Suggestions for cold buffet food (recipes)?

Question

I've got to take a couple of dishes (or trays of little things) to my Mum's graduation party in a couple of weeks time and I feel a little uninspired.

I'm going to make a tomato, basil and mozzarella salad, and some chocolate dipped strawberries. Any one got any extra suggestions?

Answer 1

Sushi! Either buy or make your own!

To make your own,

Japanese rice, boiled, sprinkle a packet of vinegar powder over and stir. Leave to rest until cool.

If your family is squeamish about eating raw food (sashimi is the best) you can make sushi with virtually anything. Tuna mayo. Prawn cocktail. Avocado. Spam. Cucumber (the Japanese type is fantastic!). Even fish fingers cut into strips.

"Fillers" like mayo are optional. I've found wasabi mayonnaise extremely yummy and go well with a variety of food. Mix some wasabi (available at all oriental food stores) to taste with good quality mayonnaise (I use Japanese mayo because it's the best!) and voila! Goes really well with fish fingers, spam, prawn.

Spread a thin layer of rice on a sheet of (dried) seaweed. Spoon some filling in and roll up!

I guess you can tell I love Japanese food. I just had a Pret sandwich today that had prawn/crayfish, avacado, wasabi and seaweed filling and it was amazing!

Answer 2

Fruit salad is always good,although a little boring, so maybe do themed, like tropical-yum! Bring yogurt and whip cream to top with.

A few years ago my mom made a fruit salad for my sisters lou party, it was really cool. You cut a watermelon into the shape of a basket by cuting out 2 chunks so the handle and basket part is left ( sorry, hard to explain ) then fill the inside with fruit.

Answer 3

Cheese and pineapple using different cheeses not just cheddar. Try Danish Blue, Edam, Gouda, Wesleydale, Double Gloucester etc, to give different colours and flavours.

Ham & Apricots on sticks, Assorted or individual types of nuts in a variety of bowls.

Slices of Apples, Pears. Plums, Cherries.

White Rice with Peas

Seafood Sticks soaked in Cider Vinegar and Cayene Pepper.

I have got to stop these are making my mouth water.

Answer 4

Gotta have something to drink!

ICED TEA

Juice of 4 lemons and 2 limes
1 1/2 c. sugar
2 c. cold water

Place above 3 ingredients in large container. Place 2 tea bags in 2 cups cold water. Simmer with crushed mint leaves (3 stalks) for 5 minutes. Pour simmered tea and mint over first mixture until sugar dissolves. Add 6 cups cold water. Strain mixture. Serve over ice in tea glasses. Makes 16 servings.

Answer 5

Tortilla Appetizers

1 package super size flour tortillas, recipe uses 6 tortillas
(package usually has 12, Del Rey brand preferred)
2 - 8 ounce packages Philadelphia cream cheese - softened
1/3 cup Kraft mayonnaise
2 tablespoons green onions, chopped
1/4 cup black olives, chopped
4 - 2 1/2 ounce packages Buddig sliced pressed cooked beef (or corned beef or ham)

(Amount of green onions and black olives can be increased according to taste.)

Combine cream cheese and mayonnaise until smooth. Fold in onions and olives. Divide cream cheese mixture onto 6 tortillas. Spread a thin layer of cream cheese mixture on tortilla**. Arrange 6 slices of beef over cream cheese mixture. Tightly roll up tortilla. Wrap in plastic wrap. Place in refrigerator at least 3 hours or over night. To serve, cut in 3/4" slices.

**Note: I don’t spread the cream cheese mixture to the left or right edge of the tortilla. I spread it wide enough to accommodate two columns of beef slices, three slices in each column. I also leave room at the top edge, as the tortilla is rolled (from the bottom up) the cream cheese and beef have a tendency to squish up and out.

Answer 6

this one is just so simple!

box of ritz crackers, tub of philledelphia cream cheese packet of smoked salmon and a jar of black pitted olives , all available in supermarket, get a pack of fresk not dried dill as well if they have it and some lemons for show.


cut the salmon into strips about half a cm wide and two long.

spread a dolop of cream cheese on a cracker get a piece of salmon twist it once and lay it on the cheese put half an olive or a tiny sprig of dill on top. looks good tastes great you can do 50 in 10 minutes! put some lemon wedges on the plate and some cracked black pepper so people can jazz it up if they like.

that base works with lots of things like a thin sliced red green and yellow bell peppers anchovies and again olives, sundried tomatoes even on its own with paprika prrinkled on top

Answer 7

You can do mini-wraps. Just purchase the deli meats, pita bread, lettuce and swiss or blue cheese. Put the meats, lettuce & cheese inside the pita bread neatly an then wrap them and place on a serving tray and decorate the edges with lettuce and tomato and you should be good to go!!

Answer 8

Maybe a pasta salad? Use any kind of pasta you like - try rotini, shells, or penne or a more unusual shape besides elbow macaroni. Add finely chopped or thin strips of whatever veggies you like - I like olives (black or green), shredded carrots, diced celery, red pepper strips, small pieces of broccoli, green peas. Then add meat if you want - small ham cubes or small pieces of cooked chicken breast (you can even use canned), and shredded cheddar cheese. Add viniagrette dressing (love Newman's Own balsamic vinegar), or add mayo with a small amount of vinegar and a pinch of sugar.

Answer 9

Marinate some prawns and put onto skewers.

Salad seems a bit boring, why not use pasta with the ingredients instead and flavour with oil, can serve it cold.

Make a big trifle, always goes down well.

Answer 10

Make linguine salad so good and easy:

Boil linguine noodles
drain and cool
add cherry tomatoes
diced celery
diced cucumbers
Chopped black olives if desired
salt and pepper
Mix Italian dressing over all and toss
Refrigerate until cold

easy and yummy