menu ideas for a big party or gathering

I assume that you will be setting up a self serve lunch and your guests will not be eating at the table. Remember these are recipes that work well on such occasions, but are not by any means meant to be a complete menu. Think of it as a list of ideas and choose something you like and serve it together with some of your favorite recipes.

Appetizers

Tartine, make the sauce the day before and then put them together an hour or so before seving.

Fried Zucchini Flowers, an easy appetizer that will impress your guests.

Stuffed tomatoes, use smaller tomatoes with this recipe and they make for an easy to eat and tasty appetizer. Can be made ahead of time.

Cantaloupe with ham, this appetizer makes for a great combination of salty and sweet. In stead of serving them separately as described in my recipe. Wrap cubes of cantaloupe with the ham and hold it in place with a toothpick.

Stuffed celery stalks, an appetizer recipe for gorgonzola lovers. Takes just a few minutes to make.

Crostini with liver spread, prepare the spread the day before.

Farinata, easy to prepare a day in advance.

Shrimp appetizer, can be prepared early the same day. It makes for an interesting recipe if the theme will be seafood.

Garlic Bruschetta and Tomato Bruschetta, they are easy to make and serve, but remember the garlic is strong.

Pizzette, this recipe is always a winner and will be the first one to finish. Make them in advance and serve them at room temperature.

Salmon Toast, they are easy to make but you do need to make them fairly close to meal time.

Grilled Bell Peppers, make these the day before.

Fried Eggplant Balls, fry them in the morning and serve at room temperature.

Meatballs, these too can be prepared in the morning and served at room temperature.

First Dishes

Pasta salad with chickpeas, make it the day before and you only need to serve at the party.

Cold Pasta with Tomato Sauce, mix the sauce and the pasta just before serving.

Pasta Salad with Cherry Tomatoes and Mozzarella, prepare the tomatoes and mozzarella and mix with the pasta shortly before serving.

Rice Salad, a classic for such occasions. Make it the day before.

Chilled potato and tuna mold, prepare it ahead of time and serve it when you need.

Cuttlefish salad, prepare it in the morning and serve for lunch.

Cod Fish Salad, also this salad can be made in the morning then just refrigerate until the guests arrive.

Caprese, put this together in just a few minutes.

Potato Salad, make it the day before.

Desserts

Chocolate salami, make it the day before then just slice and serve on the party day.

Fruit tart, make the crust(s) the day before then on the day you'll be serving make the cream and assemble the fruit tart in the morning so it has time to cool in the refrigerator.

Tiramisu, prepare a day in advance.

Fruit Salad, the night before of the same morning.

Remember these are just suggestions, try a few that you think would be good to give a new twist to your party menu.