| Planning a baby shower? You have got all the | | | | toaster oven. The effect is a spread of green |
| details taken care of by now, or have you? | | | | (capsicum) / red (tomato) / yellow (cheese) open |
| What are you feeding your guests? | | | | sandwiches that add to the festive mood. |
| No doubt, you could cater the food and be done | | | | 3. Tuna On A Ritz |
| with it. That would cost quite a bit of money on | | | | Get a box of Ritz biscuits or salted crackers. |
| all the caterer's service. That would eat into your | | | | Mix a can of tuna with a can of cream of |
| baby shower budget. Why not use that money | | | | mushroom soup. Then spoon half a teaspoon of |
| on personal gifts for your guests instead. Besides, | | | | this mixture onto each biscuit. (I learnt this from |
| home cooked food is better and cheaper than | | | | my old friend Serene Woon.) Another great |
| anything mass produced right? | | | | instant buffet offering. |
| You could always make it a pot luck. Each guest | | | | 4. 1 large pot of beef stew and french loaves. |
| could bring his or her culinary speciality. But some | | | | The bread and stew should fill their stomachs. You |
| people might not like it, or they may not have the | | | | don't want your guests to go home hungry, do |
| time to spare. | | | | you? |
| Or you could go the extra mile and prepare the | | | | Stir fry in a tablespoon of olive oil, in a large pot, 1 |
| feast yourself. It is cheaper than catering. You get | | | | chopped onion, 3 minced cloves of garlic, 1 kg |
| to show off your culinary skills (even if you think | | | | beef cubes, 3 large ripe tomatos, 3 large potatos |
| you don't have any) and present your guests | | | | (diced) 3 large carrots (diced), 2 stalks of celery |
| food you prepared yourself (which by the way, | | | | and a box of button mushrooms.Throw in a |
| will be scrumptious. Just see the recipes below). | | | | handful of oregano leaves, a sprinkle of crushed |
| Short of time? Prepare a quick and scrumptious | | | | black pepper and a pinch of salt. Then fill the pot |
| meal at home that should tickle their tastebuds | | | | with boiling water. Let it simmer for 3 hours to |
| and fill their stomachs, to some extent, that is. | | | | draw out the flavour, topping up with boiling water |
| Here are 5 relatively easy items you could include | | | | as necessary. Add sugar and salt to taste. When |
| in your party spread. | | | | you are satisfied with the result, serve with warm |
| 1. Chicken Wings. | | | | bread. |
| The trick is to marinade them overnight. Put the | | | | An easier way to make the stew is to dump |
| wings in a large bowl and cover them with | | | | everything into a crockpot (no oil needed) first |
| marinade. You could buy bottles of marinade from | | | | thing in the morning, add boiling water and let it |
| the supermarket, or you could make your own | | | | simmer until the guests arrive. |
| with a family recipe from grandma or mom. Either | | | | (Personally, I would marinade the beef in 3 |
| way, seal the bowl and put it in the fridge | | | | tablespoons of light soya sauce, 1 tablespoon |
| overnight to let the marinade seep in. Then bake | | | | sugar and a little crushed black pepper corns |
| or grill the wings. (about an hour or less) | | | | overnight before using the beef for the stew. |
| One of my favorites is very oriental. For 1 kg | | | | Then skip the salt and sugar.) |
| wings, mix 4 tablepoons light soya sauce mixed | | | | Warm the bread in the oven while the guests |
| with 1 tablepoon of sugar, 1 tablespoon oyster | | | | arrive. After take the crockpot out to the buffet |
| sauce and 1 small piece of crushed ginger in a | | | | table, present the warmed bread in a basket and |
| bowl. Then add the wings and leave to marinade. | | | | serve your guests. |
| 2. Pizza Sandwich Fingers | | | | Let your guests dip the bread into little bowls of |
| This is my favorite buffet recipe for when I have | | | | stew. Delicious! |
| to prepare a feast for a large group of people in | | | | 5. Salad |
| a hurry. These colorful slices taste as good as | | | | Wash and chop up 1 large head of lettuce, peeled |
| they look. They make great buffet additions. | | | | japanese cucumbers, 1 bunch of baby spinach, 3 |
| Take a loaf of bread (or two or as many as you | | | | large ripe tomatos, button mushrooms, chick peas |
| need to feed your guests.) | | | | and your favourite veggies. Toss in salad cream |
| Remove the edges. | | | | and serve chilled. |
| Cut each slice of bread into 4 strips. | | | | For a small party, you could use the recipes that |
| Put coarsely chopped, bite sized pieces of salami, | | | | come with gt express mentioned in the resource |
| green capsicum, button mushrooms and tomatos | | | | below for quick and easy to make dishes, Cut |
| on each strip. Then sprinkle cheddar cheese and | | | | into smaller servings and serve as part of the |
| morazella cheese over the ingredients. Grill in a | | | | party buffet. |