After 18 years together, my dad and stepmom finally decided to tie the knot in an intimate, 60-guest ceremony at our home. But when my stepmom proposed a cocktail hour after the ceremony with Co-op grocery store trays of meats, cheese, and veggies, my immediate food snob reaction was “Absolutely not.” I know I’m a glutton for punishment, but there was no way I was allowing our guests to eat that sort of thing at our home. So, armed with some vague ideas, some inspired by pinterest while others invented entirely in my head, I set out to feed our guests some hearty, innovative appetizers, at what I’m still certain was a lower cost than paying Co-op to do it. I don’t have any recipes for what was made, but feel free to use the following for your own inspiration for at-home catering to large groups.
Just one small part of the whole spread
Feta Watermelon Skewers – a play on a favourite salad. Reduce balsamic vinegar to a syrupy consistency, and pour to coat the base of a serving tray. Skewer a leaf of mint, a cube of feta, and a cube of watermelon; stand upright in the balsamic.
Caprese Skewers – pour reduced balsamic to coat the base of a serving tray. Skewer a leaf of basil, one small bocconcini mozzarella, and half of a cherry tomato; stand upright in the balsamic.
A tray of mixed olives, from any decent market olive bar
Halved dates, with cream cheese mixed with lemon juice and zest, a leaf of basil, all wrapped in proscuitto
Smoked Salmon Crostini – toasted sliced baguette, lemon caper cream cheese, topped with smoked salmon and fresh dill
Cheese tray, complete with Coastal cheddar, smoked cheddar, gouda, camembert, and a dutch blue cheese – all for great value from Costco!
crostini with goat cheese, topped with mixed mushrooms sauteed in sherry, cream, and thyme
Charcuterie tray – assorted salami and proscuitto, another great Costco find
The cake – a spiced carrot cake baked by my awesome friend Sandra, and iced with cream cheese buttercream
Photo credit goes to Joanne and Brian Page, and a giant shout out to my aunts Belinda and Marg for basically being my slave labourers for an entire weekend to make all this excellent food happen!
