Baby Shower
Kathy
12/10/06 		We've attemded six baby showers in four weeks and have three more coming up for various friends. It must be the year for babies. With nine showers in such a short period of time, and most of these have the same people coming - because we all have the same circle of friends, I'm wanting something different for my younger daughter (who is expecting twins). I'm not the hostess - it is being given by my neice, sister-in-laws and my older daughter. They are asking me what she wants and without a doubt they would love to go overboard, but my youngest daughter has simple tastes and ideas. She's not into fru fru or lace and not at all into pretension. I want something nice and that has class, pretty, but not showy. She has two more showers after this - one that her work is hosting and one out of town for the family of her husband. I've had so much chicken salad and chicken salad croissants lately I hope to never see another. Does anyone have menu suggestions for finger foods - something everyone will enjoy that will be easy to prepare. Both my daughter and neice live out of town and because my daughter is having twins - they have elected to have it at her home so she does not have to transport gifts. What they prepare will need to be doable the evening before (they're spending the night) or the morning of the shower. To be honest, my daughter loves chicken fingers and I thought about telling my older daughter to just order a tray of chicken fingers from Chik filet. Again, we're not trying to compete with everyone else, but I would like something somewhat different that looks nice and not cheesy, but simple and classy. We're all just about burned out on your typical "shower food". So far from RSVP's we know of 40 yes responses. It is from 2-4 in the afternoon - more of a tea - come and go type thing. I would as I said, seriously appreciate some food suggestions from top to bottom on what to serve. Thanks.
ellen
12/11/06 		With the timing and your daughters preferences, it sounds like a real English-syle afternoon teaparty would be perfect. Besides coffee, tea, and a nice punch (which could be hot apple cider in this winter weather), these usually have three or four courses- pinwheel and finger sandwiches with crusts OFF sandwichs, other savouries (which is where the chicken fingers fit in, and I often use spanakopita or stuffed mushrooms or miniquiches from a warehouse club), sweet bites with butter or Devonshire cream and jam or marmalade (muffins, scones, etc) and possibly fruit salad; then a great cake, custard trifle or petit fours.

I have good recipes for freezing the sandwiches, if you will email me using the update link at the bottom of the page, I will send it to you. Put "Tea Party" in the subject line.

The golden scone recipe on the website makes about 36 2-bite-size scones. Keep in mind at a tea party everything is one or two bite size.

Kathy
12/11/06 		Sounds perfect. I emailed to the link. Look forward to your reply.
lost
01/31/07 		Planning a baby shower for 40 guests. The menu is pasta salad, meatballs, lil smokies, chicken fingers, chicken sandwiches,fruit tray, veggie tray, and a cheese tray. I need to know how much I need for each food item. Thank You
ellen
02/01/07 		1 1/2 gallons pasta salad. The rest of the items are covered on the fruit tray, veggie tray and appetizer planning pages, If you prepare your estimaye, I will be hlad to check it for you.
Mona
03/13/07 		First time grandmother. I have never prepared a shower, just have been to them. It's all new to me. I will be serving between 35-45 people.Here is the list of what we are going to have:
tortilla chips
chili-cheese dip(crock pot)
mini Quiches
swedish meatballs(crock pot)
chicken salad croissants
mac-n-cheese
potato salad
macaroni salad
jello pretzel dish (dessert)
cake
punch
coffee
sodas

Could you give me estimate of how much I would need for each thing above?

Thank you so much

ellen
03/15/07 		Mona, you need to say what time the party is and how long, since the amounts vary depending on whether it is lunchtime or mid afternoon. Also, I am not doing the full initial estimates any more, since I posted all the planning pages in 2004. First look at my pages on amounts, starting with the appetizer planning pages, since many of your items are appetizer types. and you need to decide on number of people- for 35 you would use 1/3 of the amount for 100 but for 45 you would want a scant half.

There is a page for beverages and the plan for 100 page covers your salads and sides. Prepare a best guess/ first estimate and post it and I will go over it for you and give you some feedback.