Help with ideas

[Sheri]

I need some help please. I am not a very good cook and have done almost zero entertaining. My creativity level is close to zero. My husband is having four colleagues over to our house for a day of brainstorming. He wants to start the day around 8AM and go until about 4PM. I need some ideas for breakfast, lunch and snacks. They will be working around the kitchen table so keep that in mind for lunch ideas. I don't want to be too much of a disturbance.

Thanks in advance.

[jhiggins]

Do you think most of them will have had breakfast already?
Maybe you could make it easy and have bananas, muffins, orange juice, and coffee in the morning.

Maybe some chocolates or candy on the table.

You could just have cold cuts, cheeses, etc. for sandwiches for lunch if you wanted it to be really simple. Or, could you throw some hamburgers on the grill?

[Missi]

I agree w/ JHiggins - I would not fix breakfast since it's later in the morning. I'd just have some muffins or pastries, coffee, and juice.

For lunch, how about some BBQ sandwiches, potato salad or chips, and maybe baked beans? You could have the meat in the crock pot and let them make their own sandwiches.

[luvmyhunny]

Anything sandwich wise in the crockpot such as Italian Beef, Sloppy Joes, BBQ, sliced roast beef would be good. Serve with some hard & soft rolls and selection of cheeses and you've got yourself entertaining 101!

As far as breakfast goes I would go along with everyone elses ideas as far as pastries, fruit, coffee and juice. If it were earlier I would suggest any one of several french toast casseroles or breakfast brunch recipes that I'm sure many of us have and would love to share.

When is this planned for? Soon? Talk to your DH and find out what he is REALLY expecting - to say breakfast leaves a lot of room for personal interpretation.

Good luck with it and let us know how it turns out. You don't have to be a GREAT cook to satisfy your family - you just have to cook what they like!!!!

[scbshell]

For snacks, Chex Mix is always a hit. And a bowl of peanut M&Ms or some other kind of candy. Maybe candy corn?

You could do a cold cut tray and just have it in the fridge. Put some turkey, ham, salami, whatever on it. Then have a cheese tray. Get some american, swiss and colby or something like that. Then if you have those trays in the fridge, all they have to do is pull them out and make their own sandwich on hoagie rolls. You could also have cold potatoe salad made ahead of time for a side. This would be stuff you could do ahead of time and not even have to be in there disturbing them.

[Sheri]

Thanks for all the ideas. You are right in that I need to talk to DH to see what he has in mind. I agree that breakfast does not need to be much more than something to "nibble" on while everyone gets settled. I love the sandwich ideas and I did not even think of M&Ms. See told you I was zero on creativity.

It is scheduled for Oct 19. I will let you know how it goes.

I just found this forum a few weeks ago and very glad I did.

[luvmyhunny]

Sheri - glad we could help - just jump right on in and believe it or not, you may find more creativity in you than you think!!!!

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b155/luvmyhunny/welcome_017.gif

[Missi]

I would have plenty to drink available all day - water and maybe some iced tea or lemonade. Good luck! You can do it!! :)

OHHHHH - French Dip sandwiches would be good. Recipe was here but maybe not after the old board was redone. I got the recipe I use from an old SL magazine. I will post if you like. The meat (beef roast) is cooked overnight in the crock pot - so tender and delicious!!

[Lucky_Lady]

Depending on the weather, maybe a pot of stew and cornbread and a pie or cobbler for later in the afternoon....Men seem to love anything we do for them, sandwiches added to that might go over and lemon-aid, tea, coffee, water and they should feel pampered. Enjoy your day and that will make everything taste even better.......if hubby has gone to their homes for this same thing, ask him what their wives served, that could be a kinda guide......Good luck and hurry back, SLBB is a great place

[Sheri]

Thank all of you for your ideas. It is happening even as I write. I did muffins, fruit and biscuits for breakfast. (The first time I have ever made biscuits from scratch, they said they were good). I have made chicken salad and have croissants for that and then potato salad. DH requested my apple cake. For snacks I have Chex Mix, M&Ms and Halloween candy.

Thanks for helping me with ideas and my self confidence.

Sheri

[michellenbcla]

Go easy on the carbs - they'll get sleepy. Go for protein items. I'm far from a health nut, but most of the all day business meetings I've attended are heavy on the carbs and I always get sleepy as heck. In order to keep my brain fresh, I have to refrain from too much sugar.
Rather than chocolates for snacks, I would suggest mixed nuts.
For breakfast, I like the idea of fruits. If they're breakfast eaters, they'll probably eat before they come. Plus, that's something that's super easy since there's no preparation for you.
For lunch, do a grilled, boneless chicken breast with some man-friendly veggies.
And who says you can't serve some lite "adult" beverages around 3-4pm???
They'll love you for it! And who wouldn't appreciate a cold drink after brainstorming all day? Remember the saying, "It's 5 o'clock somewhere"!