Bridal Shower Menu, Any Ideas?

[KristaMB]

I am giving a bridal shower in October and need menu ideas. We are planning on having a buffet due to space constraints and I need your creative ideas! I don't have fancy dishes, so the feel of the shower will be more heartfelt than elegant. Any help/advice/recipes you have would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

[MrsReber]

Wow, I thought someone else would've posted a response by now! When I think "buffet" I always think of pasta since it's so versatile. There's always baked ziti or, for a more elegant taste, vodka sauce with some sundried tomatoes. Or I hear the bowties with cherry tomatoes and capers from the August issue is really good. I always try to be fair to everyone when I have a buffet- I try to include a chicken, a fish, and a vegetarian dish when it's just women (or are men included?). I find that most women don't really miss red meat at all if it's not offered, but that's simply my opinion. There was a black bean taco salad mentioned somewhere on the BB. That sounds pretty good. Also, since the shower is in October, you might want to make a pumpkin dish. I know that CL has published many pumpkin recipes over the years- from soups to side dishes to desserts. I have a friend who's bridal shower was at someone's house- I brought fresh vegetables and dip for that one. I can't remember what anyone else made since it was 10 years ago!! I will put some more thought into this.

[mlynn]

One dish that is always served at bridal showers in my family is Vegetable Pizza. It's colorful and simple to make. I can post the recipe if you are interested. Basically it is a crust of refrigerated crescent rolls with an herbed sour cream/cream cheese "sauce." Then assorted cut up vegetables. I think my mom usually puts carrots, broccoli, radishes, green onions and diced tomatoes (but almost any combo would work.) The top layer is a sprinkling of cheddar cheese. The lemon curd fruit pizza from several issues back would be a nice addition to a bridal shower, also. My mother also likes to serve things that are cooked in a crock pot for occassions like this. I was just looking at the barbeque beef sandwiches from last fall and thinking they would be great for a get-together. These would be particularly good if there will be men at the shower.

Another suggestion would be to have a dessert buffet. The advantage to this is that most desserts can be served cold. The dessert buffet that I went to had slices of cheesecake (CL has several delicious ones, or you could opt for the pre-sliced ones at Sam's or Costco), chocolate dipped strawberries, a trifle, some type of chocolate mousse in individual champagne glasses, slices of hazelnut torte... anyway you get the idea. You could easily tailor the menu to the tastes of your guests. Many desserts (particularly bar cookies) can be made ahead of time. I think the merengue cookies from the August issue would be good, as wood the brown sugar merengue pavlovas that CL featured last year.

[Vanessa]

My suggestion would be to discuss with the bride what she likes (food). Then try to have also alternative things for those that are vegetarians etc. Keep it simple. You don't need fancy dishes you can have pretty paper plates (sturdy). In one bridal shower they had a spiral ham, several salads (broccoli, green, potato) varieties of cheeses, I think some warm dishes. Fall is a pretty time and sometimes not so cold so you could even have something outside if its not cold. Its a day to enjoy with the bride so have others help out too so you can also enjoy yourself. Since its Fall and pumpkin was mentioned this recipe is from C Light 2 or 3 yrs ago.

I made this recipe last Fall for a part & was wonderful
Pumpkin-Spice Bundt Cake
The rum glaze will seep into the cake if it's spooned over it while the cake is still warm.


3 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
2 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups fresh or canned pumpkin purée
1/2 cup applesauce
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
1/2 cup stick margarine, softened
3 large egg whites
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Cooking spray
3 tablespoons dark or light brown sugar
1 tablespoon dark rum
1 teaspoon skim milk
3 tablespoons powdered sugar


Preheat oven to 350°.

Combine first 6 ingredients; set flour mixture aside. Combine pumpkin and applesauce; set aside.

Beat granulated sugar and margarine in a large bowl at medium speed of a mixer until well-blended (about 5 minutes). Add egg whites and vanilla, beating well. Add flour mixture to sugar mixture alternately with pumpkin mixture, beginning and ending with flour mixture. Pour batter into a 12-cup Bundt pan coated with cooking spray. Bake at 350° for 50 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pan 10 minutes; remove from pan.

