Wedding Please help with my menu!

[Keepingthefaith21]

We are going to meet with our caterers tomorrow for the first time. To try and narrow things down a bit FI and I have decided to try and base our entree/side menu around traditional comfort foods for the fall season.

We have come up with a selection of: mini chicken pot pies, baked mac n'' cheese, stuffed turkey breast, meatloaf with mushroom gravy, and pasta station. To start we want to have salad and tomato soup with mini grilled cheese. For sides we have thought about butternut squash, mashed potato and green beans.

For our cocktail hour we were thinking of going with a New England theme and serve: sliders, bacon wrapped scallops, clam chowder shots, sausage and pepper skewers along side the typical cheese and crackers.

For dessert we are thinking of pumpkin pie tarts, pecan tarts and apple crisp.

Can any of you give me some more ideas???

 

[neatfreak]

I think it sounds yummy! One thing I would like as a guest is something on the lighter side like a salad or something else lighter. I love me some fall comfort food, but you want people to not be comatose afterwards!

 

[sunnyd]

Sounds delish! Can I come?

 

[Allison D.]

MMMMMMMMMMMmmmmmmmmmmmm - menu sounds amazing, B!

 

[Hudson_Hawk]

Sounds fantastic B, who are you using for your caterer?

 

[Gypsy]

Sounds wonderful, but I''d lighten things up a little too. I''d probably nix the tomato soup and cheese sandwiches and replace them with something a little lighter, or just nix them altogether. I love a nice glazed ham, and thinly sliced it''s not as heavy as meatloaf or as sleep inducing as turkey. I''d do a green veggie and some some garlic mashed potatoes (since you will have gravy). Dessert sounds fabulous.

 

[marchswallowbird]

I second Neatfreak! It sounds delicious, but very heavy. I would fall asleep after a meal like that. It would be nice to have an option for those wanting to eat a bit lighter.

When you say "stuffed turkey," are you talking about a Thanksgiving-type turkey stuffed with dressing and people can just take plain turkey slices if they want? Or does each serving consist of a turkey breast stuffed with some sort of filling?

If it''s the latter, I would opt to have some "non-stuffed" turkey also available. Perhaps also a selection of grilled vegetables (bell peppers, zucchini, eggplant, etc.). Would still fit the fall theme, but be a bit lighter.

 

[elrohwen]

That sounds ridiculously good. It sounds like your caterers have giving you free choice? The would be so much harder than choosing from a set list. I think you''ve done a great job of choosing things that all go together, but are all very different. Your whole menu has made me hungry!

I agree with some of the other posters that it could use some veggies. I think roasted veggies are super fall-appropriate, and also healthy.

Also, you said you were serving a salad: will that just be your garden variety salad? or will it also be fall themed? I think salads are so often blah and overlooked that it would be great if you could do a special salad with some nice touches. Then people who want to eat lighter will still feel like they''re getting something that fits with the theme. Maybe something with cranberries and walnuts? I''m not very good at coming up with salad ideas, but I''m sure you could find some online.

 

[kstar512]

that sounds soooo good. I love the idea of going non traditional on food. We are doing a combo of Greek and Mexican, since that is what we are. I would agree to have some lighter options, but I wouldnt cut the tomato soup and grilled cheese. I love it, especially for fall.

 

[SarahLovesJS]

I think it looks great! Maybe just add one or two more veggies.

 

[redfaerythinker]

Too heavy? Psssshhhh. I''m from the south and it sounds great to me! I''m salivating over here. My only suggestion is the ever classic, if not slightly tacky, piggie in a blanket.

mmmmmmm

 

[Keepingthefaith21]

Thanks everyone! Those were just our ideas - our actual plan has varied a lot mostly due to my wonderfully controlling mother. Sigh.

Right now we have a very standard buffet planned (roast beef, turkey, ham etc.). FI and I are NOT very pleased with this arrangement and decided that at the very least we want to take out the turkey and substitute a stuffed chicken breast (stuffed with an apple cranberry stuffing) with a supreme sauce. This still maintains a white meat selection but incorporates a bit more of the "homestyle" feel I was going for.

I was really hoping to keep the menu very homestyle cooking but my mother absolutely freaked out about that idea. You might have thought I suggested setting up microwaves and serving people frozen dinners the way she reacted. About the only thing I got out of the meeting that I had wanted were salads and rolls plated and ready to be eaten as soon a guests arrive in the Great Hall so they can start on their salads while waiting to be called to the buffet.

I have a year to try and wiggle what I want into the menu - hopefully I can find some ways to compromise.