ISO: ISO transportable Menu ideas/tips for picinic in a park for 50+ (1st birthday)

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mariadnoca

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I've offered to help my SIL with throwing a 1st birthday party for her soon to be 1 yro. Partly to help and partly to give her a reality check. Due to space issues it will be at a local park. This is her first child and...she has grand ideas for things to be upper scale (linens for example/close to zero waste aka no plastic) than standard picnic fare, but The Economy has hit her budget. It will be a mix of adults and children with a fairy theme on 9/23 so the weather should still be nice, if not hot.

I'm thinking we need food that can be brought pre-plated on trays, don't you think? She wanted to bbq chicken on site, but I think the reality of time/budget might've impacted that. So open to all your creative menu ideas/recipes/transport tips/tricks!

 
Folks, this pretty much *is* just family and a couple of friends

DDH was one of 5 kids, and except for me they all had bunches of kids, some of who now have yet more kids. This SIL is DDH's sister who had her miracle baby (this one) late in life after losing several, so this is going to be more -- looky we have a baby, we really do kinda thing. Along with btw she's now turned one.

I just spoke to her and reality has hit so she's willing to scale back - some, but I think we'd like to find some nice platter/side ideas that aren't the same ol' picnic fare.

 
Well, turning one is a grand time for the first time mom. Of course, this is a party for the adults

and older kids, cause the one year old will not remember a thing about it. A great party dish is Loupy's Party Spaghetti. I have taken that dish a few times to large gatherings. It can be eaten at room temperature and travels well, kids, women and men all love it.

 
Here is the recipe...Texas Party Spaghetti

REC: TEXAS PARTY SPAGHETTI Men & kids love this - it can be made ahead and reheated beautifully - it feeds >>>> a crowd - it is delicious - it is good for a buffet - and all you need with it is a big salad and lots of crusty bread. Now this doesn't pretend to be an Italian-type dish -- 2 1/2 lb. ground round 4 or more to taste garlic cloves, minced 2-16 oz. cans of tomatoes 1-10 oz can of Rotel (tomatoes & peppers) 8 oz of sliced mushrooms 1/2 cup chopped green olives 1/2 cup chopped ripe olives 1 med. onion, chopped 2 lbs. American cheese, cubed 1 lb. package of spaghetti, cooked 1 lb. bacon, cooked crispy & crumbled salt & pepper to taste Brown the meat and toss in the garlic cloves at the end for a couple of minutes. Mix all the other ingredients together gently, and you need a huge bowl - I have a monster pottery bowl I use. Pour into a large baking dish, or use 2 smaller ones, and bake for 35-40 minutes at 350 degrees. Serve with grated parmesan cheese. This is another recipe you can tinker with. I use a lot more onion that the recipe called for. The original recipe didn't call for garlic. If your local supermarket doesn't carry Rotel, throw in another can of tomatoes and chop up some hot peppers to suit your taste. This is a good buffet dish, because it doesn't need a knife and you can eat standing up if you have to. It is also a good dish to take when someone is sick because it reheats well.

 
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