Are you sure you want to do this? Your wedding day is a lot to do just being a bride.

But if you like here are some that might help

Stuffed mushrooms:

Recipe can be multiplied to the amount you need and the baking sheets can be stacked in the refrigerator covered with a sheet of plastic.

1 box of button mushrooms de-stemed
1 bottle of bacon bits
Cheese slices.

Place the mushrooms on a baking sheet, fill with bacon bits and top with cheese. This can be done the day before. Then preheat oven to 400 degrees F and cook for 15 minutes until the cheese is nicely melted and slightly brown.

Deviled Eggs:

This recipe can also be multiplied to the amount you need but add the mayonnaise last and in spoonfuls because you don't want the yolk mixture to become runny.

4 hard boiled eggs
2 tablespoons mayonnaise
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1/4 teaspoon cayenne
pinch paprika or minced fresh parsley leaves for garnish
1/4 teaspoon vinegar, (I like malt)
1/4 teaspoon minced onion

Peel the eggs and cut in half lengthwise. Scoop out the yolk and put in medium bowl. Add all ingredients except the garnish. Mash together until a creamy consistancy. If you want to be fancy put the yolk mixture in a pastry bag and then swirl it into the egg white hole. then add the garnish. It can be made a day or two before but watchout they disappear.

Celery with cream cheese:

Whipped cream cheese
1 bunch celery

The day before clean and slice the cerlery into approximately 3 inch sections. slice one end into thin strips about 1 inch long and place in bowl filled with ice water. This will curl the ends and make it look fancy. The next day spread the cream cheese in the center of the stocks and enjoy.

And of course chicken wings can be gotten at the store with a variety of sauces, and chicken fingers also which just require following the directions on the package.

You can do a steam ship round for the beef it is cheaper than most kinds of meat that are large enough to feed a crowd. I use garlic onion dry soup mix as a rub and then bake in a 450 degree F oven until the meat themometer reads 125 degrees. Sliced thinly this works for sandwiches and an au jus can easily be made from the pan drippings.

A lunchmeat tray with the variety of lunchmeats wrapped around a spreadable cream cheese and held together with a toothpick topped with an olive is a standard.

A champagne fountain can be rented, and filled with a pink chanpagne is really cute.

I don't like bread trays they look nice but the bread drys out so fast it's not worth it. Rolls work much better and taste just as good.

I think relishes, dips, & condiments come in such a variety there is no reason to make one yourself unless you have a favorite.

Carrot curls can be done by slicing the carrot longwise with a potato peeler and put in ice water the night before but they don't hold their shape well so I would just slice them on a slight diagonal possible with one of those tools that have a wavy edge, I've forgotten what they are called. I like them with a ranch dressing for a dip and I recommend Maries ranch dressing. You'll find it in the refrigerated section of the produce department if you want to use it.

Radish roses ( I don't recommend these because slicing my fingers is always a part of the exercise. And who want's that on their wedding day)

califlower just needs to be cleaned and broken into bite sized pieces/florets.

I few pickle spears add a different texture and a nice flavor to the vegetables offered.

A bowl of black olives is always a plus at a party.

I just love a party!!!!!!!! can you tell?

Strawberrys dipped in dark chocolate are wonderful for the fruit course. If they are in season.

And the wedding cake takes care of the deserts.

Let me know if there is a particular recipe you want and I will look for one. I think i covered all the food groups here. lol

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the mushrooms can be prepared ahead but don't cook them until you are ready to serve them. Mushrooms get kind of squishy when they are cooked so I wouldn't try doing it twice. Don't be concerned about this you are really just heating the cheese more than anything else with the cooking.

Yes the steamship round can be made ahead. It is the cut of meat you see at all the buffet styled resturants. With some chef standing there with his really long knife and steel. But the meat is just as good if it is precooked, sliced and attractively arranged on a platter. The main thing you need for good steamship round is a really good knife for cutting thin slices. (that's because it is actually a very tough cut of meat, shhhhhh don't tell anyone). Which is why it is quite cheap for such a large roast.

Well broccoli florets are also a good addition to the veggie trays. And if you search this site under super bowl you will find a group of additional recipes that are really wonderful. The stuffed tomatoes all kidding aside are a lovely addition.

You also may want to get the potato, and macaroni salads at your local grocery. I have a shoppers by my place and they sell large tubs for a very reasonable price.

If you have a place to set up the buffet table in advance you can use cardboard covered in aluminum foil for your trays. Just place the trays and then put the food on them. I use alot of endive lettuce for garnish around the edges of trays to add to the attractiveness of the tray.

You can rent the champagne fountain from a rental place you don't have to go to a caterer's and it makes such a difference.

