumbs form. Transfer the dough into the prepared pan and press it down into one even layer.

    Refrigerate for 30 minutes. Preheat oven to 350 degrees and bake for 25 minutes, until slightly golden brown. Set aside to cool.

    For the caramel, combine the butter, brown sugar, corn syrup, salt, sugar, and heavy cream. Bring to a boil and stir for about 5-10 minutes until caramel reaches the “soft ball stage” at around 230 degrees.

    Remove from heat, stir in the vanilla and pour caramel over the shortbread.

    Refrigerate for at least 3 hours, then sprinkle with sea salt and cut into squares. Store caramels in the fridge until you’re ready to eat them.

     

    Both can be made in advance and refridgerated and they are always a hit. I also really like the idea of a salad bar with quiches.



     

     

  • For showers, my family usually ends up with a variety of fruit salads and toppings. One topping is cream cheese, marshmallow cream and cool whip, sounds iffy but so good with fresh fruit and looks pretty too! We have delicious summer berries in oregon so that is always a go to. Quiche sounds delicious right now! I would stick to finger foods of veggies and salads. Go simple, sometimes simple foods are the most delicious.
  • Those croissants sound fantastic! We don't have a Costco though :-( I'll have to keep an eye out for them at Sam's and BJ's
    {Me:27, Dx:PCOS, LPD, & rob(14;15)}
    {DH:31 all clear, "super sperm"}
    Ecstatically married July 30, 2011--TTC since Jan 2013:::Baby #1 due 9/11, Conceived on cycle #5 of Femara + Hcg + IUI
    ~Love and Light to everyone~ 
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    My furbabies--Mr. Bubbles and Miss Kitty <3
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  • My faves from my shower last pregnancy were crockpot meatballs with Sweet Baby Rays Chipotle BBQ sauce and grape jelly to make the sauce, and Lil Smokies wrapped in croissants that we broke up. Croissants only took 15 mins in the oven (per baking sheet). Meatballs took 2 hours on high in the crockpot then on low to keep warm.

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  • MrsLaLaBugMrsLaLaBug member
    edited August 2014
    buy some containers of cut up fruit - instant fruit salad
    get some avocados - make a quick guacamole dip
    check the deli and buy a pound or two of tuna salad or chicken salad - finger sandwiches
                                                                                      
  • Ziti is always easy to do for a chaffing dish. Boil up some pasta, throw some sauce ricotta and mozzarella in, mix and your good to go. Pasta salad, potato salad, ambrosia for something sweeter.

    Sams definitely have croissant cuz i bought a box last week!
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  • My favorite summer dish for a party is fruit salsa.  You can make it the night before. Serve it with cinnamon pita chips. 

    2tbs rasberry preserves

    1-2 tbs sugar

    2 granny smith apples

    2 kiwi

    package of red rasberries

    package of strawberries

    Peel all fruit and then I use a chopper to chop it all up, so good and great for summer.

     

    I agree with sandwiches from Costco or Sams Club also super easy.  Sorry to hear about dealing with alzheimers, such a terrible disease.

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  • Get thee to Costco.  They have tons of party type food ( sometimes even mini quiches).  You can also order party platters like croissant sandwiches, a meat and cheese platter and pin wheel sandwiches.  Throw in a few veggie and fruit trays ( also have Costco ), maybe some chips and dips or soups and viola, you have yourself a shower.

    Oh and you can order a cake too.  Their sheet cakes are actually pretty good.
  • My shower was last weekend and we had fruit tray, pasta salad, devilled eggs, chicken wing dings, meatballs and crackers I think. Pasta salad is always an easy dish. Maybe some small sandwiches. Hope everything works out and you have a great time :)
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  • My Mom made this Broccoli salad with Bacon & Cranberries for my shower and it was a huge hit. There was hardly any left and tons of people asked her for the recipe:

    Me: 30 Him: 33
    Married: August 2012
    BFP #1 9/2013 -- MC 10/2013
    DD: 9/22/2014
           
  • We had chicken salad sandwiches on mini croissants and they were a huge hit! You could easily make the chicken salad the night before and set up the sandwiches that day.

    We also had fruit trays and assorted dips.

    Sorry to hear about your husband's grandma. My granddad has Alzheimer's and it's a sad disease.
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  • My go-to salad for groups is baby spinach (the small bag, 6oz I think, is usually plenty), chopped oranges or clementines, dried cranberries, and toasted pecans. You just prep the pecans and oranges, then throw everything in a bowl when it's time to serve. It's great with balsamic vinaigrette.
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  • mmmm im hungry now. =)
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