<p>No, I’m not hosting the cast party, thank the Lord. But the host has asked parents to bring food by. There will be about 100 ravenous teens and I want to do my part. Please suggest something that isn’t chips or store bought cookies, but that will not trouble the host with refrigeration or heating. Sweet or savory, snack or breakfast.</p>
<p>I would think that some “real” food would fit the bill; something substantial, not just snacks. </p>
<p>Pasta comes to mind, but that would need to be heated. What about sandwiches on small rolls, or different kinds of bread (cut in half so there’s less waste). Fruit salad (just cut-up melons, pineapple, berries mixed together in a big bowl) is always a hit with D’s teammates.</p>
<p>Breakfast???
Long submarine sandwiches sliced into individual portions are always a hit, especially with the male members of a cast…</p>
<p>Do you think hors d’eourves meatballs in a crock pot is too elaborate for teens?</p>
<p>Chili in a crockpot.</p>
<p>They have to strike the set after the performance, so the party doesn’t really get going until after 11 pm. The town has a midnight curfew, so the parents sign a form: leave before midnight, or be locked in until 7 am.</p>
<p>^^^You are going to want LOTS of food then, lol</p>
<p>I’m SO glad that the host family is asking for help. Last year there was almost no food and I wished that they had asked folks to bring things. The kids were starving.</p>
<p>Honestly (and I’m speaking from lots of experience as we hosted many cast parties over the years), we never seemed to have enough bottled water.</p>
<p>At Happykid’s last cast party, the host mom stipulated “nothing that needs silverware”. Several parents chipped in for giant subs, and the host mom made her own vegetarian subs when she found out what was in the commercial veggie subs (not much for a huge price).</p>
<p>Several of us sent bar cookies, and there were trays of veggies and fruit. Drinks included apple cider as well as various kinds of soda/pop. Water came from the tap (most of the kids) or the filter (the stressed out kids).</p>
<p>Another thought. Once things get going have students send word via cell phones as to what parents can bring to supplement what is already there, especially after curfew. Perhaps a delivery of pizzas from a favorite pizza place could be arranged.</p>
<p>I’d be driving over warm bagels and OJ at about 6 am.</p>
<p>I second the water bottle suggestion.</p>
<p>If you don’t mind spending a little more money, I have found that the kids love having Chik-Fil-A. Our local store is so nice they not only gave me a discount, thay also let me borrow their insulated boxes to keep the chicken in.</p>
<p>I know this sounds a bit too fancy, but another thing my daughter loved to have was fondue. The kids love it and are fascinated to learn that fondue came before chocolate fountains! And I can almost guarantee no one else will think of it.</p>
<p>chocolate dipped pretzel rods
apples and caramel dip
peanut butter and crackers</p>
<p>Breakfast: baked French toast. (Make in lasagne pans) served with lots of cut up fruit.</p>
<p>Chinese chicken salad (for evening) easy to do ahead. I have recipes for the above. You could also do a tofu for those who are vegetarians. Subway sandwiches, cut with electric knife. Chicken wings (Asian or Barbeque). Lasagne, meat and/or vegetarian.</p>
<p>I did three cast parties for 100 plus kids. They are ravenous…even the “dieting” girls.</p>
<p>Assortment of bagels (sliced) and a jumbo jar of peanut butter and a (loaner) toaster with bagel setting. Kids can do it themselves.</p>
<p>Get a couple of the 3# bags of whole almonds at Sams and toast them before the get together so they have cooled and can go into disposable plastic snap lid containers.</p>
<p>Bananas, oranges and apples (so no refrigeration)</p>
<p>I don’t understand bottled water. Can’t the kids drink tap water? The used-up water bottles make such a mess.</p>
<p>Cut up fruit and cheese, bread or rolls with trays of sandwich makings, hummus with pitas and cut-up veggies, cookies.</p>
<p>I have brought this for many events and it’s easy.
Several bags of Pillsbury ready made bisquits
and one small ham, spiral sliced from the grocery store.
sliced cheese optional.
Place biscuits on cookie sheets and bake per package directions.
(about 14 min). About 18 fit on a cookie sheet. While warm, add little piece of ham and 1/4 of a cheese slice if desired, cover tray with foil. You can stack biscuits and serve warm or cold. Assembly is easy.</p>
<p>I would suggest going for a Caesar Salad Bar… you can easily have large bags of greens ready to go…and have different families provide one item for the salad bar, if you will … cheese & croutons, chicken, salmon, steak, bread/rolls, and then you could also have a mac and cheese or lasagna or soup… Klondike bars are my favorite for dessert… easy to have different varieties…and something that I always found to be a big hit is a fresh fruit salad… kids today love fruit… and that would be a nice option for breakfast too? maybe with pound cake or some sort of muffin or bagel? again, farm out specific items, ie banana bread or pound cake…</p>