NBFR - need help w DS's birthday party

karatechrissy · July 2012

I am hosting DS's first birthday party at our house in 2 weeks (my baby's not a baby anymore :-( ). The party starts at 3 and goes till the last person leaves. It's just family, my best friend and get hubby and 2 yr old, and another couple who is close friends of ours. I'm having no luck in figuring out what to serve as food :-(. I need help. I don't want to do pizza since the only kids will be SS DD DS and my best friends 2 yr old, but I don't want anything too demanding of my time/attention bc I want to soak up as much of the day that I can and not be bothered with anything like cookin food in the middle of the party. Any suggestions?

jaded99 · July 2012

Can you do a taco bar? Everything can be prepared in advance, and you can put the meat in a crockpot on warm to keep it at a good temp so people can eat when they want.

nurrieum · July 2012

It would depend on your taste but it's summer and so some more fun options open up. We've done grilled hotdogs for the kids and pork chops for the grown ups and grilled our vegetables (in foil) so we could socialize outside and not be stuck in the kitchen. Another option is doing something like wraps you can pre-make them and they're fast. They are pretty kid and adult friendly and then just picking up some light salads at the grocery store.

xmaryrickx · July 2012

I typed up a whole long post then got distracted and lost it. I would do heavy appetizers and some fruit salad and pasta salad. Maybe some pulled pork, which you can do in advance and then throw in a crockpot to keep warm. You could make that weeks in advance and freeze (forget your timeline). Pigs in a blanket, buffalo chicken bites (plain chicken and cheese for the littles). A few different dips-taco, blt, French onion, etc. And then some desserts. I usually do bars-brownies, chocolate chip cookie bars, pbj bars, etc bc they can be cut up, and plated and people graze.

xmaryrickx · July 2012

Also sausage and peppers is a good make ahead. Serve a green salad and a pasta salad with it. Easy peasy. And you could still do lots of apps and Munchies.

karleegirl · July 2012

I like the idea of the bbq in the crockpot. You could also just make some pb&j or ham sandwiches along with it if the kids don't like that. It would be a bit messy but you could also do meatballs and spagetti sauce in the crockpot and have noodles of some sort on the side.

In all of my laziness I would do a meat/cheese tray with some rolls for sandwhiches and a pasta salad and chips.

SueBear · July 2012

Rachael Ray just had an article in the paper (she is promoting her burger book), and she said for a party she'd make a 5-hour bbq brisket. You just put it in the bbq (or crockpot or oven, depending on how you cook it!) and you're done. So maybe pulled pork sandwhiches with it? Plus some fresh salads, fruit bowl, and chips?

kali55 · July 2012

Kebabs with salads? You could make and marinate the kebabs in the morning and then you just need to BBQ them.

MarSamWhitney · July 2012

Sloppy Joes are easy in the crock pot, with a pasta or mac salad you could make the night before. Or even hot dogs and hamburgers would be easy! Good luck, and have fun!!!

karatechrissy · July 2012

Those are some awesome suggestions ladies! THANK YOU. Seriously, life savers. I think I might go with a mix between some BBQ/Wraps in appetizer sizes and heavy sides. The taco thing sounds fun, but I'm not sure I want to do that for the party. Thank you all. I don't feel so stressed out now!