Coffee Hour at Church

Mini muffins, cookie trays, bagels cut in half(also sliced) served with cream cheese, fruit slices, bananas cut in half with the peel still on I see frequently. Cheese and meats sound great but that seems expensive, I think if you pick one thing and have plenty of it along with some fruit it will be fine. Nobody expects a meal. I also think if you want to bake something like banana bread with some fruit would be yummy. You can even serve the loaves with a knife and let people cut a piece themselves.

What about mini muffins, or Costco muffins cut in 1/4's? Then lots of fresh fruit: sliced apples, bananas, strawberries, blueberries, orange slices, watermelon, cantaloupe...then cheese.

I have an easy crustless baked quiche that can be cut into little cubes....baked the day before, cooled, then cut. People ask for the recipe all the time no matter where I take it. PM if you want the recipe.

RE: Crustless Quiche

Crustless Quiche

10 EGGS
1/2 cButter melted
1/2 cFlour
1 tsBaking Powder
1/4 tsSalt
1 lbLarge-curd cottage cheese
2 cn(4-oz) diced green chiles
1 bunch finely chopped green onions/scallions
Black Pepper; freshly ground
1 lb Aged Chedar cheese; grated

Variation: It is super easy to substitute with other veggies. Since regions have their favorite flavors, I have used frozen, chopped spinach instead of the chiles. Both are a big hit. I have sauted thinly sliced zucchini or shredded zucchini when in season. This turns it into a garden style quiche. Sometimes I'll add ham or bacon, if it's leftover. I have even been known to add a block of soft tofu while mixing the eggs. No one ever knows nor can they tell. It's very pretty with thinly sliced tomatoes layered on top.

After you try this, you'll probably never go back to quiches with a high calorie crust.

Preparation

Whip the eggs in a large mixing bowl until fluffy. Whisk in the melted butter, flour, baking powder, and salt. Stir in the cottage cheese, chiles, black pepper and half the cheddar. Pour the mixture in a greased 13x9 inch glass baking dish. Top with remaining cheese (optional: and thinly sliced tomatoes). Bake in a preheated 400 degree oven for 15 minutes. Then reduce the temperature to 350 degrees and continue to bake for 35 to 40 minutes, or until the eggs are set and the top is lightly browned. Allow to cool a bit and cut into squares.

Enjoy!!

I saw this post and just had to answer. Our family is also doing coffee hour this Sunday, and it being Lent, I was totally freaked out! (We're Orthodox, and this is our first Lent - lots of fasting rules) I'm using recipes from both of these sites. Good luck, and I'll be thinking of you as I'm preparing my food!

http://www.50plusfriends.com/cookbook/index.html
http://www.angelfire.com/bc/incredible/Servesfiftyindex.html

I think what you have listed sounds great! I remember we used to have these at the church I went to growing up, but they only had donuts and coffee/juice. Honestly, unless people usually go all out, I would probably stick with cookies, cake, and fruit. It will still be pretty early in the morning, so most people won't expect lunchmeat and crackers. But if you do want to serve that, go for it. I think Costco probably makes some nice trays of meats, cheeses, and crackers, then make (or buy) a fruit salad, and have some donuts, or coffee cake, and a tray of cookies. Don't forget the plates and forks if the church doesn't supply those.

Bars - you can make lemon bars or rice crispie bars or brownies and they can be cut bite-sized with a pizza cutter.

If you offer juice and coffee/tea, consider two juices and/or water. My daughter is allergic to apples and if there's no water (I usually bring a cup for her) she doesn't have much to drink. Make sure that if you have fruit like grapes you have some plastic knives for cutting them for kids.

I would buy a cookie tray, or a few, since that will save you time. Something more breakfasty and healthy, like oatmeal cookies, would also be a good option, especially with lots of kids. I like the fruit idea, too. If you have an apple corer/slicer, get a few bags of apples at Costco and you can cut them right at church. I miss those coffee hours! We don't really have them at my church. :)

I'm making a cake to take to church this weekend. I'm making a very dense chocolate cake with chocloate pudding and minichocolate chips mixed into a Devils food batter. Cooking it in a bundt pan. That way it can be cut into perfect serving sizes and does not need to be frosted since it's so rich anyway. I'm going to slice the cake and layer it around the plate domnio style and pile strawberries up in the middle. Doesn't have to be chocolate. You could do strawberry cake mix with white chocolate chips and vanilla pudding. Choco cake with mint chocolate or caramel chips. Lots of yummy possibilities.

How 'bout a large veggie and fruit platter with different dips?

(And what a nice idea your church has. Have fun with it!)

:)

Look up Savannah Cheesecake Cookies on foodnetwork.com (Paula Deen recipe I think?). It's on my top ten omg-I-have-a-ton-of-people-to-please list.

I would like to suggest cereal bars and fruit kabobs (if you're up to making 75-100 of them). If not, sliced fresh fruit and yogurt dip is great. Yogurt and granola is good also.

I'm sorry, I don't see lunch meats, cheese and crackers in the mix of a early morning coffee hour. If this is before service starting, you may not want people to be full and sleepy.

Cream Cheese finger sandwiches: Sam's Wholesale sells pound cake in three's, get a few of those & place the pound cake in your freezer when you get them home...& get Philladelphia cream cheese.
for about 100 people I'd say 6-9 pound cakes & 24-32 ounces of cream cheese.
Take the pound cake out of the freezer after about 3 hours & slice about 1/8" slices (thick enough to spread cream cheese on them without falling apart) spread cream cheese & make sandwiches , then cut them in three's and then arrange them on a serving plate, it makes quite a bit & very inexpensive & they are ALWAYS a hit! (Kids love them too! )

If you are considering baking something, I recommend two to three pans of monkey bread. Yummy!!
you make them in a bundt pan, so I wasn't quite sure how to phrase the above. basically with the number you have - three of them should satisfy with the other Items you mentioned.