Combine brown sugar, rum, and milk in a small saucepan, and cook over low heat until brown sugar dissolves. Remove sugar mixture from heat, and add powdered sugar, stirring with a whisk. Spoon glaze over warm cake. Yield: 16 servings


[This message has been edited by Vanessa (edited 08-15-2000).]

[food girl]

I am also hosting a bridal shower in October. I do have one requirement of my guests - everyone must come in either an old bridesmaid dress or their wedding gown. It is definitely not for the etiquette-minded bride. I am planning on serving a pasta salad, cheeses (boursin is my favorite) and a really decadent desert - which is all anyone really wants anyway.

[MrsReber]

foodgirl, that is such a cool idea about the dresses! My wedding gown is still hanging in my closet along with 3 bridesmaids gowns!!

[Danielle]

At my bridal shower the hostess served two kinds of lasagna (one meat, one veggie) and English muffins topped with garlic butter and cheese, then broiled. She also had appetizers like artichoke dip and beer dip with chips, fresh veggies, and for dessert, a lemon cake and a chocolate cake. So yummy! She said the lasagna was really easy because she could make it ahead of time.

[debg]

I just did a bridal shower with an Oriental Chicken Salad and wonderful rolls! You don't really need much as long as you have a decadent dessert, right Food Girl?! We had an articoke dip and humus as appetizers. Also, we served Mimosa's, which were a hit! Food Girl, one gal even showed up in an old bridesmaids dress -- she was a hit, VERY FUN IDEA!

[paige]

i usually host showers in the am (not to interfer with everyones entire day) so i usually have a brunch casserole, cinamon roll, danishes, fruit, and orange juice mixed with sprite.

if i must have a shower in the pm i usually fix small ham buscuits (with a poppy seed spread), fruit, veggies, chicken salad, cucumber sandwich, etc.

good luck.

[Mandy]

I'm with MrsReber...pasta. I got married two years ago and my sister did my shower. She did a really good job, it was a casual shower. She made a tomato sauce with meatballs and a meatless tomato sauce. She had a few pastas, some tossed with garlic, basil, and olive oil. But then she dressed everything up with some fun sides. She had fresh cheeses to sprinkle on top, she made long and twirlled breadsticks, she made her wonderful homemade pesto, she roasted heads of garlic. Then she had loaves of Italian bread, a salad, some fruit, Italian wine, and for dessert she made tiramisu and espresso. It turned out really good, and everyone loved the food.
Hope that helps!
Mandy

[Peggy]

Food Girl,
I LOVE the idea of everyone wearing an old bridesmaid dress or their wedding gown. What a hoot! I wish all my friends weren't already married so I could plan another bridal shower with that in mind!!! I did go to a baby shower once where everyone had to come in maternity clothes. Some ladies really got into it and wore their breastfeeding bras (under their smocks, of course!) I'm sure your shower is going to be a big hit!!!

Peggy

[CrystalB]

I've thrown one shower, for it I made quiche, fruit salad, rolls&pastries,a mixed greens salad and a pre-cooked ham served with mimosa punch. It was a hit! Of course there were also several decadent dessert choices! I made everything before hand and just warmed up the quiches the day of the party.

[Shelly]

There are lots of great suggestions here! The dress idea is definitely a cool one! Very original, and probably will be lots of fun. Here is a recipe from my collection that would probably work well for this type of meal. I've never made it; I'm one of those weird people that doesn't like cheesecake http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/eek.gif!! Sorry, I don't have any nutritional info because I haven't put it into Mastercook yet.

PETITE CHEESECAKES

These tiny cheesecakes are elegant and delicious mouthfuls. They're very nice on a tea table, or as a light dessert. They also freeze well, so you can make a full batch and have them available as needed. Makes about six dozen.

Cakes:
1 cup sugar
24 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
5 eggs, at room temperature
1-1/2 teaspoons vanilla

Topping:
1 cup sour cream, at room temperature
1/4 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 cup sugar
1 to 2 cups fruit jelly (any flavor)

Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Line mini-muffin pans with miniature cupcake liners.
Cream sugar and cream cheese. Add one egg at a time, stirring well after each addition and scraping the bowl. Stir in vanilla. Pour batter into pans, filling each cup 3/4 full. Bake 30 minutes; do not brown. Cool on wire racks.

