Need frugal party recipes please!

[kettlecorn]

My mom, sis and I are planning a surprise birthday for my dad's 65th birthday. We are renting out an event room and are planning on making our own food. It will probably be 40 people or so and we are doing hors d'ouerves-sp? My mom thinks we can just go to Costco and buy boxed appetizers but I think it will be more cost effective to make our own food. So we need recipes and ideas please! Anything would be helpful. Thanks!

[known2him5]

Tortillas - spread with cream cheese (flavored ones, if you prefer) top with deli thin slices of meat (ham, beef, turkey) Roll up and slice into pinwheels.

[known2him5]

Mini quiches -- cook in mini muffin tins.

[Lady_V]

Depending on what you put in them, they can be frugal...

With a group that big, I am thinking of 'pick' foods that won't require cutting, and can be served at room temperature...

I can't remember an event where Mom and I didn't make Calzones (cut before serving)

If you don't want to make those, Tapas are bite sized and quite easy to make, some have seafood or meat, but most have veggies.

Chips and salsa
veggie tray with dip
salads (veggie, pasta, potato, etc)
finger sandwiches
Ethnic foods are usually very frugal

If you want any recipes, I'll be happy to send them to you...

[miss_thrifty]

when we made my dads retirment/bday party--we got family mmebers to all bring something, all mostly finger foods, appetizers.
We made sandwhiches, potatoe salad, pickles, cooked lots of turkeys in advance and shredded it, plus some squares. Mostly it was everyone who brought something. that helps since the rent of the hall, band, etc. all adds up.

[kaye620]

Pipe dill cream cheese or even plain cream cheese onto rounds of cumcumbers, radishes, baby carrots halved lengthwise, or celery and endive that naturally hold the filling. Pipping it makes it look fancy and expensive.

Quesadillas cut into bite size strips.

Kim Sum (Korean pinwheels)- seaweed sheets laid on top of wax paper. Cooked rice mix in a touch of sesame oil and some seeds. Spread a thin layer on the seaweed sheets. layer thin strips of green onions and par-boiled carrots strips. Wisk a few eggs, pour into a slightly buttered pan, spread thin around the pan and cook until done, should be like an egg crepe. Cut eggs into strips and layer on the veggies. Roll and seal the sheets with a damp finger. Cut into 1 inch pinwheels. Serve with dipping sauce of Soy sauce, sesame seeds, and chili pepper.

Mini twice baked potatoes

Stuffed dumplings: use wonton wrappers/dumpling skins and fill with what ever you like. My husband likes hamburger meat with onions and garlic. It only takes a half a spoonfull to fill them up. Fold in half (wet one side with wet finger). Bake on greased sheet in oven. Serve with soy sauce for dipping.

Tropical chicken skewers - grilled chicken, pineapple, red/yellow/green peppers, onions, squash. Cut into bite size bits and layer onto toothpick.

Deviled eggs

Selection of sausages and wursts sliced served with bread and different mustards.

Mini cheese biscuits and ham

Gazpacho