planning a large luncheon: what king of classy h'orderves can be made in large quantiites the night before?

Answer 1

shrimp cocktail

Answer 2

Not sure if you consider these classy, but they are a step above. Beautiful asparagus spears that have been marinated always look nice. They can be served alone or as a garnish over something else. How about a smoked salmon platter or strips of smoked salmon rolled around a cream cheese mixture if you want something more individual? Crab salad in mini puff pastries.

Answer 3

I'll give you a few of my favorites, hope this helps in your menu decision.
Genoa Salami, slice thin, cut a small slice in the meat, half way thru, spread some cream cheese on the genoa and top the cream cheese with jalapeno peppers. Now roll the meat up like a funnel and arrange on platter. Season each with salt, pepper, freshly chopped parsley and paprika.

Pinwheels: two packages of Cream cheese, put in a large bowl, add banana peppers, jalapeno peppers, freshly chopped tomatoes, minced red onions and sliced black olives. Mix all ingredients together. Take a flour tortilla and lay flat, spread the mixture on top of tortilla until its nicely filled, roll up jelly roll fashion, repeat until all the tortilla's are rolled up, and refrigerate at least two hours for the flavors to marry. Take the tortilla and cut slices and place each pinwheel on a decorative platter. You can also season each with salt. pepper, paprika and freshly chopped parsley. You can get at least 7-8 pinwheels per tortilla .
Scallops wrapped in Bacon: Wrap one scallop with one slice of bacon and put a toothpik to hold together. Place each on a roasting pan and broil 5 minutes turning once. These can be served with your favorite dipping sauce, ie" sweet and sour, terriyaki, etc.
Chicken Livers wrapped in Bacon: Also known as "Rumaki" use the same directions as above and cook under the broiler turning often for 8-10 minutes or until the livers are done and bacon crispy.
Hope this helps you out :)

Answer 4

This is a great uncooked appetizer you can fix the night before and set out when your guests arrive.
1 lb shelled cooked medium shrimp
1/2 cup chili sauce
1 hard-boiled egg
4 tablespoons fat-free cream cheese
1/4 cup minced celery
1 1/2 tablespoons minced onions
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
salt
freshly-ground black pepper
4 tablespoons minced fresh parsley
Process all ingredients except the parsley in a food processor until they are finely chopped, but not like a paste.
The mixture should still be somewhat chunky.
Form the mixture into balls and roll in parsley.
Place on a nonstick cookie sheet covered with wax paper and refrigerate overnight before serving.

OR

Prosciutto-Date Bundles
20 slices prosciutto
20 blanched almonds
10 baby bocconcini cheeses
7 dried dates
1 tsp olive oil
a sprinkle balsamic vinegar (optional)
freshly ground pepper
1.Preheat the oven to 350F.
2.To make each bundle, cut each slice of prosciutto into 2 long strips (cut along the width). Cut a baby bocconcini in half and place one half on the end of one of the prosciutto strips. Cut a date into thirds and add a piece on top of the bocconcini. Place an almond on top.
3.Roll up the prosciutto strip around the cheese, date and almond. Then roll the other strip of prosciutto around the other side of the bundle so the fillings are completely wrapped. Insert a toothpick through the bundle to hold it in place. Repeat process and make 20 bundles.
4.Swirl the olive oil in the bottom of an oven proof dish. Add a couple grindings of black pepper to the oil and a few drops of balsamic vinegar, if desired.
5.Place the bundles into the baking dish (You can make these up to this point the day ahead and keep chilled, covered, until baking at the home you are visiting).
6.Bake 25 minutes until the prosciutto begins to turn golden. Serve immediately.
Makes 20.

OR

Buy some filo pastry sheets, and lay out under a damp cloth (filo dries out fast, so the damp cloth keeps it easy to work with). Buy cream cheese & raspberry jam. (Try it with jalapeno jam, for the more daring!) Cut the filo into 2-3" squares, center a 1" square of cream cheese in center, and top with a generous tablespoon dollop of jam. Bring the 4 corners together and give a twist so they'll hold together. Bake in a cool oven (250-300 degrees, on the top rack), and get ready to cover the tops with a loose piece of foil to keep from over-browning. If using jalapeno jam, mark them as spicy...maybe stick a toothpick in those.

These can be made ahead and baked for 10-15 minutes prior to your guests arriving. Watch towards the end so they don't overbrown...a crusty golden color is what you're looking for. With a sharp knife, cut a wedge out of one so the cheesy-jam drips out decoratively, and place it in the center of a round platter, then surround that one with the others that are intact.
.

Answer 5

Here are some thoughts:

1. Baked brie en croute
2. Asparagas wrapped in prosciutto
3. Cucumber slices with creme fraiche, smoked salmon, and fresh dill sprigs
4. Baby tomatos hollowed out and filled with crab salad
5. Sliced eggplant panini: thin slices of egg plant brushed with Maille mustard, topped with a thin slice of Asiago Cheese and place in a panini maker.
6. Antipasto platter with sopressata, provolone, pepperoncini, an olive medly, marinated artichoke hearts and marinated mushrooms.
7. Celery stuffed with crab mousse
8. Crab and shrimp mousse in a fish mold, served with crackers
9. Empanadas
10. Crisp tender steamed and chilled vegetables with an anchovie dipping sauce
11. Cracked crab, collosal shrimp platter with cocktail sauce and lemon
12. Mini fresh corn tamales with salsa
13. Spring rolls with peanut sauce

The list goes on....

Answer 6

I have several - I will name some, and if you want the recipe, then you can email me. It takes too much time typing it all on here, especially if you are not interested in them.

Spinach Dip in a bread bowl
Baked cream cheese Appetizer
Party Quiche squares
Appetizer crab balls
Curried chicken puffs
Cheese stuffed tomatoes
Bacon Appetizer crescents
Spinach-cheese boreks
Cream cheese stuffed mushrooms

If any of these sound good - I will give you the recipe

Answer 7

I like toasted ravioli with marinara dipping sauce. This is rare and should be a hit.

I had these at a wedding reception for the first time and thought they were great!

Just throw them in a warm oven the next day prior to serving.

Answer 8

the easiest thing EVER that tastes good as well....

put a fancy pick through a mini ball of mozzarella cheese with a piece of tomato on top. cut the tomato so it looks halfway decent and presto.

Answer 9

crab cakes from costco; they're yummy.