Hellobee Boards

Pizza, pasta, salad, appetizers

Brunch items. Its 11am-1.

We did:
-Pit beef (Baltimore thing)
-Pulled pork
-Mac & cheese
-Pasta salad
-Cole slaw
-baked beans
-fruit skewers/fruit salad
-chips & guac
-banana pudding
-cupcakes
-homemade blueberry/animal cracker ice cream

Sounds like a lot of bbq food at these parties! We did the same!

-ribs
-pulled pork sandwiches
-guac and chips
-two types of macaroni and cheese
-cornbread
-fruit salad
-kale salad
-birthday cake

First:
Mini lobster rolls
Veggies and dip
Fruit platter
Other food I can't remember

Second:
Macaroni and cheese bar
Veggies and dip
Fruit
Chicken fingers and honey-mustard dip
Candy bar

So much food! It was a dinner time party

Meatballs and smokies, salsa and a cream cheese jelly dip, deciles eggs, Korean tacos and pizza, and a bunch of desserts-cookie dough balls, pound cake bites, Nutella puppy chow, and chocolage cupcakes. Also a couple beverages- party colored lemonade and something else that I can't remember

Pizza, salads, brownies!

@rahlyrah: haha, thanks! It was pretty awesome; everyone loved it! Was SO EASY too!

I made a big pan of homemade mac and cheese - I made it in a roasting pan, which worked out perfectly because I could make the sauce right in that pan and then throw in the cooked pasta and put it in the oven on a low temp for a bit to bake and then transferred to the table. The pan held its heat so everything stayed yummy and gooey for a long time!

For toppings we did: cooked bacon, crispy onions, hot dogs (cut up), diced ham, roasted red peppers, peas, and broccoli.

Here's a pic: (it was a Winnie the Pooh theme, which is why it says "not Piglet" under the bacon sign)

We are doing a mid afternoon garden party (my LO is just a month older than yours, we're ready to party at our house too!) & I plan on just serving some finger sandwiches & maybe cherry tomatoes & cheese & cucumber & fruit or something. Plus, some cupcakes.

I'm just copy and pasting my post from her birthday!

The Food:
We invited 40 guests and made 60 skewers. That along with all the appetizers, sides and dessert was plenty of food! We had tons of leftovers even in a family of very healthy appetites!

appetizers:
Veggie tray with hummus & veggie dip (M loves hummus so we had to serve it at her party!)
Daddy’s smoked salmon; this is by far, M’s favorite food so we had to serve it!
Shrimp Summer Rolls
Sashimi; assortment of salmon, tuna & white tuna (courtesy of my brother)
Seaweed salad (brother)

main:
chicken & steak ke - bobs
Quinoa Salad
Potato Salad by MIL
Chef’s Salad by aunt

dessert::
cakes:
I’m a sugar prude and don’t want M having sugar yet. Mrs Pen shared this (http://healthyindulgences.net/2009/05/healthy-chocolate-cake-with-a-secret/) wonderful “healthy” chocolate cake recipe with me. I did a practice run for Easter and it was delicious!!! So I decided that’s the recipe I would use for her smash cake. I did not want a uber sweet or dairy topping so I did some research and decided to make a coconut cream frosting. I bought 2 cans of coconut cream concentrate and took just the top cream part and whipped it. I was a little heavy handed with the yellow coloring and it looks more mustard than bright yellow.  

In my family it’s become a bit of a tradition to have a crepe cake from Lady M (http://www.ladym.com/) at birthdays. If you’re in NYC you have to try them! When my brother offered to bring a green tea crepe cake I immediately accepted!  That along with another 9” of the chocolate cake was more than enough!
@ladybee: my food total along with beer, soda and other beverages came to $296. I have a full budget breakdown if you want the link to my original post on her 1st birthday party.

We just did a yoghurt bar with different toppings like fruit, sauce, sprinkles, candy etc. Seemed to go over well.

We didn't have the money (or the time for cooking, honestly) to splurge on lots of food for C's party so we did a mid-afternoon party with an ice cream bar and lots of toppings, lemon cupcakes, and brownies. It was simple but was a hit and worked out nicely.

@coopsmama: that sounds awesome!!!

For my nephew's first birthday party this past January, my sister in law did a make your own sandwich bar. It was great because it was something both kids and adults liked, and it was a healthy option for people watching their diets.

@ladybee: My MIL ordered them from a sub shop. I made the fruit and veggie trays, as it was much cheaper than ordering. You could easily set out luncheon meat, cheese, bread and condiments and have people make their own. I know my family and friends wouldn't have minded that at all.

Luckily, my son's birthday is in the summer, so we just did typical BBQ food: burgers, dogs, salad, potato salad, macaroni salad, watermelon, slush, and rocky road bday cupcakes (it was a construction theme).

We plan to do exactly the same thing year, but we are planning a Mickey Mouse Clubhouse theme instead.

Have you looked into a taco truck? They are usually really cheap, cook everything, bring and clean up after themselves. So worth it!!

@yoursilverlining: that Mac & Cheese bar looks delicious! What a cool idea!!