Late Night Party Food?

Question

I need help! My cousin is staying with me this weekend and we are having parties Friday and Saturday. Friday I am ordering pizza, but would like something different for Saturday.

I'm serving 20 -25 people, they will coming and going all night. Its very casual and drinking will be involved. I would prefer finger foods that are cheap and easy to make.

I was thinking about just serving cream cheese and bacon crescents, hotdogs with various toppings, chips, and cupcakes or cheesecake. I'm worried that this menu is too young ( ages 22 - 30 attending), but I like the easy casual aspect of it.

I also need some sort of vegetarian dish (dairy products and eggs are fine, but no meat).

So, what do you all think about the hotdogs idea? If you think its lame then please suggest an alternative.

And can anyone recommend a good vegetarian dish?

Answer 1

I like the hotdog idea... but you can also add chips for a "Nacho" bar as well. Same topping can be used for both.

Sounds like a fun weekend!

Answer 2

It depends on the crowd and what you are drinking. If wine, I'd stay away from hot dogs. If you're having a kegger, I'm sure the above will work out.

The last party I had, we served quesadillas and tortilla chips with 3 kinds of dip.  Goes with tequila, sangria, wine, and beer. And, you can make a bunch and leave them to warm in the oven. Or, you can make them to order since they only take 2 min to make. They can be served with or without meat for your carnivore or vegetarian buddies respectively.

Answer 3

make a fruit plate, cheese and cracker plate, maybe add some meats to the platter.  A big *** salad for everyone to enjoy. i came up with a great salad and dressing recipe for a brunch menu last week email me if you want and ill give it to ya.

Answer 4

how about potato salad for the vegetarian?  and tuna salad on toasted french bread works too.

Answer 5

Queso is always good as a dip. 1 pound sausage or hamburger; drained. I large box of velveeta, a 1 hot and 1 regular can of rotel. Keep in crockpot to keep warm.

Munchies like pigs in a blanket and good room temp too. Take little smokie sausages and wrap in biscuit dough.

Vegetable trays are great too, not expensive either if you make it yourself.

Chex mix, peanuts, pretzels too..

Answer 6

You're going to be in the kitchen all night, making hotdogs & crescents:)  Why don't you make some meatballs and cocktail hotdogs instead, and just have them in crockpots on the table?

SWEET & SOUR MEATBALLS

Meat Balls:

1 egg

1 lb. ground beef

1 TB. cornstarch

2 TB. chopped onion

1 tsp. salt

pepper

SAUCE:

1 c. pineapple juice

1 TB. oil

3 TB. cornstarch

1 TB. soy sauce

3 TB. vinegar

6 TB. water

1/2 c. sugar

1/2 - 3/4 c. chunk pineapple

2 green peppers, cut in thin strips or chunks

      Combine meatball ingredients.  Cook pineapple juice & oil over low heat;  add cornstarch.  Cook next four ingredients, until thick, stirring constantly.  Add pineapple & peppers.  Combine meatballs & sauce.  Cook slowly until green pepper is partially cooked.  Keep on low in crockpot to serve....

FANCY FRANKS

1 (12 oz) bottle chili sauce

1 (10 oz) jar grape jelly

10-12 oz. hot dogs, cut into 1-2" pieces

1 (13-1/2 oz) can drained pineapple chunks

     Combine chili sauce and grape jelly in sauce pan.  Simmer together for 15 min until melted.  Add hot dogs & pineapple and simmer another 15 min.  Serve in chafing dish or crockpot on low to serve....

ARTICHOKE NIBBLE (Vegetarian)

1 (6 oz.) jars marinated artichoke hearts (cut up)

1 small onion, chopped

1 clove garlic, minced

1/4 c. fine dry bread crumbs

1/4 t. salt

1.8 tsp. EACH pepper, oregano & tabasco sauace

1/2 lb. shredded cheddar cheese

1 TB. minced parsley

4 eggs

       Mix all ingredients together well in a large bowl.  TUrn into a greased 7x11" pan and bake at 325 for 30 min (or until set when lightly touched).  Cool in pan; then cut into 1" squares.  Serve hot, cold or ROOM TEMPERATURE

PETITE CHERRY CHEESECAKES

2 (8oz) pkgs. cream cheese, softened

3/4 c. sugar

2 eggs

1 TB. lemon juice

1 tsp. vanilla

24 vanilla wafers

1 can cherry pie filling (or blueberry)

      Beat cream cheese, sugar, eggs, lemon juice & vanilla until light & fluffy.  Line muffin pans with cupcake papers and place a wafer in each one.  Fill the cups 3/4 full with cream cheese mixture.  Bake at 375 for 15-20 min, or until set.  Top each with about 1 TB. of pie filling and chill.

HELLO DOLLY

1/2 c. butter

1-1/2 c. graham cracker crumbs

1 can sweetened, condensed milk

1 (6 oz) pkg. chocolate chips

1 (3-1/2 oz) can flaked coconut

1 c. chopped nuts

      Melt butter in bottom of 9x13" pan.  Remove from heat; sprinkle crumbs over butter.  Pour sweetened milk evenly over crumbs.  Top with chips, coconut & nuts.  Press down gently.  Bake at 350 for 25 min, or until golden brown.  Cool and cut into bars.

Quick PEACH DESSERT Cake

1 tsp. lemon juice

2 cans peach pie filling

2 pkg. white cake mix

2 sticks melted butter

1 c. pecans

container of Cool Whip

        Add lemon juice to pie fillings.  Spread fillings on bottom of lightly gerased or sprayed 9x13" pan.  Combine dry cake mixes and melted butter and nuts.  Sprinkle over pie fillings.  Bake at 350 for 40-50 min, until lightly browned.  Top with Cool WHip to serve

These recipes can all be done ahead, and left on the table for guests to help themselves...no need for you to fuss!  You might want to add a veggie and/or fruit platter.....

You could put them on large pots on the lowest simmer that your stove does to keep them warm (stir them every once in awhile).  Depending on how big you make the meatballs, you should have about 15-20 small ones, so maybe double the recipe:)......  HAVE FUN!

Answer 7

How about pigs in a blanket instead of hot dogs?  They are easier to eat, and easy to make.

Deviled eggs are not too hard to make, and cheap.

Vegetarian:

- bruschetta

- slices of toasted baguette, topped w/ mozzarella cheese, roasted red peppers & drizzled w/ balsalmic vinegar (a little more pricey, especially w/ the cheese, but easy to make & delicious)

- cheese & salsa dip with nachos

- 7-layer dip with nachos

Answer 8

Baked ziti (make with meatless sauce and lots of cheese--you can serve with meatballs on the side if you like).  Maybe a taco bar instead of hot dogs??

Answer 9

A cheap and easy party dish that I always love is cold veggie pizza.  Cook the crust. Mix up some cream cheese with ranch as the sauce (some people add sour cream, that's your preference) and just throw on whatever chopped veggies you'd prefer.  Very minimal effort and tasty!  Also, it has a very distinct taste from regular pizza, along with the beauty of the carby crust that goes so well with drinking :)

Answer 10

Vegetarian quiches.  You can buy store-bought mini quiche appetizers.  They just need to be warmed up in the oven for 10-15 minutes.

If you're going to for a self serve dinner you could have a fahita buffet.  That way the vegetarians would not have to take any meat, just the veggies and toppings.  You could have buffet style chicken or steak, vegetables (fried bell peppers and onions go good in fahitas), shredded cheese and lettace, salsa and sour cream.

Your menu sounds good though.  I'd enjoy it and I'm 27.