Parent Appreciation Dinner for Senior Parents? Ideas...Please?

Question

An organization I am in at my school is thinking about hosting a parent appreciation banquet for my senior class. I need ideas for food, decorations, and what type of things should be included in the program. Thanks!!

Answer 1

Since most of the parents were probably teenagers themselves in the late 70's/early 80's, you could decorate in a Disco style, and play disco music.  The party could be like it would have been when your parents were YOUR age:) ....

You could have father/daughter and mother/son dances, and "snowball" dances .....

I'd think veggie/dip and fruit platters, a few chip & dips for appetizers ......   lasagna (meat and vegetarian), with a big green salad (and choice of dressings), garlic bread ...  a "thank you" cake and platters of small cookies, brownies, cream puffs etc......  coffee, soda, iced tea, lemonade

Have fun, and it's a wonderful idea!

Answer 2

Id suggest doing it as a Potluck (every student brings in one sort of dish they are good at preparing ..but be sure you make a list  some for entrees, some for apps, some for veggies, some for desserts.. etc so you dont end up with say 12 types of entree and No veggies).

You could go with any theme really, and that would sort of dictate your decorations... and those are just something you and your group need to sit and brainstorm about as it really depends more on what you want to do and how much experience you have and what you can affford, realistically.

As far as the program, Id do a video slide show (or DVD or Powerpoint etc) with various photos of you and your mates parents in various stages of life, have an essay contest, where the students write what thier parents mean to them, or best family moment etc and why it was such, and compile them in sort of bound book format to give to each of the parents attending (one book per student parent etc).

Since it is about parents though, Id suggest having family style dining as opposed to buffet, but also  mix up the families.

When folks arrive give them a different colored sheet of construction paper (or some sort of dividing factor) then at some point before dining have the groups with the same color paper sit together at the tables.

along the lines of the essay, everyone at the table should share one anecdote about thier parents (this includes the current parents about thier own parents.. is the students grandparents)

It can be pretty demanding pulling it all together, but it can be great way to have other people get to know each other they may not have before, and build even further relationships.

Let me know how it turns out, or what you decide to do.

Answer 3

Here are a few E-Z recipes you might want to try. Good Luck & enjoy.

COLA CHICKEN (And more variations of recipe)

4 skinless, boneless chicken b*****s

1 cup catsup

1 12oz. can cola (pepsi, coke, etc.)

Put chicken in a non-stick pan.

Mix together catsup and cola, pour over chicken.

Bring to a boil. Cover, reduce heat and cook 45 minutes.

(turning chicken a few times, while cooking...to prevent from sticking to pan)

Uncover, turn up the heat and continue to cook until the sauce

becomes thick and adheres to the chicken.

It turns into the most incredible BBQ sauce. Yummmm!

You can double the recipe and use more pieces of

chicken....wings...would be ideal...add some hot sauce....presto "Hot Wings"!  

I have used Ribs, just as good.

I tried this recipe with 'meatballs'....was equally

as good...served over rice.

I found another variation.....omit the catsup and add a small jar of Salsa (any variety).

I have tried using Salsa (omitting the catsup....not).

You'd think a recipe with only '3' ingredients couldn't be messed up....wouldn't you??

Well...while I was preparing to fix the 'Cola Chicken' recipe

using Salsa.....I was also trying to carry on a conversation with my

husband...(just proves...I can't do two things at once)....mixed Salsa & Catsup (before I realized I was supposed to leave out the catsup) & Cola........still turned out really tasty (to me)...might be a little sweeter than some of you like.

I fixed chicken wings, (using the above recipe)

but...I added the spices from a MILD (I don't care for "HOT") Buffalo Wings packet...(the kind you get to bake in the oven).....I thought it was really good.....(but you/I can't find a 'bad' way to fix chicken).

Finally....!! I fixed the 'SALSA' chicken......that's good , too.

Another (bright)idea.....I thought of trying......replace the

catsup with a bottle of Shrimp Cocktail Sauce...and add a bag of (pop corn) shrimp.....!

Fixed the shrimp with cocktail sauce......eh...wasn't all that

great...was OK...probably won't be fixing it again.

Also tried beef stew cuts......that was pretty good.....I can see

myself making this again.

Served both over rice.....think the stew cuts would have been just as

good over noodles.

Try little cocktail wieners/sausages…for appetizers.

CRUNCHY ONION CHICKEN

1 1/3 cups French’s Original French Fried Onions

4 boneless skinless chicken breast halves

1 egg, beaten

LIGHTLY CRUSH:

Onions in a plastic bag.

DIP:

Chicken in egg

COVER:

With onion crumbs, press firmly to adhere to chicken.

BAKE:

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

Place chicken on lightly greased baking pan.

