i am in charge of cooking our family reunion meal. it needs to be special ... any ideas?

Question

my family is gathering in 2 weeks for a formal reunion. my family comes from all over the east coast and me and my sister are the ones put in charge for cooking up this formal meal. i want something different but something easy and on the faster side to cook. meat wise ... nothing too exotic id like to keep it between seafood, chicken, or beef and im open to pasta or soup based dishes. SO IF ANYONE HAS A FORMAL DISH IN MIND PLEASE SHARE :) thanks a bunch!!

Answer 1

If it is going to be formal, you'll want a starter, main dish, and dessert.

I'd suggest soup for a starter. Cream of tomato is fairly easy. Serve with slices of French bread and a small dipping bowl filled with olive oil. For a main course, I'd suggest roast beef with a side of horseradish. Make gravy from the drippings, make mashed potatoes. I'd saute mushrooms to go with the main course. For something a bit easier, you can serve steamed asparagus as well. For dessert, I'd go with a fruit-based dish like peaches or strawberries with cream.

Answer 2

Not sure how formal this dish is but it looks great and takes great also.
Stuffed Shells
1 jar 16 ozs Alfredo Sauce
2 cups frozen chopped broccoli, thawed
2 cups dices cooked chicken
1 cup shedded chedar cheese
24 jumbo chells, cooked and drained.
In a large bowl, combine about 3/4 of the alfredo sauce, broccoli, chicken and the cheese. Spoon into the pasta shells. Place in a greased 13 X 9 X 2 baking dish. pour the remaining alfredo sauce over the stuffed shells so they don't get dried out. (optional--sprinkle more cheese over the shells) Bake uncovered for 30 mins at 350 degress or until heated throught. serves 8. just increase for a larger group and serve with garlic bread and a side salad.

Answer 3

Try this idea

Lasagna
Toss salad
Garlic bread
Easy cheesecake

Lasagna

2lbs hamburger
2lbs Italian sausage
3 Tablespoons Italian seasoning
3 Tablespoons granulated garlic
2 Tablespoons crushed red peppers
3 large cans tomato sauce
fry meat until done, drain add seasoning and sauce. Simmer over low heat 25 minutes, while this is cooking mix
3 cups Ricotta cheese Or cottage cheese
2 cups mozzarella cheese
1 cup Parmesan cheese
2 eggs
mix well
2 boxes lasagna noodles
I use no boil noodles, but you can use the ones you have to cook.
start with a layer of noodles in greased bake pan top with enough sauce mixture to cover, sprinkle with cheese mixture, repeat 3 times ending with cheese then sprinkle with more mozzarella cheese.
Bake at 400 for 45 to 60 minutes until brown and bubbly
This recipe will serve 8 people

Here's the recipe for a very easy and yummy cheese cake
4 cups graham cracker crumbs
1 1/2 stick melted butter
1/2 cup sugar
mix well and press in bake pan
2 bars cream cheese Softened
1 large tub Cool Whip
1 cup powdered sugar
mix together and spread over crust, Top with 2 cans of your favorite pie filling. Chill for a couple hours

Answer 4

First of all do something you do well. Don't pick out some exotic recipe and try it for the first time on your company!

Stroganoff is easy and delicious and with flakey dinner rolls and a large salad - makes a good meal.

If you want to do chicken - a day or so before - you can buy whole fryers or cornish game hens - split in half with sharp knife and kitchen scissors and season - salt & pepper and stick some rosemary sprigs under skin - thenbarbecue for about 15 min on cut side down over low heat - then remove from grill. Place in the 'brown in the bag' bags at the super market - you can get the turkey size and put a bunch in each one - just lay flat or seal in flat baking pans with foil. Add 1/4 cup water to each bag or pan and cook on 250 degrees for an hr or til very tender.

Make scalloped potatoes -
Cut potatoes in to thin rounds and layer potatoes into dish alternating with a sprinkle of salt, sift flour lightly over each layer and slice in onions in thin rounds. .another layer of potatoes and repeat. Let last layer be potatoes salted but not the other stuff. Fill you dish or dishes up. Then pour in 1-3 cans of canned milk depending on size of dish - but make the canned milk come up to the half way point of the dish..
Cover with foil and bake for 1.5 - 2 hrs at 350 then pull out and dob a jar of cheese whiz over it and uncover continue baking for 15 - 20 min and then remove - can be reheated in microwave very nicely.

