What kind of food should I serve at a housewarming party that isn't messy and doesn't cost too much?

Question

There will be a lot of little kids and the house has white carpet so the food should be rather easy to eat without making a mess.

Answer 1

Cheesecake Supreme
Ingredients

•1-1/2 cups finely crushed graham crackers
•1/4 cup finely chopped walnuts
•1 tablespoon sugar
•1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon (optional)
•1/2 cup butter, melted
•3 8-ounce packages cream cheese, softened
•1 cup sugar
•2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
•1 teaspoon vanilla
•1/4 cup milk
•3 eggs, slightly beaten
•1/2 teaspoon finely shredded lemon peel (optional)
•1 recipe Raspberry Sauce (optional)

Directions
1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. For crust, in a bowl combine crushed graham crackers, walnuts, the 1 tablespoon sugar, and, if desired, the cinnamon. Stir in melted butter. Press the crumb mixture onto the bottom and about 2 inches up the sides of an 8- or 9-inch springform pan; set aside.
2. For filling, in a large mixing bowl beat cream cheese, the 1 cup sugar, the flour, and vanilla with an electric mixer until combined. Beat in milk until smooth. Stir in eggs and, if desired, lemon peel.
3. Pour filling into crust-lined pan. Place the pan in a shallow baking pan. Bake for 40 to 45 minutes for the 8-inch pan, 35 to 40 minutes for the 9-inch pan, or until a 2-1/2-inch area around the outside edge appears set when gently shaken.
4. Cool in pan on a wire rack for 15 minutes. Using a small sharp knife, loosen the crust from sides of pan; cool for 30 minutes. Remove the sides of the pan; cool cheesecake completely on rack. Cover and chill at least 4 hours before serving. If desired, serve with Raspberry Sauce.
5. Makes 12 slices

6. Water Bath Method: Prepare crust as directed. Place the crust-lined springform pan on a double layer of 18x12-inch heavy-duty aluminum foil. Bring edges of foil up and mold around sides of pan to form a watertight seal. Prepare filling as directed and pour into prepared pan. Place in a roasting pan and pour enough hot water around pan to reach halfway up the sides. Bake as directed. When done, edges of cake will be set but center will jiggle a bit when pan is gently shaken. Turn oven off and allow cheesecake to sit in oven for 1 hour (cheesecake will continue to set up during standing time in oven). Remove from water bath and cool and chill as directed in step 4.

7. Sour Cream Cheesecake: Prepare as above, except reduce cream cheese to 2 packages. Omit the milk and add two 8-ounce cartons dairy sour cream. Bake 45 to 50 minutes for 8-inch pan (40 to 45 minutes for 9-inch pan).
Per slice: 439 cal., 33 g total fat (18g sat. fat), 133 mg chol., 30 g carbo., 288 mg sodium, 1 g fiber, 7 g pro. Daily Values: 21% vit. A, 1% vit. C, 9% calcium, 7% iron
Exchanges: 2 other Carbo., 6 Fat

8. Chocolate Marble Cheesecake: Prepare as above, except omit lemon peel. Melt 4 ounces semisweet chocolate. Stir the melted chocolate into half of the filling. Pour plain filling into the crust; pour chocolate filling into the crust. Use a narrow metal spatula to gently swirl the fillings. If desired, garnish with chocolate

Sirniki (Russian Cheese Pancakes)
These Russian Fried Cheese Pancakes (Patties), prounounced SEER-ni-kee, are delicious served hot out of the pan – the outsides still crispy, the insides creamy… They are very easy, and the dough can be made ahead. Sirniki are usually served as a brunch or breakfast dish, or as a dessert, with sour cream or jam. Some like both!
1 lb farmer cheese
2 eggs
2 tablespoons sugar
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup flour, plus
extra flour, for dipping
2 tablespoons butter, approx
sour cream or jam, for serving
3-4 servings

1. In a food processor, pulse the farmer’s cheese until it is uniformly crumpled. Add the eggs, sugar, salt, and ½ cup of flour. Pulse or mix to combine. Refrigerate 1 hour, or even overnight. The dough will remain thick but sticky.
2. Put approximately 1/3 cup of flour into a bowl, and use this to prevent the dough from sticking to your hands. Using 2 teaspoons, drop 1½” balls of dough into the flour, roll them round, and flatten to about 3/8” thick. Place them on a plate in a single layer until all the patties are all formed.
3. Heat a frying pan with 1 T. butter, and fry the patties on each side until golden. You will need to add more butter as you go.
4. Serve hot with sour cream and/or jam. This recipe will make approximately 20 small patties.
5. NOTE: Farmer Cheese is usually found near the cream cheese; my store sells Friendship brand. These days, the packages are just under 1/2 pound (don't you hate this incremental downsizing?), and 2 packages will work fine.
6. About the Times, Prep time is mostly frying time, and Passive time is the chilling time.



