I need ideas and some help with this. I am exchanging my services for rent for the cafe.

dawn_mo

dawn_mo

Well-known member
Which is a great deal for me, since he only has about two meetings a year. I just got an email from him saying that he would need brunch items and lunch options. Since I haven't talked to him about it, I am not sure exactly what he means by that.

Taking the proactive approach, I am planning on some brunch-type items and lunch. I am not serving lunch plates, but will set up a very nice buffet of finger foods and appys.

These will need to be things that can be made ahead and served the day of the meeting. There will be about 20 people attending. A lot of business going on, so food is not the main thing, but I would love to blow them away with great food.

Your help with ideas, strategies, and recipes will be very appreciated. He kind of caught me off guard with this, but I want to impress. Thanks guys!!!

I am thinking scones, muffins and maybe yogurt and granola parfaits for brunch items? Help!!!

 
Lunch, brunch ideas...

My first thought was several kinds of quiche but if you are thinking finger foods maybe the mini quiche would work. Quiche can be served warm or room temp which is convenient. Fresh fruit cups. These would add some color. Your scones and muffins sound great....maybe some savory mini muffins. Or slider size sandwiches or croissants with whatever filler you like ie ham or chicken salad or egg salad.

 
Make small quiches or strata in large muffin cups. heat in microwave.

Something more than the pastries although I'm sure yours are outstanding. Maybe homemade granola and yogurt?

 
I'm going out on a limb to say that is exactly the brunch *I* would want...

but since I am totally surrounded by guys here at work, they would want something *more*...as in something with meat.

I hope no one thinks I'm being sexist here, but after working as an engineer for 20 years and as a draftsman for years before that (one woman with 146 guys at Westinghouse--the government FORCED them to hire a woman), I kindof know what guys want when it comes to free food.

In the past 3.5 years with this particular group, with all the lunches and buffets and monthly "free" lunch from management, I have NEVER, EVER seen the salad get eaten by any of the guys. The meat entrée goes first...then the potato side dish, then the dessert.

Dawn, have you seen the group of attendees before? Do you know who will be enjoying your meal?

I would include those bacon-wrapped cheese crackers. Finger food at its cholesterol finest. Some sort of deviled egg...a small scoop of your fabulous tuna (or chicken) salad set on G-F Crunchmaster crackers (those suckers stay crisp no matter what!).

 
here's a list of finger foods I use when serving heavy apps; let me know if yo want recipes

I have made all of these repeatedly. The sausage crostini should be served hot but everything else can be served cold or room temp.

Artichoke olive dip w/ fennel crudites
Crostini with Fennel Sausage - would need to be reheated
Fromage Fort - serve with crostini or crackers
Jalapeno Shrimp - serve cold
Lemon Tarragon Dipping Sauce and barely cooked cold asparagus
Prosciutto Mac and Cheese Cups - freezes and reheats well, can use ham
Muhummara - pita or pita crackers for dippers
Olive-Oil-Fried Almonds
Pimento cheese - crackers or celery sticks for dippers
Roasted garlic hummus - I like it with carrot sticks
Spicy Sweet Potato Dip - apple wedges for dippers (healthy and delicious!)
Tamale Bites - an adaption of a recipe someone else posted here, freeze and reheat
Twice-baked goat cheese souffle
Whipped Feta and Tomato Crostini - as posted by Traca
Zesty Lemon Olives

And, even though it's dated, people still seem to like the Knorr spinach/veg dip in a bread bowl. Homemade bread makes it special.

 
Agreed, men like heavier food, but that being said...

For breakfasts I've done
a oatmeal bar with lots of toppings.
Breakfast burritos with a fresh agua fresca
Donuts, nobody does these anymore so they are a treat
standard bagels/croissants/quick bread/muffins/fruit/etc

Lunch
Pizza/meat sammies/wraps/burritos/casseroles such as lasagna
Green salad only as a side (I've done main dish salads, but only for women).
cookies are a must

I've done PB&J for breaks and it went over really well.

 
Rec: God's Granola - literally takes minutes to put together and freezes beautifully

I always have this on hand for our monthly women's breakfast. Very forgiving - I usually use a blend of whole almonds, walnuts and pecans but switch it up to your liking.

