doing our own food, need suggestions.

scissotron · November 2012

we decided that we're gonna make our own food.

we have family members that have offered to cook, and my FH's brother in law works for a food distribution company, so we can get it cheaper.

i want country/bbq style food, and we were thinking brisket or pulled pork for part of the menu, but i am having trouble thinking of other items that we could do that would be pretty easy.

here are some ideas ive had:

potato salad

some sort of green salad (maybe cobb and caesar)

baked beans

green beans

anyone have any experience or knowledge about catering your own wedding, and advice or suggestions to offer?

also, we will be having one guest with a gluten allergy and at least one vegetarian guest, and, since we have no problem with gluten and are total omnivores, im not sure what to have so they are able to have entire meals, but other people will be able to eat it as well?

thurmanpowell · November 2012

If your guests are vegetarian (and not vegan) then you could get away with what you have as long as you don't put meat in your baked beans, green beans, or potato salad. Also, corn is an easy and cheap addition to your menu.

scissotron · November 2012

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_food-cakes_doing-our-own-food-need-suggestions?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special%20Topic%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:23Discussion:6a8fef16-ce46-420a-b21f-ef26fe8048bdPost:f1afd4a1-a826-4227-95af-6ac27662f3c7">Re: doing our own food, need suggestions.</a>:
[QUOTE]If your guests are vegetarian (and not vegan) then you could get away with what you have as long as you don't put meat in your baked beans, green beans, or potato salad. Also, corn is an easy and cheap addition to your menu.
Posted by thurmanpowell[/QUOTE]

<div>i say vegetarian, but, TBH, my sister is just a REALLY picky eater. im not even sure of her reasons, its not moral or for health reasons, but she says she wont eat anything that had a face .. except she loves chicken, really crispy bacon and clams. haha. she thinks black pepper is too spicy, and picks at her food.</div><div>that said, i cant think of anyone else that is a vegetarian, and i know none are vegan, but id still like to make sure to have something vegetarian cuz .. well .. ya never know when having to serve that many people. :) i also think that vegetarian dishes are good for people with gluten allergies. im not totally sure about that one, but i think veggies are ok. :)</div>

scissotron · November 2012

ok, after reading through a bunch of other posts on this board, i have compiled a scratch menu of this:

pulled pork (maybe have sliced dinner rolls nearby to make mini-sandwiches)

brisket

green salad/s

corn bread

dinner rolls

green beans

potato salad (my mommas recipe, has bacon)

mashed potatoes

corn

cole slaw

pasta salad

do yall think thats too much/not enough/the perfect amount of variations? are there too many sides and not enough main courses? is there enough there for possible vegetarians/picky eaters? anyone with celiac's that may be able to weigh in on the gluten factor?

NYCMercedes · November 2012

You only need one mixed greens salad and do not need mashed potatoes (as they are just too hard to keep hot). I suggest a fruit salad. Many who do not eat cake do eat fruit for dessert. Don't know if you need pasta and potato salad both. Yum. I'm getting hungry.

scissotron · November 2012

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_food-cakes_doing-our-own-food-need-suggestions?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special%20Topic%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:23Discussion:6a8fef16-ce46-420a-b21f-ef26fe8048bdPost:8fb8adf8-ddf9-4f1a-9f96-7916a3896414">Re: doing our own food, need suggestions.</a>:
[QUOTE]You only need one mixed greens salad and do not need mashed potatoes (as they are just too hard to keep hot). I suggest a fruit salad. Many who do not eat cake do eat fruit for dessert. Don't know if you need pasta and potato salad both. Yum. I'm getting hungry.
Posted by NYCMercedes[/QUOTE]
you think just a regular, generic tossed salad? do you think it would be hard to do a salad bar kinda set up so people can customize their salad? i love the fruit salad idea, and my friend has a DELICIOUS recipe for one!! i was just thinking both pasta salad and potato salad cuz the potato salad has bacon, and its my momma's recipe (i basically demand that she make it for every special occasion. haha), and the pasta salad could serve kinda as a main course for vegetarians.<div>thanks for the advice!</div>

thurmanpowell · November 2012

I sya definately do the salad bar thing! It's pretty easy to set up and allows for picky eaters like your sister to get by without having to pick things off their plate.

And gluten free people can eat vegetables, their big issue is wheat protein.

scissotron · November 2012

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_food-cakes_doing-our-own-food-need-suggestions?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special%20Topic%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:23Discussion:6a8fef16-ce46-420a-b21f-ef26fe8048bdPost:6a5e7c32-5fc2-4a92-95e6-8eb41235dd49">Re: doing our own food, need suggestions.</a>:
[QUOTE]I sya definately do the salad bar thing! It's pretty easy to set up and allows for picky eaters like your sister to get by without having to pick things off their plate. And gluten free people can eat vegetables, their big issue is wheat protein.
Posted by thurmanpowell[/QUOTE]
k. thats what i was thinking, so, in your opinion, this menu is well-rounded enough to furnish the eating needs of picky, gluten-free, vegetarian and omnivore eaters? :)

thurmanpowell · November 2012

I think that should be fine. I think you have plenty for the gluten free person and that's about as good as it gets for picnic food for a vegetarian.

reppunzel · November 2012

I agree with PP that you don't need the mashed potatoes (since you also have corn, cornbread, potato salad and pasta salad). Someone who is gluten intolerant should be fine since you're keeping the rolls/breads/pasta separate.

