Son's 1St Birthday

Hot dogs! They are easy, inexpensive, and everyone can choose what they want to put on them. Just set up a "bar" with all the condiments. I've done this before with a small and a large group. It works well for both.

The post below is a good suggestion , if not then how about a cold buffet , some sandwiches , fruit , dips , salads , cold rice/pasta.

We served pigs in a blanket, mini hamburgers, chips, rice krispy treats on a stick, & pretzel sticks at our daughter's 1st birthday last month. Pigs were a big hit with both adults and children!

We did pasta and bread for our daughters 1st birthday. It was easy, inexpensive and I didn't have to make a different meal for her.

Hi K.,

Not sure what time of day you'll have the party, but if it's around supper-time, I have a GREAT Chicken Enchilada recipe (below) that you can double or triple. It's quick, easy, relatively inexpensive, freezes well and people gobble it up. Even kids love it!
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Chicken (or Beef) Enchiladas

3 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts (or 3 lbs ground beef) I use the big bags of frozen breasts from Walmart
20 flour tortillas
1 can Old El Paso red enchilada sauce (mild, medium or hot, depending on your preferences)
1 can Old El Paso green enchilada sauce
1 can Campbell's cheese soup
2 cups (at least) Shredded cheese (Mexican Blend is good)

If using chicken, boil until done...I season as if I was making chicken soup (freeze the broth for later use) If using beef, brown until done and drain.

Shred the chicken using a fork or put in food processor until shredded.

Mix 1 can cheese soup and 1 can green enchilada sauce into shredded chicken (or beef).

At this point if you LOVE cheese, add a handful of shredded cheese to mixture, mix well.

Spray the largest casserole dish you have with Pam. I use an 11”x 15” dish, but you could split into 2 dishes if needed.

Place 2-3 tablespoons of chicken mix into tortilla and roll up tightly like a burrito.

Lay them side by side in dish, squishing as close together as possible.

Once all are filled and rolled, pour red enchilada sauce over top, spread with spoon if necessary.

Sprinkle shredded cheese over top to cover completely...the more the better!

Place in 350 degree oven for 20 minutes or until cheese starts to brown.

Serve with sour cream.

Freezes well. Easily doubles or triples!

appetizers, finger foods,I have been to events and parties that serve one plate with a # of items. makes it look like a good amout. A serving of like chicken pasta, salad, sandwiches cut into quarters, fresh fruit chunks. And make lemonade or tea. Instead of buying sodas. Hot dogs, nachos, these can be very inexpensive

How about chicken salad. Most grocery stores will sell it in a tub, I know Sam's has it and it is really good. Another item is cream cheese and jelly sandwiches cut up in triangles or squares. Make your own fruit platter with apples, orange wedges and grapes. Chips and dip. You cannot go wrong with crudite. You can get a cabbage and hollow it out, put ranch or whatever dip you want and arrange the veggies around it on a plate. Looks really fancy. Anytizers in the frozen section are on sale I think at both Randalls and Kroger and if you clip coupons, that can be an inexpensive option. Have fun. I am planning my twins first next month.

Hi K.,
I have 2 sons and I always stress out as to what to feed the adults at the kids birthday parties. What is the cheapist thing to get is pizza. It is way cheaper to order pizza than to try to make something yourself. There is not many people that will not eat pizza. It is easy to serve and easy to clean up. That way you can concentrate on the baby and not be tired out and too busy to enjoy your own baby's party. It is about the baby and having a good time, not so much about the food. People understand that when you have a young family you are really busy. Let yourself do it easy. Good luck.
W.

i bought a frozen pack of burgers at costco for about $12. got chocolate milk, juice, and pirates booty for the kids, chips and sodas for the adults. pretty cheap that way and almost everyone likes hamburgers.

Spaghetti - chicken or with ground turkey or beef is a great inexpensive way to go. Add a bag of salad with cherry tomatoes or slices of tomato and you're good to go. Adults and children will usually eat it and it's easy to prepare ahead so you won't have alot to do on the actual party day.

Best wishes to you and the birthday boy.

I was also going to suggest spaghetti. You can make alot of that for cheap. Have garlic bread and a salad to go with it. I don't know if you have a Sam's card, but their cakes are VERY good and also very inexpensive. Just call by Thursday or Friday morning at the latest to order it for a Sunday pick up. Good Luck, have FUN and yes.. take LOTS of pics! Happy Birthday to your little man! =)

How about a baked potato bar w/ ...whatever ! taco meat, grilled chicken, veggies, etc. Have fun !

I like to serve gumbo. It is something I can cook ahead of time and just pull out and warm up. Actually tastes better if made ahead and then let the flavors "marry" over night in the fridge.
Recipe on the jar of roux is good. I use Dougets Roux.

Big pot of Spaghetti w/garlic bread, salad and maybe whole kernel or corn on the cob. Some tea/lemonade and of course the cake & ice cream. That would be a filling Sunday meal. Sometimes appetizers can get expensive and not so filling (esp. since it's mostly adults).

Casseroles are also a great way to go...check out this website: http://www.cooks.com/rec/ch/casseroles.html

Best wishes and Happy Birthday to your lil' one!

BBQ chicken for the adults and hot dogs for the kids, potato salad, pickles tomato's and chips for the kids. desert cup cakes baked into ice cream cones the one's that can stand up, no they will not burn. that will make it so there is no cutting of the cake and everyone will eat even the cone, added saving no paper to peel off of cup cakes. Have fun and take lots of pictures to share with him when he is at least 17.

we bought some take and bake pizza, and made some salsa and dips with chip then had cake and ice cream

I recommend cooking something in the crock pot. Maybe a pork or beef roast or beef stew. Its very inexpensive to buy and all you do is throw everything in the pot and turn it on. Then you have your hands and time free to get ready for the party. Good luck!

T.

How about chalupas, or hamburgers/hotdogs?

First of all, Happy Birthday to your son !!!

We had the same kind of party for our daughter's 1st bday = just adults, family.

I baked a yogurt cake (very easy, simple and not too sweet so my daughter could snack on it) and we served some finger food (homemade pizza like veggie tarts - very easy to make) and veggies, chips & salsa...

Don't worry, everything will be fine.

Enjoy!

i like amanda o suggestion best. we had pigs in a blanket this year and it went fast. another that goes well at parties is cheese dip, we put ours in the crock pot. they can either make nachos or us it as a dip.

You could do beignets. This is always a favorite at my daughter's b-day parties.

Take a can of biscuits (the small cheap kind). You can get a pack of 4 cans of biscuits for under $2 at Krogers.

Slice them in half.
Heat oil. The pot should be filled with oil so the biscuits can float.
Once the oil is hot, place the biscuits in. Turn until golden brown.

Serve with powdered sugar.

My daughter's bday is in the beginning of January and usually outdoors so I also serve something hardy. Crab and corn bisque is very inexpensive to make if you use the crab in a can. If you would like this recipe, just email me and I will get it to you.

A few things that are inexpensive would be a soup and salad lunch or a salad and sandwich lunch.
For sandwiches, you can make chicken or tuna salad. You can get a roasted chicken from the deli. One chicken makes a lot of chicken salad. I always make a batch or egg or tuna salad. Deviled eggs are cheap to prepare.
You can make a homemade vegetable soup, chili, or potato soup.
These soups use little to no meat and saves you money.
Have fun celebrate!!! I was really stressed at my daughter's first birthday. I remember some details, but mostly that I was stressed. I wish I did not have that memory. So, don't forget celebrate and have fun. Keep the food simple and limited.