Ladies Luncheon ideas

[Auden]

I'm helping organize a luncheon for 35 women and I'd appreciate some easy ideas for a main course (chicken and rice; chicken and pasta; or main-dish salad). Unless I serve a main-dish salad, we'll also serve a side salad. I would also appreciate a quick and easy dessert. I'd prefer to use a Cooking Light recipe (off of the 'net) since we are having a dietician speak at our luncheon!

Thanks so much!

[sneezles]

I know you requested a CL recipe and I'm sure there are some great ones but this is the recipe that I have used for years. You can substitute reduced fat mayo. Plus you wouldn't have to use the pasta shells, just mound it on the plate and cross the chilled asparagus over the salad.


* Exported from MasterCook *

Chicken and Grape Salad

Recipe By :
Serving Size : 4 Preparation Time :0:00
Categories :

Amount Measure Ingredient -- Preparation Method
-------- ------------ --------------------------------
2 cups cooked breast meat -- diced
4 celery stalks -- diced
1/2 cup slivered almonds -- toasted
1/4 cup each, red and green seedless grapes -- cut in half
1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
Mayonnaise
salt and pepper -- to taste
romaine lettuce leaves
1 bunch spinach leaves
2 carrots -- thinly sliced
1 cucumber -- using the tines of a fork, run it the length of the cucumber all around the peel. Slice thinly, crosswise
4 green onions -- diced
1/2 cup jicama -- sliced into thin sticks
4 jumbo pasta shells -- cooked
chilled cooked asparagus
1 cup alfalfa sprouts
Herb Dressing
1 1/3 cups oil
1/4 cup white wine vinegar or white balsamic
vinegar
2 tablespoons chives -- minced
2 tablespoons parsley -- minced
3 garlic cloves -- minced
1 teaspoon dried basil -- crumbled
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon dry mustard
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon dried tarragon
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
dash cayenne pepper

Combine chicken, celery, almonds, grapes, jicama and lemon juice in small bowl. Add enough mayonnaise to moisten and mix well. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

Cover and refrigerate until ready to use.

Combine all ingredients for Herb Dressing in jar with tight-fitting lid. Refrigerate until ready to use. Shake well before using.

Line individual plates with romaine and spinach leaves. Arrange carrot, cucumber, sprouts and green onions around edges.

Fill pasta shell with chicken mixture and place in middle of salad. Top with asparagus.

Serve dressing on the side.


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[SHERRY]

To serve dessert to that many, I would probably make a Texas Sheet Cake...you could make the traditional chocolate, and a white texas sheet cake....Or, you could buy a couple angel food cakes and serve with a spoon full of fresh berrries slightly mashed...


You might want to also check out this thread: http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/Forum1/HTML/006179.html

[This message has been edited by SHERRY (edited 04-06-2001).]

[Susann]

Another suggestion for an easy but impressive dessert is cherries in the snow. The entire recipe has only about 5 ingredients. You should be able to do a search to find it, but if you can't let me know and I will post it.

[maureen k]

Sherry,

I've never made a White Texas Sheet Cake.If it's half as good as the traditional chocolate version I'm sure I'd love it. Would love it if you could post the recipe.

Thanks in advance!

[Auden]

Thanks for all the ideas! The salad sounds great; I think I will use it. I had considered making Lakeway Chicken Salad, but I believe the salad recipe posted here will be lighter (for our already hot weather) and lower in calories. (The only reason I wanted an on-line CL recipe is because I don't know if I can locate all my past issues!)

I'm looking forward to finding Cherries in the Snow; it sounds delicious. And my all-time favorite cake is the Texas Chocolate Sheet Cake, I'd love to try the white cake.

Thanks for everything; as usual everyone is so helpful.

H.

[SHERRY]

Hello, I am still looking for the white texas sheet cake recipe I have, when I find it Ill post http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/biggrin.gif
sherry

[chefandi]

I was just at a Bridal luncheon and they had such a wonderful dinner. The main dish was a pasta salad with chicken and small bits of bacon on top of lettuce leaves. They served it with fruit and soft rolls. This was delicious and seemed easy to serve to a numerous amount of people.
For dessert, individuals tartlets would be pretty!

[SHERRY]

Well, sorry it has taken soooo long, this is one of the Texas Cake recipes,..I can't find my original but this looks similar...I found it on AllRecipes.com
It is great made the day before!

White Texas Sheet Cake

Ingredients
1 cup butter
1 cup water
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 cups white sugar
2 eggs
1/2 cup sour cream
1 teaspoon almond extract
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 cup butter
1/4 cup milk
4 1/2 cups confectioners' sugar
1/2 teaspoon almond extract
1 cup chopped walnuts


Directions
1 In a large saucepan, bring 1 cup butter or margarine and water to a boil. Remove from heat, and stir in flour, sugar, eggs, sour cream, 1 teaspoon almond extract, and baking soda until smooth. Pour batter into a greased 10 x 15 x 1 inch baking pan.
2 Bake at 375 degrees F (190 degrees C) for 20 to 22 minutes, or until cake is golden brown and tests done. Cool for 20 minutes.
3 Combine 1/2 cup butter or margarine and milk in a saucepan; bring to a boil. Remove from heat. Mix in sugar and 1/2 teaspoon almond extract. Stir in pecans. Spread frosting over warm cake.