Russian Potato and Mushroom Croquettes recipe -
Cuisine: Russian
• Ingredients
7 potatoes, peeled
5 c water
1 onion, peeled and chopped
400 g mushrooms
1 tsp oil
1 tbsp water
1 salt and pepper, to taste
1 c flour
1 tbsp oil


• Method
Boil potatoes in water till tender. Drain and mash potatoes. In a separate pan, saute onions and mushrooms in oil and water over medium-high heat for three minutes. In a large bowl, mix mashed potatoes, sauteed onions and mushrooms, seasonings and flour together in a large bowl. Form croquettes. Heat oil in a large frying pan and fry croquettes over medium-high heat for 8 minutes on each side or until light brown.
Serve with sour cream and chopped greens.



Pskovsky Hot Vinegret recipe -
• Ingredients
3 ea potatoes
2 ea carrots
1 ea turnip
5 tb canned peas
Sauce:
5 tb vegetable broth
oil
1 ts flour
1 ea onion
3 tb canned mushrooms
celery and salt to taste
*Note: If some of the units or abbreviations look unfamiliar to you, click here.

• Method
Wash vegetables, peel and cube. Then stew every vegetable (except peas) seprartely in a small amount of water. Combine and drain off vegetable broth.
Sauce:
Oil the pan, heat a little, add flour, stirring constantly. Then, very carefully, pour in the broth, so that there are no lumps. Add in finely cubed onion, celery, mushrooms and salt to taste. Cook on low heat for 15 minutes.


CABBAGE WITH TOMATOES~KAPUSTA Z POMIDORAMY recipe -
Cuisine: Ukrainian, Yield: Feeds 6 people, or 4 Ukrainian
• Ingredients
What you need: one small head green cabbage~one small onion, chopped~3 tablespoons plus 1 tablespoon butter~2 tablespoons water~one tablespoon white flour~one cupful cooked tomatoes, strained~2 tablespoons sour cream~salt and black pepper to taste
*Note: If some of the units or abbreviations look unfamiliar to you, click here.

• Method
What you do: Shred the cabbage. Cook the onion in 3 tablespoons of butter in a large pot or skillet until tender but not browned. Add the cabbage and the water and let cook uncovered for about ten minutes until the cabbage is tender but still slightly crisp. In a small saucepan, heat the remaining tablespoon of butter, blend in the flour and stir in the tomatoes. Cook over low heat, stirring constantly until the sauce thickens. Stir in the sour cream, adding salt and black pepper to taste. Combine the sauce with the cabbage and simmer for a few minutes to blend the flavours.



Meat and Cabbage Pie recipe -
Cuisine: Russian
• Ingredients
Filling:
1 head of cabbage (small to medium)
1 onion (medium)
4 large eggs (hard boiled)
1 lb (or 500g) ground beef
Salt
Other spices

Crust:
-If you live in countries where a ready pie crust is sold in supermarkets, get 2 9-inch round crusts (any brand will work);
-If you have to make the crust yourself, here are the ingredients for the dough:
2 1/2 cups of flour
1 teaspoon of sugar (regular or powedered)
1 teaspoon of salt
1 cup of solid vegetable shorteninng OR 1/2 cup of vegetable shortening and 8 tablespoons of unsalted butter OR 1 cup of unsalted butter
1/2 cup of ice cold water
*Note: If some of the units or abbreviations look unfamiliar to you, click here.

• Method
Filling:
Finely cut the cabbage and onion; heat up a large skillet with 2 tablespoons of oil; when it is hot add chopped onion; satee the onion until golden brown; then add cabbage and cook on medium heat for 15-20 minutes or until golden in color and soft in consistency. Simulatenously, in a separate skillet satee the ground beef; cook it for 5-10 minutes or until the meat is of consistent brown color and there is no redness. Boil the eggs. When everything is ready, mix the cabbage, meat, and chopped eggs together; add salt and/or other spices. Your filling is ready!

Crust:
If you are making your own dough:
In a large bowl thoroughly mix together flour, salt, and sugar. Then add shortening (broken in large chunks) or butter (cut into small pieces). Begin chopping the fat/butter with a pastry blender or 2 knives. When you are done, the mixture should be of coarse consistency; dry and powdery. Then drizzle over the mixture 1/3 cup + 1 tablespoon of ice cold water. Begin mixing the dough with a spatula until the mixture looks evenly moistened and begins to form small balls. Press down on the dough with the flat side spatula. If the balls of dough stick together, you have added enough water; if the do not, drizzle the dough with 1 to 2 tablespoons of ice cold water. Continue to mix the dough first with the spatula, then with your hands until it coheres. The dough should look rough, not smooth. Divide the dough in half; press each half into a round flat disk, wrap in plastic and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before rolling. The dough can be frozen for up to 6 month in an airtight packaging (Thaw completely before rolling).

