Cheese is a great snack! But maybe too pricey?

Fancy deviled eggs? It might get time consuming, but it's a good make ahead dish. That would be a good soft complement to the crunchy crackers and almonds. I know you can buy 6 dozen eggs at Costco and it wouldn't that expensive.

oooh, this is fascinating. I love this kind of food "problem." I cook for 200 at our church every year and run out of oven space. I have solved the problem by using those big white roasting ovens.

For another nibble, my mind goes to something fruity or vinegary to pair up with the things you have. Maybe dried apricots or gherkins? But I don't know what would dress them up, other than spearing them with a fancy pick. And they're not really cheap. I also thought of apples, but there's no nice way to keep cut apples looking good. hm. I will probably think about this waaaaay longer than necessary, but I do so enjoy planning menus and their dilemmas.

A simple second vegetable that would compliment the rest of the meal would be basic pureed butternut squash or mashed sweet potatoes! A little bit of butter, cream, and nutmeg in either of them and you're golden.

You could also do a butternut squash soup or mashed calliflower

Yeah, that was my initial thought - I really wanted to do butternut squash! But two problems: 1) I don't have the prep help to efficiently cut up all that squash, and I think buying the pre-trimmed stuff would be too expensive. 2. The heating question. I'm not sure whether I can heat everything if I add a veg into the mix.

But still tempted to do sweet potatoes - maybe I will pull it off. :)

I think a fresh fruit or veggie would nicely round out the crunchy/salty offerings. Clementines are inexpensive, in season, and beautiful in a brightly colored bowl-- especially if you can manage to find some with the leaves still on to disperse throughout. I've also enjoyed dried fruits, crackers, and cheese at the pre-dinner reception, though that may be pricey.

Because they are easy to do and inexpensive, what about pickled carrots to add to your pre-dinner nibbles? I make mine a little bit spicy and also often use multicolored carrots because they look lovely.

Fruit. Maybe dates or figs & a cube of cheese on a toothpick?

Big bowls of clementines and grapes? No prep except for washing and they look so festive!

You've made cheddar for 150 people? Your brother and his fiancée are the luckiest couple I've heard of!

I know another snack! Blanched broccoli (or mix in cauliflower too, for prettiness) florets marinated in a simple vinaigrette, speared with picks. I can get broccoli and cauliflower pretty cheaply in my area right now. If you don't want to mess with blanching, you could roast the florets and then marinate them. I make a basic vinaigrette with olive oil, vinegar, fish sauce, dry mustard, a touch of garlic, salt and pepper. I serve them room temperature and usually add some herbs, but next to the rosemary crackers, you might want these un-herbed. A very bright, lemony vinaigrette with zest included could be nice, too. . .

That gets another veg into your menu, too, although I don't think you *need* another veg with the main course.

What about doing the butternut squash ahead of time and then getting a couple crockpots to keep them warm?

as for another predinner snack, the deviled egg idea is pretty solid.

I read that as homemade crackers with flavors of white cheddar and rosemary. But I could be wrong. I still think that making crackers for 150 is as impressive as making cheese for 150!

Are there vegetarians? I'd do a simple vegetable side dish. You could braise many, many pounds of carrots for very little cost.

I love deviled eggs. Crostini is also very cheap to make.

Faith, this sounds absolutely lovely and what a special gift for your brother! I love the idea of deviled eggs, but it's a lot of individual handling. How about quiche, made in a big sheet pan and cut into appetizer squares? It is fine at room temperature, and you could make it ahead. I also like the pickled carrot suggestion!

This all sounds lovely: the wedding, cake and punch reception (love this!), the church dinner menu. You sound very calm considering you have to whip up a huge dinner this weekend. I look forward to reading the Plan and please post further on how it all turned out.

For a snack, how about some platters with a variety of nibbles that require no cooking, such as olives, anchovies, artichoke hearts in olive oil? Budget permitting, of course. I think sweet potatoes might be a bit heavy (and labour-intensive) if you're already making potatoes. A simple green salad would complement the other dishes well, IMHO. Good luck!

I second absc-- pickled carrots as a snack. You could make a mix of pickles several days ahead, and it wouldn't be too expensive-- carrots, red onions, okra and garlic make great pickles, and you could supplement them with olives and/ or baby cucumber pickles. Or make it into chow-chow to put on crackers. (I'm talking about short-term refrigerator pickes, not the kind where you double boil everything and can it to last through the apocalypse).

Some sort of salsa type deal to go with those cheddar crackers would be pretty rad, too, and not too frightening for those with more conservative palates.

maybe you can throw in braised collards/hearty greens, to the beans that you are already making? greens and beans!

It sounds delicious!

Boiled & mashed carrots & rutabaga with honey, salt & pepper, made ahead and just warming in some crock pots would be nice, it's so simple but so good. Also, you could do a dip for a 3rd snack, easy to make a huge batch and then portion out to tables. Something like Sweet Paul's Feta Dip which I ate way too much of this holiday season. So good.

Such love! This couple is lucky to have you in their lives.

For my pre-dinner snacks at my wedding we cut up fruit and presented it on one platter, then cut up good quality chedder, havarti, and summer sausage with grainy mustard for dipping on another. It's easy, requires no oven, and it could be done the night before if properly stored. Cheese is gluten free right?

You can buy 3lb blocks of good quality cheese at Costco or any other club store like that and it's much cheaper per pound than in a regular supermarket. In fact, that goes for everything else on your list as well. Hit up a local butcher for the meat though, they can give deals for bulk purchases.

