Planning for a Baby Shower

Ting came over for dinner tonight so that we could start planning the baby shower which is in ten short days!! Tony worked days today and has to go back in at midnight tonight so he was trying to catch some shut eye.

We sent out the invitations last month and all the responses were due this past weekend so tonight we went through the list and figured out how many guests we will have. We are planning for 65-70 people, including children. This is an unusual baby shower, it is more of a summer party during which we are celebrating the coming baby.  So while it seems that it is huge for a baby shower it isn't really because whole families are gathering with us to celebrate.

Once we had the head count we started working on the menu.  When we ordered up the invitations we decided on a Baby Q since it was going to be a large gathering with summer fun.

Menu for Baby Q

Appetizers 2-4 pm

Chicken Wings

Sweet and Sour Meatballs

Veggie Trays with Dip

Cheese and Fruit Trays

Jalapeno Crab Dip

Assorted Crackers

Dinner 4 pm 

Pulled Pork Sandwiches

Italian Sausage Sandwiches with Peppers and Onions

Cole Slaw

Potato Salad

Pasta Marinara

Baked Beans

Dessert Buffet

Cupcakes

Cookies

Assorted Pastries

While we were gone canoeing last weekend, Kirsten and Karen, were busy baking and decorating all the cookies for the dessert buffet.  They did a wonderful job.  I am so blessed to have such wonderful friends.

Didn't they turn out adorably amazing.

They made 96 of these cookies.

That is truly a labor of love.

Before we got started on all the planning we had dinner.  It is much easier to plan things on a full stomach. Don't you agree?

I had a sirloin steak left from those that I had taken up north this past weekend and it needed to be cooked up.  There were 4 of us for dinner and only one steak so I decided to use it to make Beef Stroganoff over Egg Noodles.  This is a quick and easy dinner and great for stretching a small amount of meat to feed a family. We even had enough left to send home for Tony to take to work tonight.  We enjoyed it, I hope you do too.

This steak on the grill would never be enough to feed 5 of us.

But slice it up,saute it with some mushrooms and onions and serve it over noodles.

Dinner for the whole family.

Delicious!!!

Beef Stroganoff

1 sirloin steak, about 1 lb. after being trimmed and sliced into strips.

1 small onion, diced

4 T. butter

salt and pepper to taste

8 oz. white mushrooms

8 oz. asst. wild mushrooms

splash of red wine, about 2 T.

1 c. heavy cream

1/4 c. sour cream

1 pkg. egg noodles, cooked per package directions

Melt butter over med high heat in a large saute pan.  Add onions and cook until softened and fragrant.  Add steak season with salt and pepper and brown on the outside leaving it pink inside. Add mushrooms and cook until they start to release their liquid.  Add a splash of red wine and deglaze pan, scraping up any browned bits stuck to the pan.  Add cream and sour cream.  Bring to a boil and let cook for a few minutes until sauce reaches desired thickness.  Serve over cooked and drained egg noodles.  Print Recipe

This is a great Thrifty Thursday meal to enjoy while you are Thriving at Home.  Check out both sites for more wonderful ideas, and then join me at the Inspiration Monday Party and get inspired.