Sprinkle with additional onion crumbs, if desired.

Bake for 20 minutes or until no longer pink in center.

Mushroom Chicken

4 boneless/skinless chicken breast (or any pieces you like)

1 can cream of mushroom soup.

1 can water

Place chicken in crock pot (or sauce pan for stove top cooking)

mix soup & 1 can of water together

pour over chicken

cook on medium heat until boiling then reduce heat and cook until chicken is really tender & falling apart.

Serve over noodles or rice or dressing....or???

CHILLI DOG CASSEROLE

1 pkg. (8) hot dog buns

1 pkg. (8) hot dogs (use more if you like)

1 can Chilli (15 oz. without beans, use more if you want)

1 small onion (chopped)

2 cups shredded cheese

mustard

DIRECTIONS: Pre-heat oven 350 degrees

In a 9" x 13" baking pan, break up hot dog buns (bite size) and spread in pan.

Cut up hot dogs (about 1/2" size) spread over buns.

Spoon/spred chilli over hot dog/buns.

Sprinkle onions over all.

Squirt mustard over entire mixture (don't spread...just make a few lines both ways across mixture)

Cover with shredded cheese.

Bake until cheese is melted and bubbly.

(Hint: If using extra hot dogs & chilli, don't add extra buns.)

"Canned Soup".

(My Way!)

Whatever cans of veggies I have, that I like, in cabinet it goes in the pot.....along with all the juices in the cans.

Cook on stove top or Crock pot.

Enjoy!

Canned:

corn

peas

carrots

gr.beans (any variety)

lima beans

wax beans

tomato (any variety)

potatoes (whole or sliced...or both whatever you like)

You get the idea....lol.

Also add a package of shredded cabbage (cole slaw mix).

You can even add a package of onion soup mix.

If it gets to dry and needs more liquids....add tomato juice...V-8...etc.

(I’ve not made this one yet)

EASY BEEF STROGANOFF

Ingredients:

3/4 lb lean ground beef

1 jar Heinz HomeStyle Savory Beef Gravy (12 oz Jar)

1 can mushrooms, drained (7 oz can)

1/2 cup sour cream

4-6 cups hot cooked noodles

salt & pepper, to taste

Instructions:

In a medium skillet, cook ground beef over medium heat until browned and thoroughly cooked. Carefully drain liquids and return to stovetop. Stir in Gravy and mushrooms, and bring to a simmer, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat and stir in sour cream, until thoroughly combined. Add salt and pepper, to taste, and serve immediately over hot noodles.

Preparation Time: 1-15 minutes

Cook Time: 25+ minutes

(I’ve not made this yet, either….just received it.)

"Corny Beanie Weenies."

(from a country preacher in Mississippi…wife & 2 teenage sons)

Mix one can of good baked beans

We use a good sized can of beans (14-16 ounces, I think) and

get a kind that we like (maybe with brown sugar, onion, and bacon).

There are several kinds of good baked beans.

and a package of Oscar Meier Weiners (all sliced up).

with a can of whole kernel corn (drained)

Any way, heat up these three ingredients, and serve with brown bread

(maybe toasted ?) and a glass of milk.

It doesn't get any easier than this, and is suprisingly good!

P.S…..Might put ingredients ina casserole dish and top with corn muffin mix.

POT ROAST

Your choice of beef (to fit crock-pot)

1 pkg. dry Ranch dressing mix

1 pkg. dry Italian dressing mix

1 pkg. dry Brown Gravy mix

1 cup water

Put beef in pot.

Mix together all the dry mixes….then add water …pour over meat and cover & cook on high 4-6 hours.

Until meat is tender.

The first time I mad it I didn’t have the Italian Dressing mix….so I added a pkg. of Onion Soup Mix….I have to say I liked that better.

If you use more water you might want to add more Brown Gravy mix….to make a thicker sauce. Was gonna add

potatoes and carrots…but never got around to it.

HASH BROWN CASSEROLE

2 lbs. frozen shredded hash brown potatoes (thawed)

1 bunch green onions, chopped

sweet pepper chopped (red – green – yellow – orange – or a mixture of all)

1 lb. Sausage, cooked until pink disappears, crumbled

1 cup ham cubes

4 slices crisp bacon, crumbled

1 small can sliced mushrooms

1 small can sliced black olives

2 – 8oz. packages of shredded cheese

½ cup milk

12 eggs beaten

Tabasco (optional)

sour cream & salsa (optional)

Grease a 9 x 13 baking pan, wipe excess with paper towel.

Spread potatoes on bottom (cand be lightly browned in a skillet first if desired)

Sprinkle sausage over potatoes…then

     Peppers…

     Mushrooms…

     Ham..

