Baby Shower Game

[sandy]

As many of you know, Robyn and I are both expecting new grandbabies soon! I have to throw a huge baby shower next month and I need your help so much! I'm not much of a cook so this isn't easy for me at all! So I decided to make a game to help me decide what to do!

Here is how the game will go...
If I were throwing a baby shower, I would serve ......... and I would do ......
It doesn't have to be worded like that. I just need ideas!

If I use your idea, you will get a free kit from my store! So let's hear them! Contest will end August 1st and prizes will be awarded the middle of August.

[Laura]

What a great way to gather ideas, Sandy! YOu will have so many to choose from, but that's the fun part, right? I'll bet my thinking cap on, too!!

[Muriel]

If I were throwning a baby shower....
I would go to Costco and buy a baby shower decorated cake.
If it was me it would have to be a carrot cake...LOL my favorite.

[Janice]

Oh my, we don't have baby showers over here in the UK, people just give you gifts when the baby arrives.

However, I love to cook and have many, many recipes.
I would certainly serve this:

Pesto Pasta Salad with Grilled Chicken
Adapted from Cooks Illustrated, "30 Minute Suppers", Summer 2010 (http://www.cooksillustrated.com/bookstore/detail.asp?PID=462)
Serves 4
Note: I love using Barilla's Campanelle pasta for pasta salads, as it's a pretty shape & holds dressings very well. But, any pasta can be substituted for it...Penne, Fusilli, Farfalle, etc.

1/2 cup toasted pine nuts
1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
1 clove garlic, coarsely chopped
1/2 cup {packed} fresh basil leaves
juice of 1 lemon
2/3 cups + 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
1 whole boneless, skinless chicken breast
salt & pepper, to taste
1 pound Campanelle pasta
1 pint cherry tomatoes, halved
2 ounces baby arugula

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the pasta, according to the package instructions, until 1 minute less than al dente. Drain & rinse under cold water.
Meanwhile, combine the pine nuts, Parmesan cheese, garlic, basil & lemon juice in the bowl of a food processor. Blend until smooth. With the motor running, slowly add the 2/3 cups olive oil & process until incorporated.
Rinse & trim the chicken breast. Then slice them down the middle, so that you have 4 thin pieces of chicken. Drizzle them with the remaining tablespoon of olive oil & season generously with salt & freshly ground pepper. Grill for about 3-5 minutes per side {depending on how thin they are}, or until they are cooked through. Transfer to a cutting board & cut into thin slices.
Combine the pasta, tomatoes, arugula & sliced chicken in a large bowl. Add a bit of the dressing at a time & toss, until the salad is well coated with the pesto. You may not need all of it {If making ahead of time, or you end up with some leftovers, save the dressing to re-hydrate the salad later on}.
Check the salad for seasoning & serve.


Followed by some of these (sorry the measurements are in metric, but there are conversion charts on the web, I'm sure)

Honeymoon Slice

Ingredients:
2 x 300g blocks white cooking chocolate
12 oz dessicated coconut
2 oz glace cherries
1 tbs icing sugar
1 large tin condensed milk
1/2 cup rice crispies

Caramel:
3oz margarine
1 1/2 oz caster sugar
1/3 large tin condensed milk
2 tsp syrup



Method:
Line a tray with cling film. Melt one block of white chocolate and spread over the base of the tray. Leave to set.
Cut the cherries in to small pieces and add to the coconut and icing sugar in a bowl. Stir in the condensed milk, ensuring that all ingredients are thoroughly mixed. Spread on to the chocolate base.
Make the caramel by placing all the ingredients in a pan and gently bring to the boil, stirring constantly. Boil for several minutes, continue to stir and then pour over the coconut layer.
Sprinkle rice crispies over the caramel. Melt the second block of chocolate and spread over the top.
A little melted milk chocolate may be drizzled across the top for decoration. Once colled lift the biscuit out of the tray, peel off the cling film and cut in to squares.

What do you think?

[sandy]

I like the speed of yours Muriel! I'm going to have to try that salad and dessert out Janice. It sounds yummy! I'm thinking more in the line of make ahead/finger foods everyone. There will be near 50 people!

