Hearty snack for 14 kids under 12
October 20, 2023 5:11 PM Subscribe
I will be hosting 14 kids under 12 years old for pumpkin carving next week. There will be about 6 adults as well. What can you recommend for an outdoor snack to serve? This will be a late afternoon gathering and I don't want them all getting hangry.
- There are no food allergies
- There are no picky eaters
- Most are responsible enough to roast something over a bonfire
- I will have unlimited apples available for all
Thank you!
- There are no food allergies
- There are no picky eaters
- Most are responsible enough to roast something over a bonfire
- I will have unlimited apples available for all
Thank you!
Best answer: Maybe mini sandwiches using turkey or ham and cheese on Kings Hawaiian rolls? Wrap them in foil so the kids can warm them up on the outer edge of fire.
Also apple cider/hot cocoa in a crockpot would be great if it's a cool day.
posted by MadMadam at 5:32 PM on October 20, 2023 [3 favorites]
Also apple cider/hot cocoa in a crockpot would be great if it's a cool day.
posted by MadMadam at 5:32 PM on October 20, 2023 [3 favorites]
If you have a bonfire, you're required to offer smores as a snack. I don't make the rules.
I think one of those fancy snack boards with sliced apples (brush with a little diluted lemon juice to forestall browning), maybe a peanut butter and/or caramel dip, roasted pumpkin seeds (Trader Joe's has pumpkin spice pumpkin seeds in stock now), and maybe a few complementary savory options like crackers with hummus (pumpkin hummus if you want to stay on theme) or the like would be nice.
posted by snaw at 5:53 PM on October 20, 2023 [6 favorites]
I think one of those fancy snack boards with sliced apples (brush with a little diluted lemon juice to forestall browning), maybe a peanut butter and/or caramel dip, roasted pumpkin seeds (Trader Joe's has pumpkin spice pumpkin seeds in stock now), and maybe a few complementary savory options like crackers with hummus (pumpkin hummus if you want to stay on theme) or the like would be nice.
posted by snaw at 5:53 PM on October 20, 2023 [6 favorites]
Best answer: Long sticks, kielbasa and potato chunks to roast over a fire, and, of course, marshmallows, though I think s'mores are gross. or foil to wrap meat, potatoes, onion, add oil, seal and let roast. Apples? Peanut butter. Less fuss - crockpot of meatballs in sauce, small rolls. I'm planning to make some Apple Cider Doughnut Loaf Cake for an event soon.
What a great party plan.
posted by theora55 at 6:39 PM on October 20, 2023 [2 favorites]
What a great party plan.
posted by theora55 at 6:39 PM on October 20, 2023 [2 favorites]
Make sure you have a protein and a fat to avoid the hangry.
posted by freethefeet at 8:32 PM on October 20, 2023 [9 favorites]
posted by freethefeet at 8:32 PM on October 20, 2023 [9 favorites]
Literally anything. Pizza bagels, pretzels, whatever you ate as a kid.
posted by greta simone at 9:21 PM on October 20, 2023
posted by greta simone at 9:21 PM on October 20, 2023
Best answer: Hot cocoa in a crock pot is a great protein, fat, and sugar combo that hits perfectly during an October afternoon. You can make it less sweet in the pot and have marshmallows to augment this.
You could also have some pre baked potatoes wrapped up in foil, ready to be warmed through in the fire, and an array of toppings. I’d go with broccoli, scallions, maybe bell peppers, and bacon, alongside shredded cheese, butter, chili powder, paprika, onion powder, salt and pepper, but you could simplify it even more with just a few topping options. Have them cooked through ahead of time so people don’t have to wait a long time when hangry, just enough for them to get hot and crisped up.
posted by Mizu at 10:20 PM on October 20, 2023 [4 favorites]
You could also have some pre baked potatoes wrapped up in foil, ready to be warmed through in the fire, and an array of toppings. I’d go with broccoli, scallions, maybe bell peppers, and bacon, alongside shredded cheese, butter, chili powder, paprika, onion powder, salt and pepper, but you could simplify it even more with just a few topping options. Have them cooked through ahead of time so people don’t have to wait a long time when hangry, just enough for them to get hot and crisped up.
posted by Mizu at 10:20 PM on October 20, 2023 [4 favorites]
Onigiri.
posted by lulu68 at 1:54 AM on October 21, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by lulu68 at 1:54 AM on October 21, 2023 [1 favorite]
Best answer: Smores
Foil packets with stuff in, where stuff could be potatoes and toppings, nachos and toppings, garlic bread, kebabs, sausage pieces,... The novelty will probably be popular but I would definitely have something that you're confident the kids would eat if it was cooked more conventionally. Use a sharpie to write names on packets).
