Finding Simple Wedding Menu Ideas

     

As couples plan their wedding they are often in search of wedding food ideas. Many couples want to serve a meal but also want to keep the meal simple. There are many different but wonderful wedding menu ideas that can help a couple to have a simple and delicious wedding menu.

First couples need to consider the type of meal that they will be serving. The options are unlimited. Couples may choose to serve a simple dinner, cocktails and appetizers, a serve yourself buffet or even a casual brunch or luncheon. The decision is entirely up to the individual couple and their preferences. The style of the wedding can also play a role in dictating the type of meal that may be appropriate.

To plan a simple meal there are a few key points to keep in mind. Often wedding meals will include multiple meal options. This may mean serving a chicken meal and a fish meal or a meat selection and a vegetarian selection. Some couples simply have one option for all their guests. Choose the method that will work best for you but remember, the more options you select the more complicated and often expensive the meal may become.

Couples also must decide between serving each guest individually and serving a buffet. Both menus have different strengths and weaknesses. Served meals are often simpler but more expensive. A buffet requires less effort but generally means more food will be required. Choose the menus that work best for you and your wedding style.

Other simple menus can include serving a casual barbecue or sandwich options. These ideas are generally more conducive to an outdoor wedding but can work for a variety of events. By discussing various ideas with your caterer you will discover the many options that are available to you. Your caterer will be able to offer many wedding menu ideas.

Some couples choose to coordinate their wedding food with their wedding theme. If you are having a tropical wedding, tropical foods like pineapple and mango can add a special element to your menu. Other wedding menu ideas for tying food to theme include having heart shaped food items or displaying foods in a manner consistent with your theme. A winter wedding could display foods on a table surrounded by fake snow and glitter. An ice sculpture could further accentuate the wedding theme.

These and other simple wedding menu ideas will help you to determine the best food to serve on your wedding day.

Delicious Foods That Lower Cholesterol

The cholesterol in your body can always be adjusted by your diet, and you should always remember that. In order to adjust your cholesterol level (if you have a high cholesterol level or simply want to keep it under control) you can always check it with low cholesterol diets that have the potential to control the cholesterol.
The number of diets that are low in cholesterol is increasing every day. Still, even if you do not have high cholesterol levels but you are over the age of 4o, it is advisable to take these low cholesterol diets. What does this article cover? Look below:

What are your low cholesterol diet options
What are the low fat foods you should look for
What are the best cholesterol lowering diets for you

Whenever searching for low cholesterol diets, remember that it is there to help people lower their cholesterol. In some cases, your doctor may suggest you take a cholesterol lowering diet if your cholesterol level is too high. A cholesterol lowering diet involves cutting down on certain foods that contribute to high cholesterol and usually include a low fat diet plan.

Low cholesterol diet options

Cholesterol lowering diets are very popular these days so there are a few different types available for you to choose. Because fats have the greatest impact on raising the level of cholesterol in your system, cholesterol lowering diets will involve a smaller fat intake and you to follow a low fat diet plan. Some popular ways to lower cholesterol through diet are listed below:

The Mediterranean diet: This diet consists mainly of eating lots of vegetables fruits and grains. A very small amount of red meat is allowed in this certain diet. Some dairy products and fish and poultry can also be eaten. Wine is recommended to be consumed with every meal.

Vegetarian diet: This diet mainly consists on not eating any kind of meat, poultry or fish. Milk-based products are not included either. The vegetarian diet mainly consists of lots of fruits, grains and vegetables. Also, soy products and nuts and seed may be eaten.

Mayo clinic diet: The Mayo Clinic Diet is designed for those who want to lower both their cholesterol level but also their high blood pressure. The Mayo Clinic diet generally involves lots of fruit and vegetables but also healthy servings from all food groups.

This may help you on your wedding food ideas for your guests and for your family.

Really Delicious Vegetarian Wedding Food

 

Lots of people are vegetarians these days, and even if the bride and groom are serious carnivores, they may well have many wedding guests who abstain from eating meat. If the bride or groom happen to be vegetarians, naturally they will want to plan their wedding menu accordingly, but even if they are not, it is very considerate to include some non-meat options for guests who are vegetarian. Check out these really delicious ideas for vegetarian wedding foods...they are so tasty that you might even find the carnivores choosing them over the steak dinner!

Regional and comfort foods are huge wedding trends these days. The great news is that a lot of them can be easily adapted to suit vegetarians. The bar or station works especially well, as it allows each guest to customize his own food. For a Southern style wedding, set up a grits station. Start with plain grits (not instant!) and offer additions like green onions, cheese, butter, grilled vegetables, shrimp, and bacon. This is a crowd-pleasing idea, and including the shrimp and bacon will also make it appealing to the meat-eaters in your family. A similar idea is a mashed potato bar, featuring sour cream, butter, bacon bits, scallions, cheese, and steamed broccoli.

