Bridal Shower Menu Suggestions

[milklady]

I'm hosting a bridal shower in June. It will be held on a Sunday afternoon from 2-5. There will be 15ish guests, all women (and a few girls). I'm a bit perplexed about what to serve. Normally at that time of day I'd do a "tea" with scones, little sandwiches, treats, etc. but I feel like that has played out (I've hosted at least two teas that most of these guests have attended).

So far I'm thinking about doing a few substantial salads (a green one, a grain one, a pasta once, another specific veggie), great bread and a variety of cheese, fruit and two kinds of cupcakes for dessert.

Does anyone have any menu suggestions to make this make sense and be a special event? A big note is that my household is vegetarian (fish like salmon and tuna are okay, as is all dairy and eggs) though the guest of honor is not.

[kalidaemon]

Does the bride have a favorite finger food and/or fruit? What about doing multiple variations on those themes since people have probably eaten lunch. I like your idea of doing cupcakes for dessert because they're relatively easy to make and can be very festive.

[toodie jane]

A good "punch" is one my SIL makes that everybody likes! Great for picnics and summer barbeques, too.

Coffee Punch
1 gallon strong coffee
pinch salt
1/2 t cinnamon
1 cup sugar
1/2 c chocolate syrup
1/2 gal vanilla ice cream
chocolate shavings for garnish

Mix hot coffee with salt, cinnamon, sugar, chocolate syrup and mix well. Let cool. Place 1 qt in a freezer container and freeze solid to float in punch. Cover remainder and chill.

To serve, place slightly soft ice cream in a punch bowl, pour coffee mixture over, add frozen punch, and garnish with chocolate shavings.

[Deborah]

Given the time of day for your shower, I'm wondering if most people wouldn't have eaten lunch. My suggestion is a large cheese tray with a varied choice of cheeses, served with mixed nuts and red and green grapes and assorted breads. Along side I would serve skewers of fruit (pineapple chunks, strawberries, melon etc...) and a variety of dessert squares. More along your idea of "tea with scones".

[milklady]

I'm a bit nervous about that too. But maybe people will eat no matter what... I love the fruit skewers idea. I will definitely do that. I will either do cupcakes or a cake (I'm also making the wedding cake, so I kinda want it to be a more whimsical preview).

[bitchincamero]

My bridal shower was at the same time and my mom made a fantastic spread! We had:
- steamed shrimp w/cocktail sauce in martini glasses - 3 shrimp per glass
- wonton "cups" (just wonton wrappers baked in a mini-muffin pan) filled with spinach artichoke dip
- chicken salad in endive cups
- orzo salad w/veggies and vinaigrette
- polenta rounds topped with apricot jam/hot breakfast sausage and parmesan cheese
- charcuterie plate w/bread and crackers

dessert:
- yogurt-covered pretzels
- cake
- marzipan fruit

Everything was delicious and beautiful! Picture: http://www.flickr.com/photos/bitchinc...

[scorpioscuba]

Congrats on your wedding! (I'm assuming your married by now)

Those polenta rounds sound amazing - do you have a recipe to share?

[bitchincamero]

Thanks! Yep - it's been a year.

I don't have a recipe, but this is it more or less:
Slice the polenta that comes in a tube into 1/2-inch rounds and broil them until they brown and crisp (about 5 - 8 minutes).

In a large skillet, brown some spicy (pork) breakfast sausage. Once it's throughly browned, add a bunch of thinly sliced scallions and some apricot jam (I like to use Bon Maman brand). The measurements should go something like this: 2 tubes polenta, 1 lb. sausage, 1 - 2 bunches scallions, 1/3 cup jam. Scale up or down as needed. Then top each round with some freshly grated Parmesan cheese. Yum!

[ChinHui]

Wil you share your wonton-spinach artichoke recipe, Chicken salad recipe, as well as the orzo salad w/veggies and vinaigrette? THANK YOU!!