Best appetizer ever: half a date stuffed with goat cheese and topped with half a pecan. Gluten free, soooo delicious, and a softer and chewier texture than your other offerings. OR what we did for our wedding: skewers of fruit! That would also bring a nice balance, and the color is always delightful.

For an easy, affordable pre-meal snack, what about a dip like edamame hummus that you can make ahead of time and refrigerate in ziplock bags. Then pipe them onto cucumber slices just before service. It doesn't require heating and is gluten free. For something hot, you could make a simple soup (like creamy tomato basil) ahead of time. Reheat it in a crock pot and serve in plastic cups/shot glasses.

It's not hot, but what about a big green salad for an extra vegetable? It's easy to serve family style. I would recommend tossing greens with fennel, orange, avocado and a simple vinaigrette.

Sounds delicious .....Thank You for making their day special with all your hard work and planning

For the snack ...an olive bar. For the extra veggie...spaghetti squash.

Crudite and dips: raw brocoli/cauliflower/carrot/celery/ any stiff leafed lettuce with houmus pesto / salsa / roast red pepper dip. No cooking and doable ahead of time to simply whip out later!

Impressive! Do you have a recipe for the crackers?

You will need to make a second appetizer - and it will need to be completely made and ready to go the day before. I suggest a Fruit Brochette. Cut up a variety of fruit that does not brown - pineapple, melon, grapes - you want bite-sized pieces of whatever you can find that is well priced and lovely. Then, put three pieces of fruit on extra long toothpicks. Whip up a vanilla yogurt dip to go with them. They are delicious - kids love them and they are healthy. No oven needed.

Good luck; you are brave to take this on. Your menu looks good (and I'm a vegetarian). Just thinking about doing something like this would make me run screaming into the night.

This looks lovely Faith -- the beans work well for vegetarians.

Are you going for a "rosemary is for remembrance" theme, with rosemary in the pre-dinner snack, drink, and main course?

My suggestion would be a purée, made ahead and just reheated (which allows it to dry out) of boiled kubocha squash, parsnips and pears, puréed with heavy cream, and a bit of cognac. (my favorite vegetable side these days!).

It sounds so good -- love the butterscotch pudding!

Lovely. You're a treasure of a sibling. If adding a veg, I like the idea of broccoli as an additional appetizer or some kale with the beans. One nit to pick. I know many members of my family don't like rosemary. I can just hear my most crotchety aunt saying, "Oh gawd, it's even in the drink."

It's awesome that you are doing this for your brother.The menu looks lovely, but you have too many flavors going on there.

I second (or third or fourth) the clementines - if you have an international market in your area, you can often find produce much cheaper than in typical chain grocery stores. I live in Indianapolis, and Saraga has beautiful clementines, w/ the stems & green leaves still on, for $2/lb!! they taste like candy too :)

what about warm marinated olives for a snack? you could just take a boatload of olives, olive oil, citrus zest, herbs (rosemary would be nice), and some spices (maybe chile flake and fennel seed?). super easy to execute on a large scale

An easy salad is carrot salad Just grate loads of carrots and toss with lemon juice, olive oil, salt, pepper and toasted sesame seeds. Keeps for about a day and very cheap.
Also a good snack is hummus and fresh veges.You can make it very cheap with chick peas, lemon, roast garlic and herbs . Bread , balsamic and olive oil is also classic and super simple.

olives

Dried plums wrapped in crispy bacon... yum!

I think that I have read most of the comments about this event. I hope that I am not late with my comment.

I looked over your menu and budget ($650) for this family prepared meal. I think your need to check your venue(church) equipment, (especially) when needing to prepare chix. One suggestion for the chix is to do a boneless thigh(presentation is better). Have you thought about searing the thigh before finishing it in the oven. Are you prepared to possibly searing the chix the day before and replacing it back in the fridge. On the day of the event you can take out bringing to room temp on sheet pans to finish in the oven. This will allow you more time if you need the oven for other things. Make your sauce the day before and reheat on stove top the day of the event. A long and deep disposable pan is good to keep the chix in temp before you begin to serve guests. Hope the oven has at least two or three racks. Put as much chix as you can on each sheet pan to reheat. Don't forget the parchment paper for the sheet pans. Did you at any time think about chix marsala instead? Remember that rosemary is a very strong herb, maybe you could puree califlower in place of white beans which almost resemble mashed potatoes. Doing a big mixed green salad or how about a wedge of iceberg with dressing (blu cheese maybe)? This would end the dinner meal prep. I like the containers for the dessert. My favorite container was the Kova because the case has more than you need, so you can save whats left for later. Is the fridge large enough for the desserts to be placed in containers and covered for the next day, and you can finish the dessert with the whipped topping before its served. Don't forget garnish(mint sprig) in the whipped topping. How about replacing the spritzer w/rosemary to another flavor? Hope water is just 4oz bottles. (less waste)
About the appeitzers, please no deviled eggs (time consuming), you have Herb Roasted Almonds,how about a brushetta with crostini and celery and carrot sticks with ranch dip? Hope that I haven't offered more info than needed or just turned everything around.

I have been an event/wedding planner for many years, with hospitality training for more than 15 years. If you have time please acknowledge my comment if you have time in the coming days or after the wedding, at any rate I do hope that everything goes off without a hitch. This industry is not as glamourus as the TV makes it out to be. Good Luck!!!!

Food, family, friends, fellowshop; it doesn't get any better than that.

That said, I went to a church hall wedding once. No alcohol allowed. It was just flat, sad, and dull. It was.

I hope your people know how to celebrate without alcohol.

FellowSHIP.