Like each bride, no two weddings are exactly alike. One bride might favor a formal handmade silk gown with crystal wedding jewelry, and another bride might favor a simple linen dress and funky handmade wedding jewelry. If your style runs to informal and fun, your wedding food should be too. A really fun idea which will appeal to vegetarians and carnivores alike is a pizza station at the cocktail hour. Start with unbaked miniature individual sized pizzas dressed only with sauce, and allow each guest to choose their toppings. The possibilities are virtually endless. Classic toppings like pepperoni and sausage will please the traditionalists, and then there are gourmet toppings like goat cheese and carmelized onions, fresh and shredded mozzarella, mushrooms, onions, peppers, pineapples, fresh basil, and on and on. Have a chef on hand to pop the pizzas into the oven and bring them back out to guests as they are ready.

A lot of vegetarians like faux meat and tofu, so you may wish to consider some of them for your vegetarian reception options. A tofu stir fry or curry dish would be a great addition to a buffet reception, and would be a true main dish (since a lot of people assume that their vegetarian friends can make do with salad and the vegetable side dishes). For a winter wedding, you could offer vegetarian chili, with or without a meat substitute. Even a mini-taco station at the cocktail hour would be a fun idea and you could include a fake meat cooked with the taco seasoning for guests to build their appetizer with. Although a mini-taco bar may not sound especially elegant, it is likely to be very popular, particularly with the male guests.

Pasta is always a safe thing to serve vegetarians, and there are so many delicious varieties. In the fall, a hearty squash ravioli would be sure to delight. Then there are the rich cheesy dishes like manicotti or stuffed shells - yum! In the spring, a light angel hair served with fresh seasonal vegetables and drizzled with olive oil would be lovely. And let's not forget about mushrooms, which are a great tasting way to make a meatless meal feel substantial. Wild mushrooms are fantastic in pasta or risotto, they combine beautifully with goat cheese and herbs to create an elegant tart, and a large grilled portobello mushroom in a sauce is as satisfying as a steak (well, almost). With so many truly delicious options, there is no reason why vegetarian wedding guests have to feel like second-class citizens anymore!

Awesome Menu Ideas For 50th Wedding Anniversary

50th Wedding Anniversary is by far a very important point in a couple's life. This is a moment of joy and happiness and a time to look back and see how wonderful the days have been. For this wonderful and joyous time there needs to be a detailed planning as to what needs to be done in terms of different areas such as making a list of guests, party invitations, party decorations, sorting out the best menu, etc. It is really challenging and it should be noted that whatever you do just document everything so that you have a referencing point to look back during the process of planning.

Different combinations of menus can be tried for the 50th Wedding Anniversary. It would be best if you have a three course meal served on the party. The Appetizer that can be made for this awesome event is Antipasto Kabobs. The Main Course can be Caribbean Chicken Shish Kebabs, which are low in fat and is healthy. And for the dessert, Ice Cream Sandwiches would be best. We will go over to prepare Main Course Meal, which is Caribbean Chicken Shish Kebabs.

In order to prepare Caribbean Chicken Shish Kebabs, we have to prepare Caribbean Rub. To prepare Caribbean Rub, we need to have 2 jalapeño peppers halved and seeded, 2 peeled cloves of garlic, 3/4 cup chopped fresh parsley, 1/4 cup minced fresh thyme, 1/4 cup chopped onion, 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice, 1 teaspoon curry powder, 1/4 teaspoon salt, 1/8 teaspoon black pepper. The ingredients that we will require to make Caribbean Chicken Shish Kebabs will be 8 skinned and boned chicken thighs, 1 tablespoon chopped fresh thyme, 1/4 teaspoon salt, 1/8 teaspoon black pepper, 2 red bell pepper that is quartered, 1 teaspoon olive oil, 1 cup uncooked basmati rice, 3/4 cup water, 1-1/4 cup free fat chicken broth, 2 tablespoons flaked sweetened coconut, which is toasted, and 4 lime wedge.

  

The first thing that needs to be done to start the recipe is to prepare the Caribbean Rub. For that, drop jalapeño and garlic through food chute with the food processor on and process it until minced. Then you need to add parsley and 6 ingred and blend it well and clean the sides of the bowl from time to time. Now comes the process of preparing Shish kebabs. For that you need to trim chicken and sprinkle one tablespoon of thyme, ¼ teaspoon salt and 1/8 teaspoon pepper over chicken and then roll up. After that you need to place two 12 inch skewers parallel to each other that are about half inch apart. Then thread four chicken rolls and four bell pepper pieces alternately on the skewers. Then brush two tablespoons Caribbean rub over the kebab.

Then place the kebabs in a baking dish and follow the same procedure for the rest of the kebabs and then cover and marinate them for three hours. Now prepare the grill and spray it with oil and grill the rolls on each side for 12 minutes. Your Caribbean Chicken Shish Kebabs are ready that you can serve with rice and lime wedges.

Caribbean Chicken Shish Kebabs is a great wedding food ideas for your golden wedding.

Choosing Your Wedding Reception Food

Planning a wedding is never an easy task. Smaller weddings even have the added task of which foods will be served during the reception. Planning the reception menu will usually revolve around the wedding theme. The menu also should be planned for the time of day, time of year and location of the event.

