Evening Playdate/Adult Get Together Food Ideas?

What about doing an antipasto plate? You can put together a big plate with a few different type of olives, roasted red peppers, a couple kinds of cheese, some type of sausage/prociutto. Then you can do a bread board. Pick up some fresh french bread that morning, put it out with some dipping oil (olive oil with salt, pepper, grated parmesean chees, maybe some italian spices). And maybe a fondu station with some chocolate and strawberries. Hope that's helpful! Sounds like a fun night.

good luck,
A. V.

You could make an antipasta platter. Italian meats....hard salami thinly sliced, etc, sliced mozz cheese, Italian olives, maybe some grilled red pepper for color, sliced baguette. Or, Pasta salad.

You could grill, chicken or make tacos.
Have some guacamole and queso and chips for an appetizer.

I've done a potato bar that turned out great. Just bake big potatoes and have the typical toppings like butter and sour cream, but also include various cheeses, grilled chicken (got mine precooked from the deli), saute some beef tips with mushrooms or peppers and onions, chili, steamed broccoli etc. Serve with a salad and brownies for desert!

Appetizer's don't have to be junk food. We do appetizers all the time. It just may take some thinking ouside of the box. Example: buy some crackers (we like Wheat Thins (the one with olive oil & sun dried tomato) and Town House crackers (because of the buttery flavor)) then we go absolutely crazy with the toppings. We use any combination of the following feta cheese , cherry tomato cut in half is best for sitting still, capers, cream cheese regular or flavored, sardines, tuna salad, olives, deviled ham, shreded carrots, cut up cooked hot dogs cut bite sized, extra sharp cheddar cheese, parmesan cheese, mozzarella cheese, fresh or dried basil, deviled eggs, etc.

Basically just have fun with everything on a cracker. It is simple easy. When layed out on trays with veggies like carrot sticks, celery stalks, broccoli, and/or cauliflower it can be very beautiful, creative, not junk food, and delicious. You can always do your own veggie tray, I stay away from cold cuts because of the high salt content and I really don't like them.

Since your activity for the evening will be card playing, you may want to make certain your food for the evening isn't anything that will make the hands dirty or you could have a time for the appetizers then serve something up from the grill before game playing begins.

Grilling is easy as long as you remember to marinate (season well and in advance your meats from burgers, to steak, to fish). Vegeatables are really easy on the grill, just put all your hearty veggies like zucchini squash, peppers, onions, mushrooms, etc on sizable piece of aluminum foil add ice, fold and seal the sides and ends so nothing can fall out. Place in the grill at the indirect heat for 5-10 minutes and then they should be done. Corn in the husks is great on the grill. Soak the corn in a huge pot of water for 1 hour before grilling. Then place the corn husk and all on the grill remembering to turn over till all sides of corn are cooked. Corn comes out delicously sweet and smoky flavored.

I love a great party, I hope this helps you to have one.

I like the idea of a taco bar, pizza bar (small Bobolis for everyone to fix individually, which would involve some bake time) or picnic food---cold fried chicken, potato salad, coleslaw, beans, chips, fruit salad. That way, everyone can serve themselves, and come back for more if they want. Nothing has to be kept warm, and paper plates make clean-up easy. You can play games or cards with your friends instead of "playing hostess".

I think anything that you can throw together in a crock pot is the way to go. Pulled pork for sandwiches, white chili, something like that with a few finger foods on the side, a cheese and meat tray for snacking. Minimal mess, won't spoil. Here's the link to one of my favorite websites- http://crockpot365.blogspot.com/ if you can't find something there you won't find it anywhere...LOL...Have fun on your playdate. We use to call them card parties in my day.

Have some cheese cubes with the cold cuts, dip for the veggies, and mix up some black beans (rinsed), whole kernel corn, chopped green onions, and a can of diced tomatoes with chopped green chilies (drained), plus a little Pace medium picante sauce, and serve with Frito or Tostito Scoops.
And there you have it! .....All good to munch on.

sloppy joes is nice to have ready ahead of time and can be put in a slow cooker to keep warm

if you want to make something more spectacular... cabbage rolls? You can cook them that day and leave them on the stove on low for the evening

baked potatoes are nice and easy and can be microwaved if they want some later.. you can have a topping bar for them

macaroni salad is always yummy and can be put in the fridge just after you eat and bring it it back out if someone starts getting hungry

fruit is always great!