BNGL,
Mr. Piggy asked for "Signature" Recipes.
My "John Hancock" calls for something special, but that doesn't necessarily mean
hard to prepare.
Here's some additional ideas/info (I started to edit previous post, but took too long, so was locked out. If any is dup, I apologize.)
---
My Stroganoff mentioned earlier --
This is a decent cut of beef - larger quantities call for Sirloin Tip Roast or Bottom Round Roast, cut up and cooked accordingly. Add enough sliced sauteed onions, baby bellas sauteed w/ butter and worchestire sauce, some Cream Sherry, Sour Cream, Garlic, Black Pepper. Serve over wide egg noodles or rice -- Mmmmm Mmmm good.
---
I've also taken the time to prepare Jambalaya - Rice, Tomatoes, Peppers, Onions, Chicken, Pork, Shrimp, Andouille Sausage, Ham, Garlic for a Cub Scout Campout, believe it or not. Takes some time to do all the cutting and prep, but the "work" itself isn't that hard - just time consuming. Mainly, because, even if you limit your meats to 1 Lb of each, you wind up with a LOT of food! lol But Oh So Good, I bet I'd make Justin Wilson Proud, yesiree, how y'all are?! Cook the rice using either Beef or Chicken stock to make it that much richer. Watch the salt - you don't need a lot, the ham, sausage, maybe the broth will add plenty.
The tomatoes add acid that replaces need, plus the granulated and /or fresh sauteed garlic.
--
Our Ratatouille/Fast Sauce is similarly easy, if time consuming, depending on size of pot you make.
Lots of fresh tomatoes, cut up green/sweet red/yellow/orange peppers, Onions with bite, garlic, basil, black pepper, some olive oil. All cut up and cooked up till thickened. Served over pasta with shredded parmesan/romano cheese. Hard to beat. Meatless, too. We like big chunks instead of tiny diced - meatier, you know what you're eating. It all melts into the sauce eventually, too.
---
Another great Crock pot meal is either doing a variation on the foil wrapped sliced baked potatoes w/ onions, butter on the grill -- do the same thin in a crock pot. A little flour on the bottom, a row of sliced potatoes - washed but not peeled, a row of bermuda onions sliced, some butter pats, a little salt and ground pepper, keep layering.
Want to make it extra special, add a layer of sliced ham and some granulated garlic to the sequencing, plus a little milk - and turn the whole dish into scalloped ham and potatoes to die for.
NOW, in Piggy's case, that might be a bit close to cannibalism, I grant you, so, maybe just the potatoes.
Less expensive w/out the meat, still flavourful.
---
And there you have the outlines of several hot dishes - since this is a luncheon - do you know if there will be enough "heartier fare" to fill the tummies? Plus muffins or cakes for desserts - unless there's a birthday cake to fit that bill.
Speaking of desserts --- another easy but special dessert -- Ice cream pie - customized to your specs.
Graham cracker pie crust.
Fill alternating w/ your choice of ice cream flavours -
e.g. Coffee, French Vanilla, Chocolate Drizzle with chocolate syrup, maybe butterscotch, cover, freeze.
I think I've done my best for Mr. Piggy, and anyone else looking for a group treat. The baked goods really don't take any more time than a box mix.
The heartier fare isn't that difficult to prepare, and the time required to make if a function of HOW MUCH you make.
Budget is a concern. You don't want to bust it, or be inordinately above everyone else in the expense category. If your mentor is someone you truly appreciate, and want to show your thanks to, then spending a little time preparing something special/different is a nice way to do it.
Mr. Piggy asked for "Signature" Recipes.
My "John Hancock" calls for something special, but that doesn't necessarily mean
hard to prepare.
Here's some additional ideas/info (I started to edit previous post, but took too long, so was locked out. If any is dup, I apologize.)
---
My Stroganoff mentioned earlier --
This is a decent cut of beef - larger quantities call for Sirloin Tip Roast or Bottom Round Roast, cut up and cooked accordingly. Add enough sliced sauteed onions, baby bellas sauteed w/ butter and worchestire sauce, some Cream Sherry, Sour Cream, Garlic, Black Pepper. Serve over wide egg noodles or rice -- Mmmmm Mmmm good.
---
I've also taken the time to prepare Jambalaya - Rice, Tomatoes, Peppers, Onions, Chicken, Pork, Shrimp, Andouille Sausage, Ham, Garlic for a Cub Scout Campout, believe it or not. Takes some time to do all the cutting and prep, but the "work" itself isn't that hard - just time consuming. Mainly, because, even if you limit your meats to 1 Lb of each, you wind up with a LOT of food! lol But Oh So Good, I bet I'd make Justin Wilson Proud, yesiree, how y'all are?! Cook the rice using either Beef or Chicken stock to make it that much richer. Watch the salt - you don't need a lot, the ham, sausage, maybe the broth will add plenty.
The tomatoes add acid that replaces need, plus the granulated and /or fresh sauteed garlic.
--
Our Ratatouille/Fast Sauce is similarly easy, if time consuming, depending on size of pot you make.
Lots of fresh tomatoes, cut up green/sweet red/yellow/orange peppers, Onions with bite, garlic, basil, black pepper, some olive oil. All cut up and cooked up till thickened. Served over pasta with shredded parmesan/romano cheese. Hard to beat. Meatless, too. We like big chunks instead of tiny diced - meatier, you know what you're eating. It all melts into the sauce eventually, too.
---
Another great Crock pot meal is either doing a variation on the foil wrapped sliced baked potatoes w/ onions, butter on the grill -- do the same thin in a crock pot. A little flour on the bottom, a row of sliced potatoes - washed but not peeled, a row of bermuda onions sliced, some butter pats, a little salt and ground pepper, keep layering.
Want to make it extra special, add a layer of sliced ham and some granulated garlic to the sequencing, plus a little milk - and turn the whole dish into scalloped ham and potatoes to die for.
NOW, in Piggy's case, that might be a bit close to cannibalism, I grant you, so, maybe just the potatoes.
Less expensive w/out the meat, still flavourful.
---
And there you have the outlines of several hot dishes - since this is a luncheon - do you know if there will be enough "heartier fare" to fill the tummies? Plus muffins or cakes for desserts - unless there's a birthday cake to fit that bill.
Speaking of desserts --- another easy but special dessert -- Ice cream pie - customized to your specs.
Graham cracker pie crust.
Fill alternating w/ your choice of ice cream flavours -
e.g. Coffee, French Vanilla, Chocolate Drizzle with chocolate syrup, maybe butterscotch, cover, freeze.
I think I've done my best for Mr. Piggy, and anyone else looking for a group treat. The baked goods really don't take any more time than a box mix.
The heartier fare isn't that difficult to prepare, and the time required to make if a function of HOW MUCH you make.
Budget is a concern. You don't want to bust it, or be inordinately above everyone else in the expense category. If your mentor is someone you truly appreciate, and want to show your thanks to, then spending a little time preparing something special/different is a nice way to do it.
No canned tomato sauce/paste? 