 
Morning wedding receptions can be a fun way to start a day. Food served during this type of wedding can include many breakfast type foods. Belgian waffles and choices of fruit toppings can be prepared for any type of wedding. For a more casual wedding, having a buffet loaded with eggs, bacon, sausage, gravies, fruits and more can make it a nice way to fill your guests up. Coffee, hot tea and orange juice are the main beverages that should be served during the morning reception.

 
Afternoon wedding receptions can be done in an elaborate or a simple theme. The food for the afternoon affair can be as simple as cake and punch or a full meal option. Foods served at this time of day tend to be lighter than ones given in the evening or in the morning. Finger sandwiches and pasta salads are great options for this type of reception meal.

Elaborate weddings should have a reception to match it. This is usually a sit down type affair that is catered. Foods can include a meat, usually fish, beef or chicken, salad, a warm vegetable and dinner rolls. The drinks served during a more elaborate function include champagne, wine (red or white depending on the main course) and coffee.

Country weddings are always a fun and very casual event. The reception food is usually created with this theme in mind. The food served during the function usually contains bar-b-q meat (of any kind), corn on the cob, green beans, pasta salads, potato salads and more. This can be presented in a sit down style but, keeping with the casual theme, a buffet style set up would be better. Drinks served during the country reception are usually beer, coffee and punch.

Winter receptions can be beautiful. The wedding food ideas served during the event should be warm and could include foods for the season. Stews and soups are great starter foods at this type of event. Main courses can include a baked ham and/or turkey as well as all of the trimmings. Warm punch and coffee is also great for a winter wedding reception.

Wedding Planning Ideas - Wedding Food & Catering

Your wedding day should be very exciting, but little details can cause a lot of extra and definitely unneeded stress, like choosing what food will be served at the reception, or deciding on a cake, who should bake the cake, who should cater the event, and that small but very significant part, the wedding cake topper!
Here are a few ideas on how to make these decisions less stressful and more fun.

* Consider choosing a location for your reception that caters, this may limit your menu choices, but it also takes a lot of work out of the reception coordination for you.

* If you do rent a place that does not offer catering needs a good choice to go with is a buffet style catering, giving your guest freedom to choose what they want upon seeing it, and eliminating the need for extra serves!

* Here's an idea to save you a lot of money, if you are having a small intimate event with a small budget you could always call in a favor from friends and family and have them bring along their famous home cooked dishes.

* Going with an expensive cater gives you a lot of choices in what food will be served at the reception, you could plan for anything from filet mignon and caviar to country fried chicken and mashed potatoes.

* Most small restaurants off catering services as well, so if you have a favorite fast food or local restaurant you can look into having them cater your reception for a great deal less then the pricier caters.

* If you will be choosing all of the food consider choosing a theme as well, like seafood or beef dishes with sides that compliment them. Those with sensitive stomachs will thank you!

* Consider offering healthy choices, as well as choices for guests who may be vegetarian. A veggie tray and fruit salads are great choices for appetizers.

View more of wedding food ideas.

Five Ideas For Wedding Reception Food On A Budget

Planning a wedding on a budget becomes a challenge. One of the most expensive parts of a wedding is the reception. And one of the most costly parts of the reception is the food. So here are five ideas for wedding reception food on a budget.

1. You can decide on a pot luck meal. You can provide the meat and drinks. Let your guests bring their favorite dishes. This can save a lot of money but can also create some challenges. Someone will have to keep track of dishes so you don't have all baked beans. You can give food groups or suggestions on your reception cards. This can help to keep a good variety.
2. Use roasters and put your meat and side dishes in them. A few nice hams will provide a lot of meat at a smaller expense. You can even make meatballs and put in a nice sauce. We have used roasters for years at our events. My mom makes a great roaster full of scalloped potatoes. Always a hit! Cabbage rolls used to be one of our standard meat choices. We have gone to new dishes though, so you see everything changes. Depending on your family.
3. Open pit chicken. My brother is usually in charge of this. He uses wood and has a rack that he puts pre-cut chicken quarters on. He has mastered this to where the relatives look forward to the open pit chicken dinners.
4. Another wedding reception food on a budget can be found at the bulk food store. Sam's usually has tons of ideas for this. You can get premade meatballs put them in crock pots with different sauces for variety. You may choose to have a nice casserole that is just a heat and serve dish.
5. Finger foods. You may have trays of meat, cheese, veggies, deviled eggs and pickles. Add crackers and buns with condiments and you have a meal that can be set out on trays of ice that will be ready to serve.

I hope this gives you some ideas for wedding reception food on a budget. You can have some nice meals and still stick to a budget. Many times a sit down dinner will cost much more because of the time involved in getting the meal ready to serve at one time. You will also have the cost of servers and bus people.
A buffet type meal will usually be less expensive. Guests like buffets. They can walk around a visit much better at a buffet. It means that they have something to talk about as they walk through the wedding food ideas.