     Onions (reserve about ¼ cup)

Mix eggs & milk together…….I added about 2 TBLS. Tabasco…more to your taste… pour slowly over all.

Cover with shredded cheese….then sprinkle over all

     Remaining onions…

     Olives…

     Bacon…

Cover and refrigerate overnight.

Uncover and bake at 375 degrees for 35 – 45 minutes…until browned and cheese is melted.

Serve with sour cream and/or salsa.

OLD SETTLER’S BEANS

INGREDIENTS:

1/2 lb. ground beef

1/2 lb. bacon

1 chopped onion

Brown in skillet and drain excess grease.

ADD:

16 oz. can Red Kidney Beans (drained)

24 oz. can Pork & Beans (drained)

1/2 cup white sugar

1/2 cup dark brown sugar

1/4 cup Catsup

2 TBLS. Molasses

1/2 tsp. dry mustard

Mix Thoroughly !

Cook in a crock pot until...hot...hot...hot!

MARINATED VEGGIE SALAD

1 lb. can French style green beans

1 lb. can small peas

1 lb. can white corn

1 - 4oz. jar pimento (chopped)

1 cup shopped onion

1 cup chopped celery

1 cup chopped green pepper

1 cup sugar (I used artificial sweetener)

2/3 cup vinegar (I used red wine vinegar)

1/2 cup cooking oil

1 tsp. salt

1 tsp. pepper

1.)Pour green beans, peas, corn & pimento in a colander to drain over a

large bowl. Discard 1 1/2 cups of liquid.

2.)Put veggies in a large bowl and fold in onions, celery and green

peppers.

3.)Mix together thoroughly the remaining ingredients and toss with

veggies.

4.)Cover and let sit over night in refrigerator. (The longer it marinates the better.)

Desserts/Snacks

POUND CAKE

Combine:

2 sticks butter

1 2/3 cup sugar

Beat in:

5 eggs (1 at a time)

Add:

2 cups sifted flour

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 teaspoon rum extract

Mix thoroughly and bake 1 hour at 325 degrees.

E-Z Candy

(All recipes are mixed the same.)

Melt ingredients, seperately in microwave until runny.

Mix together and pour into serving dish.

Chill until firm, cut & serve.

Chocolate Fudge:

16 oz. container of Fudge Frosting

1 bag of Chocolate Chips (any flavor you like)

Peanut Butter Fudge #1:

1 small jar Peanut Butter (18 oz.)

2 bags of Peanut Butter Chips

Peanut Butter Fudge #2:

1 small jar Peanut Butter (18oz.)

16 oz. container of White Frosting

Marshmallow Nougat:

1 small jr Marshmallow Creme

1 bag White Chocolate Chips

1 tsp. Almond Flavoring

1 small bag Chopped Nuts

(I've made this without the flavoring & nuts....I want to try

rolling

into balls and dipping in a chocolate coating....sounds good to

me.)

I've doubled all the above recipes. The Marshmallow Nougat

recipe...doubled and added a containe

Answer 4

I LOVE this idea and I LOVE the other poster's idea of mother/son and father/daughter dances!

I would get corsages for the moms and boutinieres for the dads.  Each student can do that for their own parent, but I think it would be a really nice touch!

For food, I would keep it simple, do a chicken or pasta and salad with a bread. Have a dessert like one or two sheet cakes, etc.  

For decorations, I would do something that's either the school colors being this is from the Senior class of the school to their parents, or just some simple colors.  Have some balloons and streamers, and flowers at each table.  I would have white tableclothes at each table and then colored napkins and then accent with the balloons and streamers in another color.  I like the school colors because it's from the school students to their parents.

For the program, I would put a thank you to the parents for all the love and support they've shown their kids in helping them, especially in the last four years.  The high school years are tough and it's tough for both the students and parents, and you can thank them for standing by you and being there and helping you to be where you are today.  Thank them and show your appreciation.  You can list each set of parents, but that's going to be a LOT, so I'm not sure if you can do that.  You can just say that the class of 08 appreciates the love and support of their parents, and how they're always there for them and how you hope you can show your appreciate through this banquet, and thank them.  

You can even have a spokesperson for the class get up and give a speech thanking the parents for coming and letting you have the opportunity to thank them and show how much they mean to you, etc.

I think the banquet is an awesome idea and it would really mean SO much to the parents, especially since a lot of the students are going away to colllege soon, this is something that would really mean a lot to them.  

For food, you can brainstorm with your class, I would keep it simple with a chicken, pasta, and veggie and salad with rolls and then a dessert.  Then you can serve one cola, water, and like a sprite.

You can also make a banner that says Thank you or the class of 08 thinks you're great, something to that effect.

I hope these ideas help and that the parents enjoy themselves!