I'm guessing that it will be cold where you are. Some hot food and hot drinks (apple juice? cocoa) would be good.
posted by plonkee at 3:10 AM on October 21, 2023
Foil packets with stuff in, where stuff could be potatoes and toppings, nachos and toppings, garlic bread, kebabs, sausage pieces,... The novelty will probably be popular but I would definitely have something that you're confident the kids would eat if it was cooked more conventionally. Use a sharpie to write names on packets).
I'm guessing that it will be cold where you are. Some hot food and hot drinks (apple juice? cocoa) would be good.
posted by plonkee at 3:10 AM on October 21, 2023
Halloween charcuterie board which includes a whack of mummy dogs.
posted by warriorqueen at 3:49 AM on October 21, 2023
posted by warriorqueen at 3:49 AM on October 21, 2023
Best answer: Honestly pizza; it's not on theme but it's familiar and does the job. Have it cut in half-size pieces.
Make sure they know that apples can be roasted on a stick.
posted by metasarah at 5:29 AM on October 21, 2023 [1 favorite]
Make sure they know that apples can be roasted on a stick.
posted by metasarah at 5:29 AM on October 21, 2023 [1 favorite]
If you're making a bonfire...bread-on-a-stick.
Also, lots of cheese cubes and garlic butter to eat with it.
posted by toucan at 7:29 AM on October 21, 2023 [2 favorites]
Also, lots of cheese cubes and garlic butter to eat with it.
posted by toucan at 7:29 AM on October 21, 2023 [2 favorites]
Baked potatoes in the campfire coals! But that only really works for people who are staying late.
posted by spamandkimchi at 9:15 AM on October 21, 2023
posted by spamandkimchi at 9:15 AM on October 21, 2023
Define healthy?
How about bringing a crock pot of hot pumpkin soup?
Probably sandwiches are the most healthy thing you can make that can be prepared ahead and served cold and doesn't require containers to eat off/out of.
Something like a cold bean salad, such as chickpeas, tomatoes and olives would be fairly healthy but likely not popular.
Rather than hot dogs I would suggest cubes of beef, to avoid all those nitrates. You can cut up a beef roast or three to get enough of the cubes a good size for spiking on a long stick, the way you would for make shish kebabs. You can call them werewolf food, to keep with the theme. They could be served in pita with tzatziki instead of hotdog buns with mustard. Bring wet wipes to clean fingers with.
I think it's a good call to be holding this outside. This allows for much galloping, raised voices, play wrestling and lower chance of being a super spreader event.
posted by Jane the Brown at 9:30 AM on October 21, 2023 [1 favorite]
How about bringing a crock pot of hot pumpkin soup?
Probably sandwiches are the most healthy thing you can make that can be prepared ahead and served cold and doesn't require containers to eat off/out of.
Something like a cold bean salad, such as chickpeas, tomatoes and olives would be fairly healthy but likely not popular.
Rather than hot dogs I would suggest cubes of beef, to avoid all those nitrates. You can cut up a beef roast or three to get enough of the cubes a good size for spiking on a long stick, the way you would for make shish kebabs. You can call them werewolf food, to keep with the theme. They could be served in pita with tzatziki instead of hotdog buns with mustard. Bring wet wipes to clean fingers with.
I think it's a good call to be holding this outside. This allows for much galloping, raised voices, play wrestling and lower chance of being a super spreader event.
posted by Jane the Brown at 9:30 AM on October 21, 2023 [1 favorite]
Roasting good quality hotdogs on sticks over a bonfire can be a sublime experience. Get plenty of mustard, relish, chopped onions, catsup, and decent buns that could be toasted over the fire. Seriously kids never get to do this these days, let them Do The Thing. Also some potato salad, and the hot cider is a great idea too.
posted by seanmpuckett at 10:00 AM on October 21, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by seanmpuckett at 10:00 AM on October 21, 2023 [1 favorite]
Apples (pre-sliced into dippable chunks) and a variety of dipping sauces in small cups. Caramel, whipped cream, cinnamon sauce, chocolate sauce, peanut butter, Nutella, etc, etc.
posted by jferg at 9:13 AM on October 22, 2023
posted by jferg at 9:13 AM on October 22, 2023
Response by poster: Thank you all!
@Jane the Brown - hearty! I'm not concerned about healthy.
posted by Emmy Rae at 11:02 AM on October 23, 2023
@Jane the Brown - hearty! I'm not concerned about healthy.
posted by Emmy Rae at 11:02 AM on October 23, 2023
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posted by shock muppet at 5:19 PM on October 20, 2023 [6 favorites]