Party plans

[lbeery]

To celebrate our one year of retirement (or leave of absence from the workforce) and our new home, we are having a party of all the people we have met since we came here.  Most are friends of my sister in law.  Okay, so now here is the problem.

I haven't thrown a party (for other than family of about 10 people) for many many years.  So far the list is at about thirty.  I want it to be casual but thematic with out being goofy or too Martha Stewart.  My husband's doing bbq ribs (they really are the best) but I'd like to have something a little different to go with them... any suggestions?  I haven't got a lot of money to spend but want the food to be good. i could really use some help here.  Thanks.

[dreamyxo]

How about having a potluck?  You can pick a country and have a theme where everyone finds a recipe from that country and cooks a dish.  You could find music.  Decorate in the colors of that country's flag etc.   You could have a contest and give a little prize to anyone who knows the most facts about the country.  Or you could have a multicultural food theme where everyone brings in a dish from their favorite foreign food. You could do an Iron Chef type thing and have two or three people compete to see who has the best dish. 

[lbeery]

Those are great ideas.  I am already having to have these folks travel a little to get to our house so I kind of hate to ask them to bring stuff....I just feel like my menu is stuck in the seventies.

[dreamyxo]

Most people realize the expense and work for the host to buy and make the food.  I know for myself and I'm sure a lot of people feel the same that it's kind of rude to show up a at party empty handed so I'm sure some people will bring something to be polite.  If I'm invited to someone's house for a party I will bring something even if it's just a bag of chips and a drink.  If you tell them it will be a potluck then they shouldn't mind bringing something even if they have to stop at the store and get a pie.

[cloudsoup]

the other day, i was eating at red lobster and
ordered this appetizer, and the veggies that
came with it were absolutely amazing. it was
broccoli (i'm usually not a big fan) and slices of
red pepper, breaded and fried!

i had never seen/eaten veggies like that before.
...i suppose the worst thing you could do to a
vegetable is fry it, haha, but it was SO yummy.
especially with ranch for dipping. it can't be difficult
or time consuming at all to make, and i plan on
doing so but adding mushrooms to the mix!


now that i'm thinking about red lobster, i might
as well say that i'm in love with their cheese &garlic
biscuits too. i believe pilsbury has their own version
you can buy of these, but here's some easy recipes:
http://www.recipesecrets.net/forums/secret-recipe-archive/12788-red-lobster-recipes.html

[lbeery]

Thanks guys, I guess I am just paranoid as I am new to the area and although with my old friends back home I wouldn't hesitate to ask them to bring something (in fact they probably wouldn't come empty handed either), I wasn't sure how that would seem to people I don't know too well.  One couple wants to bring a tent and camp which is of course, just fine with me although I think I will have enough room in the house for anyone who doesn't want to make the drive home.

The red lobster veggies sound really good....now you've made me very hungry for seafood too. Hmmm...i think the closest one is 60 miles away.

I will let you know how the party turns out...