PrintJust when you thought I had completely lost my mind...
So we all remember the Italian Themed Fam Reunion post a week or so ago, right? Fabulous. I have decided that Jake needs a surprise party at the same venue the day before. He has been my ROCK the last year and well, his birthday is the 6th, so...Surprise party the 7th and Italian Reunion the 8th. All the party stuff is out already out, right?
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13 Comments:
Here are the specifics.
It's his 24th.
About 30 or so.
Fab venue.
He is a simple, simple guy. Nothing he can't pronounce and would die happy with a grilled cheese sandwich.
June. Humid. Blah. Food will be in air conditioned house.
He loves to fish. He is an avid bass tournament fisherman.
Menu thus far...throw me some ideas!
Italian beef sandwiches (his fave)
Wedgewood pizza (local joint, also his fave)
Gondo salad
Mexican caviar/tortilla chips
fresh salsa/chips
hot peppers in oil
fruit salad
cake or cupcakes...unsure as of the moment
beer, pop and water...maybe tea if Im feeling spunky.
I need a starch. I am sick to effen death of pasta salad. Fill in my blanks!
ChelleyD01 at 10:22PM on 04/26/08
Fried calamari w/cocktail sauce. Italian sausage or meatball sandwich, as alternative. With sandwich rolls and pizza, you really don't need another starch, IMHO. What is gondo? For appetizers, I love bruscetta with garlic, melted mozz or fontina cheese and a diced tomato,onion, basil salad on top. Is pop single and spunky? The only thing I can see you're missing is ME! Especially if pop is coming.
Signed,
Mom
PerkyMac at 10:36PM on 04/26/08
@Perky - you just made "L-O-L out loud" (as as my favourite obsessive-compulsive detective says in one epi)!
@Chelly - I actually do agree with Perky - between sandwiches, chips and pizza, who needs another starch? I guess if you do want something, you could go for nice roasted potatoes (yes, I can never refuse roasted potatoes). When I make roasted potatoes in summer, I toss them with fresh basil and garlic once they're done (as opposed to roasting them with rosemary, which, to me, tastes distinctly winterly). You can also make a roasted red potato & green been salad with red onions, kalamata olives and red wine vinaigrette, it will be both starchy and green. Anyway, roasted potatoes or not, can I come too?
brooke29 at 10:53PM on 04/26/08
@Perky...LOL, oddly enough, that's exactly what I call Jake's dad. Pop. Unfortunately, Pop is hitched. However, I will let him know if he wants to ditch the wife, I have one waiting in the wings!
Gondo is the equivalent to GINORMOUS for me. I have this insane rectangle salad bowl because I am the resident salad maker for all soirees. It will either be a standard greens, tomatoes, cucumber, spring onion, cheese, crouton with balsamic OR because it is his Happy Birthday, I might make his fave with baby greens, pears, gorgonzola, bacon, craisins, spiced pecans and an apple viniagrette!
I was searching for another starch because several of Jake's pals are of the 20 something, 6'3, 280lb basketball player types. They don't eat, they inhale.
ChelleyD01 at 10:55PM on 04/26/08
@Chell........fergit pop. I can be a cougar! I likes tall inhalers. Truly, I'm only 3 times their age, in dog years that's uhhhh........dead. Never mind.
My suggestion of bruscetta would be just plain stupid with pizza. DUH.
You really are taking on a LOT with back to back parties. Many of the same people? Sure you don't want the 20 something Bday party after the family reunion? Both salads have me drooling, as do the thought of the basketball players. ;)
PerkyMac at 11:05PM on 04/26/08
@ Perky....
Negative to duplicate guests. I LOVE A CHALLENGE. This kind of crap is what makes me feel accomplished. The venue is my Aunt and Uncle's ridiculously laid out house, complete with lanai and in ground pool. The fam reunion will basically be a 100 or so Italians gossiping and drinking copious amounts of wine. Thats the easy one. Jake is....Jake. He never really had a celebration of him before and his mother is a wrath of explitives that I am sure I will get banned for and hence not invited. I want him to celebrate himself, with his friends, family that gives a crap and all the good eats he loves while not making myself clinical. Make sense?
ChelleyD01 at 11:15PM on 04/26/08
Lucky, lucky boy! :-D
PerkyMac at 11:19PM on 04/26/08
@PerkyMac; I wish I had the link up with the texting shortcuts. I am SLOLROFLSH!!!
@Chelly; Your Jake is indeed a Lucky, Lucky Fellow! PerkyMac and I both live in PA. Where is this shindig again? We can car pool.
izatryt at 10:16AM on 04/27/08
if you're looking for another starch how about something pretty simple like a warm potato salad, use a good fresh vinegrette instead of mayo and you dont have to worry about refrigeration. Although I have to admit I LOVE Brooke's idea of roasted potatos! btw, I'm in hee haw hell but I'll be happy to "help" if you can feed another person;)
huney_bumper at 10:40AM on 04/27/08
you guys know the rules...all my SE-ers are always welcome at my table...anytime you want a trip to Youngstown, Ohio, just yell!
ChelleyD01 at 10:57AM on 04/27/08
@huney-bumper.......I was thinking along the same lines, but my idea doesn't really fit with the Italian/Mexican theme. German potato salad with bacon, served warm. If we're going international, how about bangers and mash?
p.s. ChelleyC01. You want I should bring a box of Jello?
PerkyMac at 11:01AM on 04/27/08
Since you've already got a chip/dip theme going, do a dressed up bean dip (along the lines of seven-layer).
Mexican-style rice. Lots of possibilities here, including adding some protein type ingredients (chicken, etc.).
Brown rice salad -- Italian style and/or Mexican style. If you do Italian, add some orzo for a variation on the sick-to-death pasta salad.
The Mexican cooks in the resto I worked in high school used to make these awesome potatoes, which I still copy. Basically, it's spicy O'Brien potatoes. Take some waxy potatoes, cut into chunks, toss with olive oil, S&P, and a bunch of ground hot red pepper -- you want enough to give them a red hue -- use whatever combo works for the palates in question, but theirs included cayenne and was HOT. Toss in some minced onions or shallots, and if desired, fresh mild peppers (bell, anaheim, pasilla, etc.). Roast at high temp until brown (normally done in a skillet, but I also do it in foil on the BBQ). They work well cold (room temp), especially with a sour cream dip or dressing on the side to combat the "heat" of the chiles.
LoCo at 11:32AM on 04/27/08
Looks like my idea of warm potato salad has been suggested. Always a good idea-who doesn't like that?
You could always do a mac and cheese, roasted potatoes, macaroni salad with tuna incorporated, a veggie salad, mozzarella with herbs salad, or even tomato and mozzarella salad, maybe a couscous or risotto dish...
You could have a baked potato bar...have the baked potatoes and then all the fixings you can think of separated-so everyone can get what they want.
Ok, enough from me...
Butrflygirly at 2:57PM on 04/27/08