When your dough is ready to roll, roll out 2 9-inch (~22cm) rounds. Place one crust on the bottom of a 9-inch pie pan; press the dough over the bottom and into the corners of the pan. Transfer the filling into the pan; smoothen the top. Place the second crust on top and seal the sides. The dough should not hang over the sides of the pan too much, otherwise it will char; you can either cut the excess dough with a knife, or fold it inside the pan. Before baking, cut 4 ventilation holes on the top crust of your pie. Bake in an oven pre-heated to 350F (175C) for 20-30 minutes or untill golden. When done, let the pie sit out for 15-20 minutes. Serve warm. Great with milk. Enjoy!!!


Chrov plav (rice pilaf with dried fruit and nuts) recipe -
Cuisine: Caucasian
• Ingredients
1 cup of long-grain unconverted white rice
2 tablespoons of currants
4 medium prunes, pitted and cut lengthwise into narrow strips
4 tablespoons of butter
1/2 cup of dried apricots, cut into narrow strips
1/4 cup of finely chopped blanched almonds
1 tablespoon of honey

*Note: If some of the units or abbreviations look unfamiliar to you, click here.

• Method
1. Soak currants and prunes in a bowl of warm water for 15 minutes, then drain and pat them dry with paper towels.
2. Melt the butter in a 10- to 12-inch skillet over high heat and add the apricots, currants, prunes and almonds. Reduce the heat to low and cook uncovered for 3 to 5 minutes, or until the nuts are lightly colored. Stir in the honey and rice, cover with 2 cups of water and bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce the heat to low, cover the pan and simmer for 25 minutes, or until the liquid has been absorbed. Serve hot.

Answer 2

Little kids + white carpet + any kind of food = Mess
Not possible, If the weather permits, pay someone to keep kids entertained and picnic outside.

Answer 3

FAST AND EASY MINI PEPPERONI ROLLS

1 roll crescent rolls from the dairy case
slices of pepperoni
pre-packaged cubed cheese (any flavor you like)

Preheat oven to the temperature on the package of the crescent rolls.
Separate each crescent roll and add about 4 pieces of pepperoni and 4 pieces of cheese to each section. Press all the edges closed so that you can’t see anything inside. Put on a cookie sheet and bake according to the crescent roll directions (about 11-15 min. or until golden brown.

Serve warm.

You can make the little pillows ahead of time and keep in the refrigerator until you are ready to bake them to save time.

Don’t think that you stuffed too much in there. You didn’t!

Enjoy!
MINI - CORN DOGS OR ONION RINGS

2 eggs
2/3 c. milk
1 c. Bisquick
1/4 to 1/2 tsp. dry mustard
1/2 tsp. paprika
1 c. corn meal
Hot dogs, cut in half or onion slices

Beat eggs slightly; blend in milk. Add remaining ingredients. Dip hot dog in batter, then fry in deep fryer. For onion rings; cut thick slices of onion. Separate into rings. Dip in batter and fry. Can adjust milk or cornmeal to find a consistency you like for batter.

Answer 4

Why not have a barbeque & entertain outside( chicken is cheap & have some hot dogs for the kids) and ask your guests to bring a side dish, dessert, or drink. It is also very common & accepted practice to just have a pot luck dinner and everyone bring a dish of their choice. Focus on your yard and entertain outside.

Answer 5

Apple and Yougurt Dip

(optional) Place your apples in the refrigerator to cool

Slice your apples into slices, approx. 16ths. or however you prefer the thickness of your apples. Make pleanty, as needed. Place in bowl and toss with some orange or lime juice, to keep the apples from changing color. Leave in fridge to chill until ready to serve.

Yogurt Dip

1 cup of Vanilla Yogurt
4 tablespoons of honey
A twist of lime zest or juice to taste

mix well, refrigerate until ready to serve.

When serving, you may decide to use a platter and place the apples around the dip in a "flower" arrangement, Just remember to keep the platter and dip filled, so it never runs empty!

good luck!

Answer 6

go to your local deli and have them make up some platters of cheeses and deli meats a fruit platter would be good also get some boxes of various types of crackers and make coffee,they even have premade gallons of iced tea,you could keep it simple no need to go crazy.try keep the kids contained in an area where they would have there own little sitting and eating area,

Answer 7

Cool Whip

Answer 8

visit www.kraftfoods.com and go to the apetizer section. there are a lot of wonderful ideas. I would recommend the foods on a stick and dips.

Answer 9

Fast and easy..... roll ham cheese and lettuce into tortillas... (maybe some condiments but your call) then cut and pick them... very neat with no condiments... very quick and easy...... can substitute other meats and cheese combos for different choices for the guests

Answer 10

Veggie trays with crackers can do the trick. Drinks DO NOT do any fruit punch that red dye will never come out.

Answer 11

piggies in a blanket,,,hot dogs cut in half wrapped in cheese and a bicut cook in oven for bout 10 min.