Birthday party food suggestions?

jenagain

Hi,

My DS is going to be 2 next week and we're having a little party for him this Saturday. It will mainly be adults, with one or 2 similar aged children.

Does anyone have any suggestions for food I can make myself? I don't want it to be all the usual crisps etc and money is a bit tight so I'd love to be able to impress everyone with my culinary skills (or at least pretend I have some!)

I will be buying a pack of frozen sausage rolls, not very OS but I love them

I'm planning on doing as much as possible of the cooking tonight (Thursday) and tomorrow night so things that can be made in advance would be especially helpful!

Thanks in advance!

ellie2912

how about devilled eggs, pasta or rice salads.

JenniO

I know you wanted to make things yourself, but with Asda's frozen party food at a £1 each you really can't go wrong. I would have used my culinary skills to make a beautiful birthday cake for my 2 year old if it was me. People won't remember the food in time but they might remember the cake. And you can take pics and show your little one in years to come, 'oh i made that cake for you'

If you're interested here's an interesting website on unique cakes:

http://www.marthastewart.com/birthdays?lnc=6f79cf380e1dd010VgnVCM1000005b09a00aRCRD&rsc=leftnav_entertaining_entertaining

jenagain

Thank you for your suggestions!

I didn't know Asda did party food for £1, our nearest Asda is 20mins away but I might try and convince OH to take me on Saturday morning - we have no freezer space to buy in advance!

The website is fantastc, I've seen loads of ideas on there for his birthday cake. I was always going to make it but don't think I would have been quite as imaginative before seeing that! I might make him a monster cake, round with green 'spiky' icing and some big eyes.... or the chocolate crepe cake on there looks gorgeous, I might make that for our Christmas party on Christmas eve though.

I'm going to make a practice cake tonight I think.... this is not doing my diet any good!

dlb

If you make homemade pizza in advance it only takes 15-20 mins to cook, and will make the house smell fantstic!
Plus you could make the basic cheese pizza then ask you guest to put toppings on of their choice from bowls of food you put out, suggestions tuna,peppers,onions,musrooms,ham,chicken,sweetcorn.
It will look like you have spent hours preparing when infact it will probalely only take about half hour to prepare.
Have fun

jenagain

Ohh I forgot about pizza. We only ever eat HM pizza so I can whip a couple up easy peasy - thanks!

mother_noah

fruit kebabs look impressive ... just cubes of various friut on cocktail sticks brush any that may discolour with lemon juice and remove sticks before giving them to little ones.If you dont want to be that healthy provide some melted chocolate to dip them in. vegetable sticks and dips are great to .

mrs_metal

How about mini hamburgers? Homemade burgers are very easy to make and you can make them whatever size you want, the buns may be a bit more difficult to make though but you could just cut up a thick loaf so they are kind of sandwiches??

Chicken wings or chicken drumsticks are very easy and you can cook them in a nice homemade BBQ sauce.

I usually make chicken nuggets in the deep fat fryer (and they are gorgous, you won't ever go back to the bought stuff after homemade!) but I'm experimenting with cooking them in the oven at the moment, not quite as tasty as fried but a lot beter for you!

Cous cous is also easy to make. I make it with chicken or vegetable stock, much tastier than with just boiled water, olive oil, and chopped red onion fried a little to soften in the olive oil, salt and pepper then just add whatever I have to hand. For example roasted peppers, sweetcorn, carrots, fine beans etc. I cook the veg a bit first to soften them.

Potato wedges are easy and cheap, wash and cut large potatoes into 8, put them in a plastic bag with a bit of olive oil and whatever spices you fancy, give it a good shake then cook them in the oven on a baking tray, don't forget to take them out of the plastic bag first! Another way to cook them is to parboil the wedges first then put them onto a baking try and sprinkle your spices over them, then cook them in the oven.

Hope some of these help

lilmisskitkat

Ok here my twopennys worth!

*Maybe some mini pasties to go with the sausage rolls? Or mini quiches?

*I agree about pizzas, if you're making your own you could roll the dough out into a big square, add your toppings then cut into smaller squares when cooked rather than the normal shaped slices.

* Sandwiches - you could either set out a plate of meats and cheese and a few different breads for people to help themselves or you could make 'pinwheel' sandwiches - choose a moist filling like egg/tuna mayo, spread on bread (crusts off), roll up and cut into pieces.

*Chicken wings or drumsticks, make a simple mariande (or buy a jar!), BBQ usually is most popular and then they can be marinating in the fridge overnight for you to cook on the day.

* A big bowl of wedges is a good idea as someone mentioned, with a few ramekin dishes of ketchup, BBQ and mayo for dipping

I did a birthday party for DD last month, she was 6. It was only a tea party really, couldn't afford a big 'invite the whole class wacky warehouse' type party.

I tried to do all retro style party food, like we had when we were kids - sandwiches, sausage rolls, cocktail sausages, cheese/pineapple/pickles on sticks, hula hoops and chipsticks, jelly and ice cream, party rings and chocolate teacakes etc - the adults loved it more than the kids lol

Hope this helps, have a lovely party

Kate xxx

THIRZAH

I love the "retro" party food too-sausages on sticks,twiglets, rice crispy buns, fairy cakes and cheese and pineapple on sticks.

After one DDs party DH and I were so shattered that we went to bed at 8 p.m and ate leftover party food while watching TV!

jenagain

Thank you everyone!

I'm going to get some Party Ring biscuits, sausage rolls, cocktail sausages, crisps, dip etc, make 2 big rectangular pizzas (one cheese and tomato, one 1/2 pepperoni and 1/2 ham & pineapple), make some gingerbread men (DS favourite) and some fairy cakes, and make his birthday cake (well 2, one for Saturday and one for Tuesday).

Going to Sainsburys tomorrow for supplies, I don't drive so it will be an interesting 'push the double buggy and a trolley' type expedition :eek:

Wish me luck :rotfl: