Om Nom Nom Wedding!

With the Christmas season drawing ever nearer, the thought of "what on earth am i going to serve to these people!?" has occurred...

Well, first off, we've pretty much decided on doing a semi-potluck thing. (meaning we're providing the main meat and drinks and of course the cake and some desserts...) and everybody else can bring sides and vegan/veggie friendly meals. But now i'm dumped with the idea on what to serve as main dishes and such. So this is what i've come up with for ideas so far:

Since i have some weird problems with beef -- (let's just say we don't get along, Beef and i.... at all.... nor does most of my family on my dad's side) we're probably not going to serve it at the wedding. Those who were coming and looking forward to steak or something -- well, you're screwed. sorry. But i figured since it's going to be a Christmas wedding, why not have a christmas ham?? Why not decorate a big ham (or two... have i mentioned our familes are HUGE?) with the pineapples and the criss-cross, and the maple syrup, brown sugar, and ... and.... *drools*.

Yeah. you get my point. haha. But it'd be a simple easy thing we could come up with without having to send out cards going "beef, fish, or chicken?"

As for those who are Vegetarian/non-pork-lovers, i have no idea... i honestly only know 3 vegetarians, and the only food i've eaten from them is usually scrambled eggs, grilled cheese, or muffins baked in halfed-oranges (not counting all the ridiculously awesome brownies/blondies/cookies we've made...). While all being amazing and awesome in their own special "hey-i'm-spending-the-night-feed-me" way... they're not exactly wedding fodder... o.O I'm hoping to talk to these vegetarians and see if they'd be loving enough to bring something, or at least help me figure out how to make "it" on a larger scale... lol. (i've had suggestions of zucchini Parmesan, or a "seasonal vegetable stew" etc. but still not sure yet...)

Side dishes? i totally know what Jim's Nana is bringing. she's not even allowed to choose XD (ok, not really... but i'm going to probably beg her...) but she makes this UH-MAZE-ING baked Mac n' cheese and a corn souffle that is frikkin' out of this world. Her food is literally one of the main reasons i go to their annual fourth-of-July party, lmao. I know Grandpa is wanting to make potato salad (which is totally fine, as i would eat that stuff with a dirty stick off the sidewalk...)

Now for the fun part; the desserts!

I remember growing up and thinking "why would anybody want any other desserts when they're obviously serving cake!?" and then i came to realize, that everybody loves sweets, and that it will be freaking awesome to have things like cookies and brownies WITH your tiny slice of cake. What kinds of things are we making? well, it's not set in stone, but i'm sure the following list may have some major input on the subject:

• [White Chocolate Pumpkin Pie Cups] (like Reese's cups, but filled with holiday joy instead of sticky peanut butter...)
• [Holiday Meringue Cookies] (These will probably be offered in peppermint, and *maybe* hot chocolate... as the blueberry would just be awkward o.O)
• [Peppermint Patty Cookies] (because sandwich cookies are teh smex)
• [Eggnog Fudge] (What's a holiday celebration without eggnog!?)
• [Peppermint Bark (cookies)] (okay, i'd probably just have the peppermint bark... but the cookies make it even more tempting...)
• [Chocolate Covered Pretzel Wands] (these things always look so freaking ADORABLE when they're dipped in sprinkles and gooing white chocolatey goodness....)
• [Christmas Tree Cake Pops] (and of course, Bakerella has once again inspired me with her too-frikkin-cute-for-words Christmas tree cake pops. Tell me those wouldn't look adorable on the end of a peppermint stick?)

That list will most likely grow i'm sure, but for now, those are my main inspirations for dessert-ness-ness.

Although there is one more thing i'd like to address before i end this really-long update... and that is drinks.

Every party i've ever gone to offered only a few choices.... either Sprite/Mt. Dew mixed with some kind of fruit juice crap, or booze and soda. Wow... what a memorable... er... refreshment station... >.> not.

I want my guests to feel like "wow! they really put thought into all the details! this really does feel like christmas!" instead of "pass the generic beer i'm bored." So i'm adding one more list... the refreshment list. (which of course will most likely change too.)

• [Butterbeer] (i may be a harry potter nerd, but i also love this drink -- AND it can be kid friendly! booyah!)
• [Eggnog] & [Eggless Eggnog] (in case we have some who are egg-allergic like my baby cousin <3)
• [Mulled Wine] (one of the things i've always wanted to try, was Gluhwein (spelling?) from Germany... unfortunately i've never been there, nor do i know a place to find it here in the states where it could be authentic and shipped... but i've heard Mulled wine is close, so maybe we'll see!)
• [Jelly Shots] (i want it to be a party! who says you *have* to drink wine and champagne? Plus, these would look adorable layered as green, clear, and red.)
• [Hot Chocolate] (We're hoping to have a make-your-own hot chocolate/cocoa bar, where you can pick up a pretty pristine white mug (or maybe christmas-themed ones? i dunno...) and customize your toppings and flavors with things like whipped cream, butterscotch sauce, fudge sauce, homemade marshmallows in peppermint/chocolate/vanilla flavors, peppermint stirring sticks, etc! we have this whole bar thing planned out... just gotta perfect our hot chocolate recipe, and then find something to keep it hot that doesn't look totally generic >.<)

And of course, the cake. We're going to be making it ourselves, completely homemade! (because caterers here in this podunk town either suck, or you have to order them from Indianapolis and then they're expensive. >.<) and because we love to bake. So we're hoping to make something a cross between these:

(red velvet marble cake -- click [Here] for source)

and

(white chocolate cigarello cake -- click [Here] for source)

But -- as always -- things are likely to change. <3

Of course, suggestions are always welcome from ya'll. :-3

-Cake42