Graduation

I just had a communion party for my daughter with 75 people atleast ten under the age of 8. I had a tray of chicken fingers store bought and different sauces with a fruit tray. The chicken fingers can actually be heated on the gril. Another idea forthe kids is a pan of mac n cheese if it is not to hot to heat the house.

Hi S., look on Rachel Rays webstite, she loves kids and always has really cool and cute recipes.

Chicken Marinade:

1/2 Soy sauce 1/2 Honey...Delicious.

My kids ages are similar to yours.

One graduating
Freshman
Fourth grade and a 3 yr. old.

potato salad, you can make that ahead of time, coleslaw - great recipe if you search for the copycat recipe of kfc coleslaw - tastes better than the real stuff! Especially if youmake it the day before! - meatballs in a crock pot, set it and forget it! - I would be sure to bet that all thekids under 10 will eat the hotdogs, so I wouldn't go crazy there - have pretzels and nachos and popcorn there - they love that stuff. Baked beans? another crock pot, set and forget , macaroni salad, make ahead of time.. goodluck and have fun!

My kids don't eat burgers and dogs so we get tiny dinos(chicken nuggets) and easy mac (mac n'cheese)and throw them in a microwave! Quick and easy! U could also make celery filled with either cream cheese or peanut butter inside and even put raisins on top and the kids can help make them themselves! Good luck!

Rent one of those blow up jumpers. It's expensive, but well worth it. Encore in Hudson Ma has the huge ones. Monnick is a little less expensive. Don't get the 12x12. It's too small.

Have you checked out www.kraftfoods.com ? They have some excellent, simple recipes that use brand names you may already have at home. There's this "ice cream" cake you make with ice cream sandwiches which I might try this long weekend.

With a large group of little people, I would plan to have a tray of chicken nuggets and a couple of boxes of Kraft Mac'n'Cheese made for them. It worked when my kids were little.
Take care and best wishes to your graduate.
D.

St.'s General Store on RTE 16 in Uxbridge sells a potato salad that tastes like homemade. It does not have the vinegar taste like most deli potato salads. Just empty out of deli containers and fill one of your own serving bowls. I bought cans of Bush's Baked Beans filled my croc pot in the morning and they were ready to eat by lunch time.

here's a easy healthy desert
Fruit dip so you will need to provide a fruit bowl.
the dip is easy all you need is a large contaiers of frech vinilla yougurt- we use the one by stoneyfield but any will work. a packet of vinalla pudding- do not make the pudding just the mix
and a small contaner of cool whip- can be fat free
mix the 3 together and you will have people coming back for 3rds it's so yummy and fat free

I would do Pizza and Hot Dogs. Most younger children are not big on hamburgers/red meat. It will also make it easier for you, as well. At the same time, it covers any concern with possible rain!! For adults, whip up a batch of sloppy joes in the crockpot! Have fun!

HI~ I have an easy and pretty inexpensive macaroni I make to bring places and its always a hit.
take 1 lb medium shells, add 2 peeled and cut cukes, 1 or 2 heads of lightly steamed broccoli cut into bitesize pieces, 2 cups shredded cheese ( I usually use swiss but have used cheddar too) 1/2 to 3/4 lb cooked crumbled bacon, mix with mayo
Its delicious and an easy favorite here. I usually add cooked chicken chunks to mine too and we eat it as main course.

Have a nice party!