I don't know when your wedding is so I don't know what you will have available to you as far as fresh produce.

Melon balls mixed with square chunks are cute and interesting, I like a mix of cantalope, honeydew, and watermelon.

Rich mades frozen rolls that are really wonderful but you have to watch them very carefully while they are defrosting/rising so that you pop them in the oven at just the right moment. Then they can be warmed up right before you put them out on the buffet table in a nice basket lined with a napkin. I like using a basket with a handle again to add vertical interest to the presentation.

Green onion in a vase with water make a nice vertical display so that everything on the table is not horizontal.

Easy but not cheap is a shrimp dip.

one package of cream cheese
1 can shrimp
1 small bottle cocktail sauce.

Just place the cream cheese on a plate, pour the cocktail sauce over it. Drain the shrimp and then dump the shrimp on top of the cocktail sauce. Place wheat thins or some other type of thick cracker around the outside of the tray for dipping. This can be done ahead just cover it with plastic wrap and put it in the refrigerator.

a couple of cans of mixed nuts are also a nice addition placed around the room so people can scoop them up at will. I always need alittle something while i'm waiting in the buffet line (lol, i'm not skinny).

I don't know if you watch those home decorator shows? But you can create a cascade type affect on your table by placing old paint cans and other things underneath a really large tablecloth and then arranging the trays on those, it is very dramatic. With one table cloth placed flat on the table surface and a contrasting color for the one covering the multi-tiered structure.

I hope your wedding day is magical and that every day that follows is even better.

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I lost my meatball recipe

And it was really wonderful too. But under that superbowl string you will find several to chose from.

I almost forgot chicken wings, you might try doing half spicy and half teriaki or maybe doing them three different ways and have one very plain depending on your family and friends. My group is very diverse so I usually do alittle bit of several different kinds. Walmart sells large packages of chicken wings in an ice glaze that you can do anything with you like and the packages are about $7.00 here. unfortunately I have never taken the time to write down measurements for the ingredients I use for those.

Oh and while I'm being incredible wordy on this rainy day. Mandrin Oranges are a great edible garnish for just about anything including the chicken.

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C O N G R A T U L A T I O N ' S,

D I X I A N G E L!!!!!!

Another variation to TK's deviled eggs that my family love's is to add deviled ham to your yolk mixture for 'DEVILED HAM EGGS', sprinkled with paprika and served on a platter covered with romaine lettuce.

Any leftover filling may be served in a dish surrounded with various crackers. (we like wheat thins. ;-)

LOVE & LUCK!
Sue Z
is hungry now too. LOL!


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"WHEN IN DOUBT ... DON'T"

I just love elastic

May is a great time for a wedding.

You can get any kind of produce you want then.

I might try getting some of those colorful bell pepers (small ones) and cutting rings. Or if you can only get the large ones cut them into long thin slices and layer them so they look like a chrysanthamum (sp?).

A western theme, I'm trying to picture that but I don't think I've seen one before.

Lets see the cheese shaped like a longhorn skull with a large blooming flower placed strategically on it like that lady painter did? ( ok that was definitely out there. But I couldn't resist)

Artichoke is also nice if it's a big one you can used the hollowed out center for a mayonnaise dip.
It does have to be steamed first but then it can be refrigerated. Make sure to use lemon just on cut tips to keep browning down to a minimum.

Cherries may be available then too and I never miss a chance to have cherries. Sooooooooo good, Sooooooooo romantic. Dipped in a chocolate sauce.

Edible flowers; acacia, mimosa, almond, alyssum, apple, peach, plum, borage, chrysanthemums, daisies, daylilies, dianthus, geraniums, hollyhock, jasmine, lavender, lilacs, lilly of the valley, nasturtiums, orange & lemon, pansies, marigolds, squash, violas and violets. Make sure no pesticides have been used on them. Even if you don't want to eat them the sure add something to the trays.

Kohlrabi I ran into these when I was in Okinawa Japan. Slice them semi-thin and they are a great dipper. White in color and with the circular shape when sliced they add to the presentation of the trays.

I have to stop now my back is killing me. I'll continue to think about things that might help. My mind seems to keep going back to your topic.

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If you do I want a picture

In this same cazy line of thinking:

take the whole pickles and some toothpicks and make cacti?

cinnamon sticks with strategically placed flour paste for a split rail fence?

the semi-melted tootsie rolls for cow patties?