Make a 'casserole' type vegetable. We love asparagus - brushed with butter and salted then layered with baby onions
Add 1/2 cup water- Sprinkle parmesan cheese over top and bake tightly covered.

Make a large tossed salad and provide several dressing choices. Serve with hot rolls, croissants or bread and butter,

Answer 5

Formal, but simple: Roast Beef (or chicken), baked or mashed potatoes with a vegetable, a fruit salad of some kind and pie or home made cookies for dessert. For the fruit salad I'd recommend a frosted waldorf.

Lasagna with a ceasar salad and a fruit dessert would also be good.

Good luck.

Answer 6

Hmm, here in the midwest, reunions are always covered dish affairs. Everyone brings a dish of food, and doesn't make a huge job for any one or two persons.

Answer 7

12 ounce T-bones, foil wrapped baked potatos, salads. Optional mushrooms/onions for the steaks.

Answer 8

Make some orange chicken..........just baked chicken in orange juice......London broil is good especially when you bake it a long time and it starts to fall apart...Make some spicy shrimp, just add some Mrs. Dash spice mix to shrimp...

Answer 9

CHICKEN CORDON BLUE

6 chicken breast halves, skinned and boned
6 slices lean cooked ham
6 (3/4 oz.) slice Swiss cheese
1/3 c. seasoned dry bread crumbs
1/4 tsp. paprika
1/8 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. pepper
1/3 c. skim milk

Place each chicken breast between 2 sheets of waxed paper, flatten to 1/4 inch thickness, using a meat mallet or rolling pin. Place 1 slice of ham and 1 slice of cheese in the center of each chicken piece. Roll up lengthwise and skewer with wooden picks.
Combine bread crumbs, paprika, salt and pepper. Dip chicken breasts in milk, roll in bread crumb mixture. Place chicken in a 12x8x2 inch baking dish coated with cooking spray. Bake, uncovered, at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.

MANDARIN ORANGE SALAD

3 to 4 c. salad greens broken (leaf, Bibb lettuce, spinach)
1/4 c. sliced onions
1 (11 oz.) can mandarin oranges, drained
1/4 c. slivered almonds, toasted in butter
1/4 c. vegetable oil
2 tbsp. vinegar
2 tbsp. sugar
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. pepper

Combine the greens, onions, mandarin oranges and almonds.
Make the dressing with the vegetable oil, vinegar, sugar, salt and pepper. Chill in refrigerator for 2 hours before tossing with the salad ingredients.

RICE TUNA PIE

1 c. cooked rice
3 eggs
1 c. grated cheese
1 (7 oz.) can tuna, drained
1 c. milk, scalded
1/8 tsp. salt
1/8 tsp. pepper
1/4 c. chopped chives
1 tomato, sliced

Beat 1 egg and combine with rice. Using back of spoon, press rice mixture to bottom of 9 inch pie plate. Spread 1/2 of cheese and then 1/2 of tuna over rice. Repeat layers.
Combine 2 eggs, milk, salt, pepper and chives. Pour over tuna. Bake in preheated oven at 400 degrees for 20 minutes. Arrange slices of tomato over pie and bake for 5 minutes.

MARSHMALLOW CREME FUDGE

One 11 oz.bag milk chocolate chips
One cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
2 cups granulated sugar
1 jar marshmallow creme
1 can (5oz.) evaporated milk
6 Tbs. butter
2 tbs. corn syrup
1 tsp. vanilla extract
3/4-1 cup chopped walnuts or pecans

Line 9 inch square pan with foil. Butter foil or spray with Pam, and put aside.
Combine sugar, syrup, milk, butter and put in a heavy saucepan, which has been buttered all the way to the top.

Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until it reaches a full boil. Boil, stirring constantly, for 5 minutes, (no longer). Remove from heat; add chocolate chips, (which have been warmed in the microwave), and vanilla.

Stir in marshmallow creme and stir until smooth, and well blended. Pour into prepared pan, and cool for several hours. Cut into squares.

Answer 10

I doubt anyone will care what food you make or how it tastes because nobody wants to be there anyway.