Guest Author - Catherine Bridges
Here are just a few flavorful sandwiches and fun ideas to add flair to your child's birthday party menu. Enjoy creating and preparing these dishes with your birthday child and having them share their food with friends and guests. Guests can also have a hand in creating their meal, with fun colored spreads, cookie cutters for personalizing breads and great veggies for creating faces and fun.
Ham and Cheese Sandwiches
Savory Cream Cheese Spread
6 very thin slices white bread
4 ounces thin-sliced ham
carrot strips and celery strips to garnish
To make carrot and celery strips: Wash. peel carrots and celery. De-vein celery. Take a vegetable peeler and make long strips of each into a bowl of ice-water. The vegetables will curl naturally. Drain 5 minutes before using. They can be stored these for up to 2 days ahead of time in the refrigerator.
In a small bowl, combine cream cheese and ranch dressing until mixed. Refrigerate overnight. Spread over one slice of each bread slice. Place ham slices on top of cheese mixture. Top with remaining bread slices. Cut each sandwich into quarters.
For fun garnish: cut celery, carrots, radish, lettuce leaves, etc., in smaller pieces and serve sandwiches open-faced, let the kids choose their veggies and make a “face” out of them on their sandwich.
Savory Cream Cheese Spread
1 (8ounce) block-style cream cheese, softened
1 to 2 tablespoons half-and-half cream
1 package ranch dressing dry mix
1 teaspoon black pepper
2 cups grated sharp cheddar cheese
1 cup finely chopped toasted pecans, optional
Triscuit crackers or mini-loaf breads, sliced
Combine well-softened cream cheese, dressing mix, black pepper, and cheddar cheese. Gently but completely mix to well incorporate all ingredients. Thin using the half-and-half. Add the pecans last. Mix until just incorporated. Serve with crackers or mini-bread slices. Use as the spread for the ham and cheese sandwich above.
Cucumber Chicken Salad
2 cups chopped cooked chicken breasts
3/4 cup diced cucumber
4 tablespoons creamy ranch dip
2 tablespoons mayonnaise
1 tablespoon sour cram
handful grated carrot, diced celery, or other veggies (optional)
salt and black pepper to taste
Combine ingredients in a large mixing bowl; mix well. Refrigerate until ready to use in sandwiches or on tortillas as a wrap filling.
Other menu item ideas:
Banana chips and sweet sour cream dip
Fruit mix of chopped, dried fruits (apricot, raisins, pineapple, dates, etc.,)
Chicken nuggets
Egg salad, ham salad or tuna salad sandwiches.
Vegetable trays with rainbow-colored sour cream dips
Strawberries with chocolate, sprinkles, or powdered sugar for dipping
Display a selection of large cookie cutters so that the young guests can shape their bread as they like. Offer dixie cups with a selection of food coloring and paint brushes at your sandwich-making station. Each child can paint a pattern, shape or name their bread slices using inexpensive stencils of favorite characters and shapes bought at the local craft store or easily cut out from wax paper. Offering a sandwich making “station” and a variety of fresh vegetables with rainbow-colored spreads will involve the children in their meal. Hopefully, inspiring the children to enjoy their meal while encouraging healthier selections. For any child’s party, making the food simple, fun and interactive is a great advantage.