Use one of the double wedding ring quilts for your top tablecloth?

take the thinnly sliced korabhi and cut in the shape of a spur?

lets see what else comes to mind hehehehehehe

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Dixie....you may want to re-think your meat selection...your Aunt (or you) will not want to be in the kitchen heating up hot wings etc....so you might think of sticking with things that can be kept warm in a roasting oven or crock pot. Like the sausage balls, meatballs, bar~B~Que smoke sausages...etc. The other alternative to the meat trays are the cheese & meat skewers..they are very attractive on trays and a good do a head project. Just get the "loaf" type ham (or turkey ham) and blocks of cheese...cut them in equal squares and stack then stick the "skewer" (you can get them at a party supply store they are just a little longer than a tooth pick)I alternate the cheese & meat stacks to make the tray nicer...and they stand up very nice. Also cheese balls go a LONG way...every body loves them and they are easy to make and you can make them a week a head of time.You can do several different "flavors" of cheese ball/logs...like a Mexican cheese log with tortillia or guacamole (colored) chips and Sam's has a great inexpensive varity of crackers to serve with them also.

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Happiness, like a dessert so sweet.
May life give you more than you can ever eat...
*** ***

Hum,

I've always served the chicken cold. I never thought about trying to serve it hot. I bet that would be a pain, especially with 100 guests. Or I suppose you could do it ahead and serve it cold.

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I'm really glad to help anyway I can.

That silly idea for a cowgirl wedding cake is stuck in my head. I keep on seeing the necessary cut cake pieces in my dreams but keep getting stuck on how I would make the curled up brim. Seeing a tiera type decoration like the beauty queens from texas used to wear.

My mind has a mind of it's own ... and is it ever stubborn.

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marzipan for the hat brim. I figured it out!!!!! Of course now you know I'm going to have to make it to make sure it works.

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Thankyou Jiffy

great recipe;

I'm still trying to talk myself out of making this cake but since I have to do a key west lime sponge cake anyway I guess I'll just decorate that so that I get both of them out of my system at one time.

Can you believe this I live alone, after this cake I'm going to weight a ton. Hope everyone will come by and have a piece.

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Thanx for involving us in all the festivities, dixiangel ... this is FUN!!!

Sue z


* * * *

"WHEN IN DOUBT ... DON'T"

Well if it turned out I could take it down to the greyhound bus station down stairs and have the landlord (he is very tall) ask the bus driver to carry it all the way down on his lap.

But your wedding cake is beautiful.

I suppose I could make it in chocolate and you could have it for a grooms cake. Let me rethink that...nah, way to girly for a grooms cake.

Well I don't have a camara...and the only thing I have ever taken a picture of is my thumb but I'll see what I can figure out ok? disposable camera.....develope film......send snail mail?

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You are adorable.

I'm disabled and couldn't travel although getting to know you on the forum makes me wish I could.

Enjoy your day.

And if you and your husband ever come up virginia way let me know in advance and I'll have that cake for you.

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Awwwwww, what an adorable cake topper.

Sue z


* * * *

"WHEN IN DOUBT ... DON'T"

**Dianna,

Those are sooooooo cute!!!

I love it!!
You've done alot of work there!!

And it looks like it's going to be sooooo
much fun!!!!

**TK, I'll take some of that cake too!!
Weezie

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Weezie

Don't forget to be kind to strangers. For some who have
done this have entertained angels without realizing it.
- Bible - Hebrews 13:2





http://photobucket.com/albums/y250/weezie13/

I hit the wrong button and it posted.

I can send the cake no problem, just not decorated. But if you want the key west lime you have to wait until I recieve my juice. For some reason it's been delayed, i've been waiting over a month for it.

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Packing kidnap bag!!!!!

Begging doctor for more pain medication so I can make the trip.

I promise to be there in spirit.

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Nope not two far just North Carolina in the way lol.

The problem is that after about an hour in a vehicle my back feels like it is on fire. I have some compressed disks from a car accident years ago and they just don't put up with some things anymore.

Even sitting here in my nice cushy chair has to be done in increments.

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TKH, I understand about back problems. I have had problems with mine since I was around 23. Half my life! Pain killers are your very best friends sometimes.

Sitting in a car gets to me, too. When I am riding for a while, I can barely get out of the car when I get to where I am going.

Weezie, we ordered some of the miniature cowboy hats to do some some decorating with. I am thinking a corsage for Jim's mom, and a boutinerre (sp) for his dad. Those hats will help tie everything in together. My memory and guest books have pictures embossed of hats, rope, and hearts.

My aunt is making a "special" boot arrangement to honor my mother's memory. I am planning on having my son place it on her grave in NC when he goes back after the wedding. My favorite uncle died last year and we are remembering him by hanging one of his hats on the gazebo during the ceremony. I find myself being very emotional right now with missing their presence during this milestone in my life. I wanted my uncle to give me away.

My father and other passed loved ones will get arrangements made after the ceremony from the flowers we are using to decorate. Just a way of sharing the wedding with them.

Dianna

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