[scorpioscuba]

My bridal shower was in March and my mom made all of the food. It was fantastic and the guests raved about the food! Here is the menu she served:

Brie en Croute
Tea sandwiches (egg salad, turkey with pesto, & tuna)
Quiche (one sausage/mushroom and one asparagus/spinach)
Farfalle Pasta with Chicken (could easily substitute the chicken for tuna or salmon or omit all together)
Lettuce Salad
Chocolate dipped strawberries

If you would like any of the recipes, let me know.

[milklady]

That's a lovely menu. What time of day was your shower? Was it right at lunch time, or later?

[scorpioscuba]

The shower started at 1pm and we ate around 2pm I'd say.

[bitchincamero]

Congratulations!!

[wildfire]

That sounds like a wonderful shower menu! (Especially the chocolate dipped strawberries :) )

[moniperez]

I am Planning a Bridal Shower! I would love the recipes....! Exactly what I was thinking!

[ChinHui]

Will you please share your tea sandwich recipes with me as well as your quiches? THANK YOU! I am hosting a bridal shower this weekend. Thank you!

[mcel215]

Ina Garten's Roasted Veggies and Orzo Salad is amazingly good, and serves at least 6 people. And her Panzanella is also excellent.

Good luck.

[La Dolce Vita]

I forgot to mention that in some cookbooks I've seen recipes that call for strips of eggplant or zucchini rolled with a ricotta filling, topped with tomato sauce and cheese, and baked. It seems like a relatively easy and elegant vegetarian dish.

[La Dolce Vita]

You could go in a more Mediterranean direction, such as cheese-and-spinach phyllo triangles. For a vegetable salad, one of my favorites is Israeli salad, which is bascially finely diced cucumbers, tomatoes and onions, tossed with lemon juice, salt, pepper, and maybe some minced herbs such as parsley, mint, or dill.

[karykat]

An appetizer that could mesh well with salads, tarts or perhaps an elegant soup would be lemon rosemary chicken skewers from epicurious. This got very high rankings, it's pretty and it's easy. I made it for a party and got rave reviews. And I think it would fit really well with some of your other ideas. Here's the link: http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/foo...

[enbell]

I think she wanted to go veg...but you could do veg skewers marinated in lemon/garlic/olive oil. I was thinking a mushroom salad that showcased a variety of mushrooms.

[karykat]

Good point. I overlooked that.

[ms. clicquot]

What about doing a couple of quiches or savoury tarts? An asparagus one might be nice for spring. With some cheeses, salads and fruit you should have enough to appeal to every one and it can all be vegetarian.

[DanaB]

I wold going to suggest quiche as well. Two or three different kinds of quiche would definitely go well with the menu the O.P. is already planning, and would provide a more substantive "center" to the meal.

[lisavf]

Or as an alternative to quiche, I've done a frittata for a shower, and it was well received. You could even do mini-frittatas. That would go very nicely with a green salad.

[wildfire]

Quiches always seem to be a staple in bridal showers. Not sure why, but they are delicious, easy to make, and most people like them. Also, to spice up the salad (especially if the bride is not a vegetarian, and everyone else eats some fish), you could try making a salmon salad. There are quite a few excellent recipies for this and it would add some variety.

[sarah galvin]

I would definitely do a cheese tray - soft, hard, bleu, etc.

I would also do a veggie tray but not all raw - I would make a nice veggie tray with steamed asparagus, endive with walnut/apple slaw, marinated mushroom caps - that kind of thing

How about some skewered meats - like satays

Or buy a Chinese barbecue duck and serve with chive crepes & hoisin sauce & fanned green onions

Gougeres

There are so many finger foods and hors d'ouevres, have fun!

[milklady]

I love the veggie and cheese tray ideas. I have access to a lot of great veggies and a fabulous cheese store, and will definitely use them.

I should have mentioned that because the shower is at my house, it has to follow our dietary guidelines (vegetarian with some fish okay) but be friendly to those who are omnivorous.