We are having fried catfish, garden salad and french fries. This is the catch -- there will be approximately nine people including myself. Their ages range from 53 to 90 years old and they are all african-american. I know you are probably thinking "What does their race have to do with it?". Well I'll tell you why ... they are old (especially the ones that are 60 and up) and they are very picky. If it's not southern-style food then they want no parts of it. Also, a lot of older people don't think younger people can cook -- at least not like them anyway.
I need something that they will eat. I know they love catfish so that's a win, but if I make some fancy appetizers chances are they'll end up in the garbage. I don't have any money to waste so I really need some suggestions.
10 points to the first person who gives the best answer.
2007-12-28 01:25:14 · 18 answers · asked by Hoping he will bless me with #1 4 in Food & Drink ➔ Cooking & Recipes
My mother is here for the holidays , so I went and asked her. She is 87 and Southern to the core. She said she'd have fried catfish, cole slaw, hushpuppies, corn on the cob and brunswick stew. She said with a meal like that, no appetizer was necessary. She also would very much like an invitation.
I don't think they prepared many appetizers back then. Maybe a tray of crackers with a little ham & cheese on toothpicks, maybe a bowl of salted nuts or maybe celery stalks stuffed with pimento cheese. Whatever you do, don't put anything out that they don't immediately recognize. Even little cute cut sandwiches with pimento cheese or egg salad...a fruit tray might be OK or even deviled eggs.
I'd keep it simple. The catfish is going to be the star of the show anyway.
There is no written law that you have to have an appetizer.
2007-12-28 02:24:30 · answer #1 · answered by theanna2000 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Hope you are going to have hushpuppies with the catfish. I made cucumber sandwiches, sausage/cheese balls, and pig in a blanket. Everyone here was over 60 and up to 82. They loved it. I've never heard of garden salad at a fish fry. I always make homemade coleslaw. I am from the south and a great cook with southern food. I take pride in my cooking and baking, but remember, your representation makes a difference. Oh, another thing that was a big hit, I cooked my fries and hushpuppies in the same oil that I cooked the fish in.
Don't try to be perfect, because: you can please some of the people, some of the time, but you can't please all of the people, all of the time.
I'm still can't figure out what the race has to do with anything. Alabamalady813 here. Good luck......
2007-12-28 09:46:25 · answer #2 · answered by alabamalady813 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I live in a southern state. Most of the people here like meatballs in a crockpot (put 1 large jar grape jelly and 1 large jar of barbecue sauce and a large bag of meatballs from the freezer section of your grocery store) and heat - I thought it didn't sound good, but it really is, and it's easy and cheap! Also, they like fried chicken wings with ranch dressing on the side and small sandwiches with pimento cheese in them! Add some hushpuppies to your meal, and alot of times green beans are served here instead of salad. Good Luck, sounds like a great dinner to me!
2007-12-28 09:39:12 · answer #3 · answered by bpsgirl123 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
you gotta have hushpuppies with catfish and cheese grits and baked beans and coleslaw, not green salad and banana pudding for dessert.
i would concentrate more on the meal than the appetizers. just throw out a few things like some plain potato chips and french onion dip, barbecue potato chips, carrots and ranch dip, cheese and crackers, smoked sausage on toothpicks with bbq and mustard dipping sauce. (not all of those, just choose 2 or 3).
2007-12-28 10:26:58 · answer #4 · answered by Doodles 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Go with an old fashioned Cheese, Cracker and Crab Dip platter. Buy good quality "regular" cheeses, new york cheddar, jarlsburg, colby, and have some good sweet mustard.(like honeycup) and maybe even some sliced salami or summer sausage. Serve with club or ritz crackers Splurge on a hot crab dip and toasted baguette slices.
This will be easy for you, will be impressive to them, won't offend anyone, will compliment the catfish- and if they don't eat it, you can make a great macaroni and cheese the next day!
2007-12-28 09:35:33 · answer #5 · answered by a cabingirl 6 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Definitely hushpuppies. How about fried green tomatos, cole slaw with a tray of sliced sweet onions & bread & butter pickles? We also serve cheese grits when we have fried fish.
2007-12-28 12:34:24 · answer #6 · answered by Bogeyman 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
OK home made mac and cheese soul food style
one square of velveta, half square of medium of mild chedder and cube it all up and place in baking pan, then add two table spoons of butter and about a can of evaporated milk with one egg (mixed) next add your BOILED big elbow macaroni noodles and bake at about 375 for about 30 mins maybe a little longer ...If you have paprika sprinkle a little on the top for looks...oh and of course salt and pepper for taste...
Black eyed peas cooked with some bacon
potatoe salad
yams or sweet potatoes cooked with butter, brown sugar and a little cinnimmon
hush puppies of course!
baked pork and beans with bacon (my mom adds a can of crushed pinapples and it is so good)
MAKE SOME CORN BREAD....TRUST ME!
sorry misunderstood your questions
for appitizers I would wow them with little seafood things, like crab dip or fry some shrimp and put it out early or make shrimp cocktail...You could make salmon crockets...
mix up boiled potatoes and a can of salmon with some green onions and seasoning then roll into ball and roll on top of crushed saltine crackers and fry....so good
2007-12-28 12:12:44 · answer #7 · answered by chesney 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
WELSH RABBIT.
Perfect for older people. Many will have dentures.
This is cheese sauce and historically is poured over toast. Ask for a delicious recipe. We made this in Home Ec in 7th grade.
2007-12-28 11:41:24 · answer #8 · answered by heartsarebad 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
hushpuppies, frog legs, coleslaw (you can spruce it up with red peppers), and there's a cool southern dish they serve in houston, i can't remember what it's called, but it's cold diced tomato with chunks of skinned sour pickles and vinegrette sauce with pepper. it's like a weird before-meal salad without lettuce lol. it's kinda tart and it cleans the pallete for fish, also, here's a website with lots of other neat ideas. good luck and have fun!!
2007-12-28 10:26:11 · answer #9 · answered by tobysmomanddad 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
why not serve hushpuppies instead of fries...accompanied by either seafood sauce or ranch dressing.
Recepie can be downloaded from
www.foodnetwork.com
Look for Emmeril's area of this page
2007-12-28 09:31:07 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