Topping: Combine sour cream, vanilla, and sugar in a small bowl. Spoon one teaspoonful of mixture onto each cake; spread to edge. Drop a bit of fruit jelly onto each cake. Return to 300-degree oven for five minutes to set topping.

Good luck with the shower!

[Grace]

Gosh, Shelly! I love this recipe purely for the portion control factor! I will be making these and freezing them so I can pull out a little "dessert" for myself without overindulging! Thanks for the great recipe idea, and I agree that it would make a terrific shower (or any party occasion) dessert option! No cutting and serving of a big cake or cheesecake, etc....

[Ohioan]

Shelly, those petite cheesecakes look like something even a non-baker like me might be able to manage! Thanks a lot for the recipe, which I'm definitely going to try.

Phoebe

[ElinorC]

Shelly,
When I make a cheesecake I usually wrap individual pieces in plastic wrap and put them in a tightly sealed container and freeze them. Then I can pull out a single or two pieces whenever I want cheesecake. I love the stuff and my husband will eat one piece and that's it. Fortunately, cheesecake freezes well and tastes the same when thawed.

[Shelly]

You know Grace, you got me thinking with your reply...........I'm not a cheescake eater, but my fiance LOVES the stuff. I made the Black Forest Cheesecake for him for his birthday a couple weeks ago, and he ate 2 pieces of it and the rest went bad and I had to throw it out http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/mad.gif. Now, that cheesecake was a LOT of work. (Fortunately, I followed someone else's advice from a post on the board and bought the cherry pitter!) He loved the cheesecake, but he just doesn't have as much of a sweet tooth as I do. (Interpretation: he won't sit and gorge himself on half the pan of brownies, cookies,or whatever like I will!) Maybe I should try this recipe and freeze them like you suggested so that he can have a few now and then and the whole recipe won't be wasted! When he's the only one eating it, and he has amazing self-control, it takes a while to finish it all! I'm sure I could lighten it up. I guess now I have to take back what I said about never making cheesecake for him again, no matter how much he begs.......... http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/biggrin.gif:

BTW, glad you guys liked the recipe........

[Grace]

Shelly/Elinor

I agree with both of you. My husband won't eat cheesecake at all (remember I said he has a thing about cheese???) Anyway, I made the lemon-swirl cheesecake several times already, and the one I kept (I give a lot of stuff away!), I cut into pieces, wrapped individually and froze too. It was perfect,as I could take out a piece when I wanted one or when I had a guest drop by for some coffee and cake (my friends do that a lot - they know there is always something good to eat at this house, as well as a good cup of coffee!). But even at 16 or so servings per cake, they were still fairly large pieces/portions. So these mini-cheesecakes seem perfect for those times when you just want a little "something"! But Shelly, if you ever make that Black Forest Cheesecake again, be sure and just freeze the leftovers - don't throw them out!!!! Or better yet, send each of us a piece! We'd be appreciative! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

Grace

[jmkenad]

At my cousin's bridal shower we had grape chicken salad sandwiches on croisants along with various other fruit and pasta salads and a selection of various little desserts. I have a CL recipe for grape chicken salad somewhere on my computer. I'll try and find it and re-post if you'd like it.

[Shelly]

Grace, I was ready to take the cheesecake to work so it wouldn't all go to waste. I had told him that I would get rid of it if he didn't eat it, but he complained so I left it. Then when I said "It will spoil if someone doesn't eat it, so I'm taking it to work and that's that!" I took it out and it was MOLDY!!! So, I will follow your advice next time and freeze it so he can have it when he wants it. I don't know why I didn't think of it before.................because I don't make cheesecake often, I guess. http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

[This message has been edited by Shelly (edited 08-21-2000).]

[KristaMB]

Sorry it's taken me so long to get back to this thread. I was in a wedding this weekend and have been wrapped up with that. The miniature cheesecakes sound wonderful! I will definitely have to try them. Thank you to everyone who has posted. Your great ideas have sparked my creativity and now I feel like I can start pullimg together the menu.