God's Granola

(this is the granola they serve at Calvary Chapel Women’s retreats)

Ingredients:

1 cup almonds
1 1/2 cups coconut (sweetened flakes)
6 cups rolled oats (not quick)
1 1/2 cups walnuts
1/2 Tbsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground cloves
1 cup canola oil
1 cup honey
pinch nutmeg

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 325°.
In a sauce pan, combine oil and honey. Heat until it just begins to boil. Turn off stove.
In a large mixing bowl, combine almonds, coconut, rolled oats, nutmeg, walnuts, cinnamon and cloves.
When the oil and honey are heated, combine with the dry ingredients, stirring with a spoon.
Spread out on a pregreased cookie sheet (11x15) and bake for 30 minutes, stirring occassionally during baking time.

Cool and store in ziplock bags or air tight container.

 
How about old fashioned banana pudding in cups - dollop with whipped cream before serving

Or make a whipped cream/cream cheese/sugar (clotted cream) topping that holds up beautifully. Easy to make ahead, put the cups on a tray and cover the whole thing with plastic wrap.

 
REc: antipasti wraps and/or antipasto Kabobs . They are both really good.

For lunch you might serve either of these around or as part of
a main meal. They are my go recipe for a crowd.

SERVES 6 (change servings and units) Antipasti wraps
•Ingredients
• 8 ounces light cream cheese, slightly softened
• 2 tablespoons fresh basil, snipped
• 1 garlic clove, pressed
• 6 (8 inch) sun-dried tomato tortillas
• 6 romaine lettuce leaves
• 3/4 cup mozzarella cheese, shredded
• 1/2 cup pitted ripe olives, sliced
• 1/2 cup roasted red pepper, diced
• 1/2 cup water-packed artichoke hearts, chopped
• 4 ounces salami
• 4 ounces ham
Directions
1. 1
Mix cream cheese with the basil and garlic.
2. 2
On each tortilla, spread about 2 tablespoons of this mixture on the tortillas to within 1/4 inch of the edge.
3. 3
Layer with romaine, salami, ham, and cheese.
4. 4
Next, layer on the olives, roasted red peppers, and artichoke hearts that you prefer.
5. 5
Tightly roll up the tortilla and cut in half on the diagonal.

Kabobs

basically tortellini - cooked drained, cooled, cubes of cheese -jack or cheddar is good, black olives, pitted, stuffed green olives, salami sliced very thin, Italian dressing, plastic colored toothpicks or small skewers. The recipe says in this order - cheese,olive,salami, tortellini, another olive.
Place is large container. Pour Italian dressing over, marinate in dressing overnite or even up to 2 days. Turn every so often .
They would be great on a plate with sandwiches or a quiche.

 
Second this idea! Love pulled pork!

We keep extra biscuits in the freezer sliced at the ready for pulled pork sliders and strawberry shortcake!

We serve our pulled pork with this peppery vinegar table sauce sprinkled on the meat and topped with this cole slaw.

Vinegar Table Sauce (a half batch is more than enough for 2 meals for the 2 of us)
1 cup cider vinegar
2 Tbs sugar
1/2 tsp coarse ground pepper
1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
1/2 tsp Penzy's 4S w/smoked paprika
1 tsp Trappey's Louisiana Hot Sauce (less of Tabasco or Shiracha)
1/2 tsp dry mustard
Combine in dressing shaker. Sprinkle very lightly on meat on sandwich before topping with slaw and BBQ sauce.

Slaw (a half batch of slaw dressing lasts for 2 meals for the 2 of us)
1 cup mayo
2 Tbs sugar
2 Tbs cider vinegar
1 tsp prepared mustard (scant)
1 tsp celery seed
1 bag of slaw (we often finely shred our own cabbage)
Whisk together and add sparingly to slaw mix. Let portion sit until ready to serve and add more dressing if needed.

Loving KC Masterpiece Hickory Brown Sugar as a substitute for our favorite BBQ sauce - Sonny's Sweet - we can't get in the North. Yes, that was us at the Post Office shipping the large Sonny's home in the prepaid box for almost as much as checked luggage smileys/wink.gif.

 
I am guessing that the attendees will want to be able to talk and carry a plate and eat at the same

time; without requiring a utensil. I completely get it...

Some ideas:

 
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