Recipe Help Needed - please!

Pigasso

Having the in-laws and other folks over for a holiday gathering next week. I'd like to set up a "buffet style" trough to make serving easy. I'd also like to prepare foods ahead of time and either refrigerate or freeze, as appropriate, beforehand. Maybe one dish coming out of the egg at food time. There will be two vegeterians and the other eight are carnivores. There is usually enough stress related with this annual occasion - this time compounded by a rambunctious 2 year old - that I'm looking to reduce stress levels for all! Some appetisers, entree goodies and side dishes should do the trick.[p]Thank you!

Salmon

Pigasso, how bout a good ole ABT cheese cake...[p][p]Fat Johnny's ABT Cheesecake
Crust: [p]2 cups finely ground Frito's Corn Chips
1/2 teaspoon ground chipotle powder
1/2 cup finely chopped, crisp bacon
1/2 stick unsalted butter, melted
2 Tbsp. bacon grease
Filling:
1 pound cream cheese, 2 (8-ounce) blocks, softened
1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
1 cup shredded pepper jack cheese
1 pint sour cream
3 large eggs
1/2 cup finely chopped, roasted, seeded jalapeno peppers (8-9)
1 Tbsp. honey
Zest of one lemon
2-3 dashes Tabasco Sauce
For the Crust:
Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. In a mixing bowl, combine the ingredients with a fork until evenly moistened. Lightly coat the bottom and sides of an 8-inch springform pan with non-stick cooking spray. Pour the crumbs into the pan and, using the bottom of a glass, press the crumbs down into the base and 1-inch up the sides. Refrigerate for 5 minutes for the crust to firm up.... Then bake for 8-10 minutes, set aside.
For the Filling:
In the bowl of an electric mixer, beat the cream cheese on low speed for a minute or two...until smooth and free of any lumps. Add the eggs, 1 at a time, and continue to beat slowly until combined. Gradually fold in the chopped jalapenos, sour cream, cheddar & pepper jack cheeses, lemon zest, and hot sauce. Scrape down the sides of the bowl and pour the filling into the crust-lined cheesecake pan and smooth the top with a spatula.
Set the cheesecake pan on a large piece of aluminum foil and fold up the sides around it. Place the springform cake pan inside a large deepdish pizza pan & pour boiling water into the pizza pan until the water is about halfway up the sides of the cheesecake pan; the foil will keep the water from seeping into the cheesecake. Bake for 1 hour to 1 hour 15 minutes @ 325* on middle rack of oven. The cheesecake should still jiggle (it will firm up after chilling), so be careful not to overcook. Let cool in pan for 30 minutes, then chill in the refrigerator, loosely covered, for at least 4 hours. Loosen the cheesecake from the sides of the pan by running a sharp paring knife around the inside rim. Unmold and transfer to a serving plate. Serve room temp with different toppings - candied jalapenos, caramelized onions, fresh pico de gallo, homemade guacamole, jalapeno jelly, etc. Great with smoked meats, pulled pork, brisket. [p][p]
Rick

mollyshark

Pigasso,[p]Are your Vegans TRUE Vegans..no fish, no dairy? That makes it tough. If they will eat dairy, you can do an eggplant parmigiana. If they won't how about a ratatouille?[p]Then do a salmon dijon which can go equally well hot or cold and maybe a few pork tenderloins...maybe a Mr. Toad's or a Coffee crust and then a Raspberry-chipotle (I do that with the whole loin, not tenderloin). That's a start, at least![p]mShark

mad max beyond eggdome

Pigasso,
my stuffed flank steak rolls can be prepared ahead of time and served at room temps as an appetizer or a main course on a buffet. . . .

Unknown

...and impressive for a carnivore's entree off the Egg.[p]Other ideas:[p]A huge platter of antipasto with imported cold cuts, tuna, smoked salmon, fresh and marinated vegetables, olives, cheeses, and a variety of good breads could be your appetizer. They can pick what they want to eat of it.[p]For the vegetarians, a main dish might be stuffed portobello mushrooms and/or stuffed peppers(fillings could include mushroom duxelles, Ritz crackers, cheese if they can eat it, minced celery, onion, small shrimp or crabmeat maybe, rice, etc. ... any combination).[p]For the sides, try a big pan of roasted root vegetables (it's what I'm preparing to go with with a couple of pork tenderloins tonight) They are easy and all OVER Food TV today. Chunks of carrots, parsnips, rutabaga, celery root, potatoes and/or sweet potatoes, onion and whole garlic cloves, mixed with olive oil, salted and peppered, a little rosemary, then roasted in a 375 oven until tender.[p]Big bowl of spinach salad. [p]A basket of baked potatoes in foil next to small bowls with all the toppings.[p]For the 2 year-old, a box of Kraft macaroni and cheese and a Shrek video.[p]A 13 x 9 pan of Paula Deen's Banana Pudding for dessert.[p]Make-your-own ice cream sundaes (people LOVE these!)[p]Some of these things can be assembled a day or two ahead and cooked the day of the party.[p]Good luck![p]Lee[p][p]