Robyn told me that they do the same thing in Australia that Janice does. I'm thinking we should be more like the English!!!

[Ellen]

no we don't have them over here, nor in Holland but I would make a parcel may be a tarted up wicker basket with 10 small presents to be opened one a day after the baby is born.
All presents are for mum not for baby.

or you could make a hybrid book of vouchers with say
an evenings babysitting, a pamper evening, a good book , a meal etc.

[landorasue]

Oh, Sandy! Here's a fun idea for a game. Buy an asssortment of baby food. Remove or cover the lablels. Number the baby food jars. Buy some little plastic tasting spoons.

People have to take a taste from each jar and write on a piece of paper (with jar numbers) what they think the food is (like carrots, green beans, peaches, etc.)

Be sure to have your camera ready to catch the expressions on people's faces!

Guess this isn't food to serve, but kind of!!

[landorasue]

Something to actually serve might be decorated cupcakes from a bakery. Have them place little plastic favors on top: baby bottle, rattle, etc.

An easy main dish is Haystacks. All you do is set out the following ingredients and everyone makes their own Haystack by placing the ingredients they want on top of corn chips on their plate:

Corn chips (place as bottom layer)
Refried or whole pinto beans (heated)
Lettuce (shredded)
Tomatoes (diced)
Onions (diced)
Cheese (shredded)
Sour Cream
Salsa

That's it! Easy to make ahead and easy to set out. People love these!

[Muriel]

A ice breaker from long ago. Fold paper in shape of a diper.. Can use for name tag then for game. As folding use a yello pen or mustard and mark one of the dipers or more if you wish.
Each opens their diper to find if they win the door prize..Cause they have the dirty diper.. :-)
In the past I have used peices of flannel for the diper but paper would work. Use the tiny safty pins to close.

[sandy]

I am loving these ideas!!! You guys are so creative!:)

[Karen]

This is not to feed people but when our son's first boy was born, we made up a parcel which included something for baby and things for Mum and for Dad there was a "nappy changing bucket". The bucket included rubber gloves, goggles & snorkle, small packet of wipes; long handled brush to clean baby's bottom (!!) - I think that is all. We took it to the hospital and gave it to them and it caused so much interest amongst visitors and staff. By the way Mum and Dad thought it was wonderful.

Karen

[sandy]

This is not to feed people but when our son's first boy was born, we made up a parcel which included something for baby and things for Mum and for Dad there was a "nappy changing bucket". The bucket included rubber gloves, goggles & snorkle, small packet of wipes; long handled brush to clean baby's bottom (!!) - I think that is all. We took it to the hospital and gave it to them and it caused so much interest amongst visitors and staff. By the way Mum and Dad thought it was wonderful.

Karen

That is so funny Karen!!! Another great idea!!!

[Miss Pepper]

We don't have baby showers, Sandy, but we do have a meet and greet the new family member when the baby is aprox. 2 months old. The menu is all finger foods and your usual beverage's. It is a fun family get to-gether.. :)

[Ellie]

If I were throwning a baby shower....
I would go to Costco and buy a baby shower decorated cake.
If it was me it would have to be a carrot cake...LOL my favorite.

Mmmm! I love Costco's cakes!

What about a spiral notebook where everyone can write down their best tips for the parents-to-be. Later you can scrap your favorite tips on a layout. :)

[Mariah]

And Sandy, how did the shower go? :)

[sandy]

And Sandy, how did the shower go? :)

Oh my gosh! It went soooo well! I overcooked on the food going to a full dinner as opposed to finger foods! As far as the games go, my daughter and granddaughter took that over and did a great job with them! And even my sister came home from Buffalo to come to it! So it was a great day, Louie go a lot of great stuff and I'm soooo glad it's over! Now, come on baby!!!

Thanks for the help everyone! Layouts are coming!

[GreenEyedLadyDesigns]

Can't wait to see your LO's Sandy!

[Grace]

Sandy, I'm happy that the baby shower went well and looking forward to seeing your layouts!

[Karen]

So pleased to hear the baby shower went so well Sandy. Like Grace I am looking forward to seeing some layouts.

Don't worry, the baby will be here before you know it.

Karen