For the salad, you don't need to have a huge "bar" set up, but offer greens in a big bowl and grape tomatoes, cucumbers, grated carrot, and maybe a few other things as toppings (thawed frozen green peas are nice, broccoli/cauliflower flowrets, croutons. bell pepper slices), plus several dressing options.

If you wanted you could add some grilled or roasted veggies (kabobs?) or swap them for one of the starchy dishes (like the mashed potatoes), but you have a very generous menu.

scissotron · November 2012

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_food-cakes_doing-our-own-food-need-suggestions?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special%20Topic%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:23Discussion:6a8fef16-ce46-420a-b21f-ef26fe8048bdPost:9cef2030-4a54-4ee9-8fb0-95c2c15a0203">Re: doing our own food, need suggestions.</a>:
[QUOTE]I agree with PP that you don't need the mashed potatoes (since you also have corn, cornbread, potato salad and pasta salad). Someone who is gluten intolerant should be fine since you're keeping the rolls/breads/pasta separate. For the salad, you don't need to have a huge "bar" set up, but offer greens in a big bowl and grape tomatoes, cucumbers, grated carrot, and maybe a few other things as toppings (thawed frozen green peas are nice, broccoli/cauliflower flowrets, croutons. bell pepper slices), plus several dressing options. If you wanted you could add some grilled or roasted veggies (kabobs?) or swap them for one of the starchy dishes (like the mashed potatoes), but you have a very generous menu.
Posted by reppunzel[/QUOTE]
thanks! these all seem like great suggestions. i think i will nix the mashed potatoes, and i think ill just have a few bowls with tongs for the "salad bar", which i guess would be more like a salad station? haha, im not sure what to call it, just so that people dont have to pick stuff out of their salads at the table, ya know? i personally dont like carrots or tomatoes on my salad, but i know a lot of people do, so i know id prefer to be able to customize my own. do you think it would cause a traffic jam at the buffet, though?

reppunzel · November 2012

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_food-cakes_doing-our-own-food-need-suggestions?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special%20Topic%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:23Discussion:6a8fef16-ce46-420a-b21f-ef26fe8048bdPost:52c3146d-b068-4a74-90c4-b37bc80c85c5">Re: doing our own food, need suggestions.</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: doing our own food, need suggestions. : thanks! these all seem like great suggestions. i think i will nix the mashed potatoes, and i think ill just have a few bowls with tongs for the "salad bar", which i guess would be more like a <strong>salad station</strong>? haha, im not sure what to call it, just so that people dont have to pick stuff out of their salads at the table, ya know? i personally dont like carrots or tomatoes on my salad, but i know a lot of people do, so i know id prefer to be able to customize my own. <strong>do you think it would cause a traffic jam at the buffet, though?</strong>
Posted by scissotron[/QUOTE]

If you make it a true "station" it won't interfere with the buffet line. Have the green salad fixings on a separate table (with bowls) ... preferably one set up so that people can go down either side of it and you shouldn't have a problem. <img src="http://cdn.cl9.vanillaforums.com/downloaded/ver1.0/content/scripts/tinymce/plugins/emotions/images/smiley-smile.gif" border="0" alt="Smile" title="Smile" />

unchatenfrance · November 2012

If you do have someone with Celiac disease, you will need to make sure that the dressings and sauces are wheat-free (many store-bought ones are not). I eat Primal and avoid grains but I would not be picky about something like this - I would just have the meat and veggies. BUT if you do have someone with Celiac, IBS, or a wheat allergy (different from gluten intolerance), this could be an issue. I would think that guests with these serious dietary restrictions would inform you ahead of time. And if you don't end up with any Celiac/IBS/wheat allergy guests, I wouldn't worry about it.

scissotron · November 2012

i know i'll be having one guest with celiac. i didn't even think about the dressings! thank you!!

JaneAustensGhost · November 2012

This sounds delicious. I'd just add that you want to make sure your venue allows you to bring in outside food, and to have a way to keep it temperature controlled. You don't want people getting sick at your wedding.

And please pace yourself - it seems almost impossible to cater your own wedding (though I know from the boards that people have done it.) Don't forget to enjoy youself amid all the preparation!

scissotron · November 2012

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_food-cakes_doing-our-own-food-need-suggestions?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special%20Topic%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:23Discussion:6a8fef16-ce46-420a-b21f-ef26fe8048bdPost:4db8c65c-92c4-48e6-8c94-38a4ea9efa54">Re: doing our own food, need suggestions.</a>:
[QUOTE]This sounds delicious. I'd just add that you want to make sure your venue allows you to bring in outside food, and to have a way to keep it temperature controlled. You don't want people getting sick at your wedding. And please pace yourself - it seems almost impossible to cater your own wedding (though I know from the boards that people have done it.) Don't forget to enjoy youself amid all the preparation!
Posted by JaneAustensGhost[/QUOTE]
they do let us bring in outside food, and there is a full kitchen that we can use, with 2 refrigerators and a stove/oven. thanks for the suggestion!<div>im still getting catering prices, but im really thinking nothing will be as cost effective as doing it ourselves. :)</div>

JaneAustensGhost · November 2012

Awesome! It seriously sounds like a great time, but like I said, just make sure you enjoy your own wedding too!

doing our own food, need suggestions.

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