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Parties/celebrations

Whether you're planning a birthday or a hen do, you'll find plenty of ideas for your celebration on our Party forum.

Original poster

Murder mystery party

27 replies

janeite · 27/04/2009 20:37

We are thinking about doing a Murder Mystery party for dd2. Have done two of these as an adult and think they are usually based around a dinner party. Could anybody help me with really easy ideas for 'dinner party' food for a bunch of 12-14 year olds please?

I will be needed to help with the mystery so don't want to have to be rushing in and out of the kitchen.

Was thinking of melon (prettified) or nibbles (olives etc) for starters.

Any ideas for a main course? A couple of them (and me) are veggie.

Pud? Smarter than icecream but no faff. Trifle?

Tia.

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Original poster
janeite · 27/04/2009 21:00

Bump? Maybe should have put this in food?

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EachPeachPearMum · 27/04/2009 21:14

Could it be in the theme of whatever the party is?
so eg if it were a Mexican standoff, tex-mex food? (okay- that is a leetle farfetched, but you know what I mean)

Original poster
janeite · 27/04/2009 22:02

Good thinking Batman. It's London in the swinging sixties though - does that mean steak and chips and Angel Delight?!

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LadyMuck · 27/04/2009 22:05

I would go for a lasagne or other oven bake dish as you can prepare in advance and serve up. ditto something like cheesecake for pudding. For starter the meon and parma ham would work as would smoked salmon.

Original poster
janeite · 27/04/2009 22:06

Aha - lasagne could be an idea. Don't think many of them would eat smoked salmon. Thank you. Any more ideas please?

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snigger · 27/04/2009 22:11

Starter - Cheese and pineapple skewers / baby sausages & pickled silverskin onions? Is that too '70's?

Got to be black forest gateau for pud, surely!

snigger · 27/04/2009 22:12

And don't forget kitsch 'cocktails' (age appropriate)

Original poster
janeite · 27/04/2009 22:12

Barf at black forest gateau - I hate those horrible dark red cherries that are all slimey and blood-clot-ish.

The thing is, I want them to feel quite grown up, so don't want it to be too retro and ironic.

Fondue for pud?

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Original poster
janeite · 27/04/2009 22:13

Cocktails v good idea - any suggestions apart from lemonade, orange juice and grenadine?

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thumbwitch · 27/04/2009 22:16

Ooh, perhaps you should be having vol-au-vents, followed by chicken supreme and perhaps arctic roll for after? That might be a bit more seventies though.

If it's the one I think it is, it's terribly arty - so perhaps you don't need a main course as such, just a cold buffet type thing, such as you might get at an art exhibition opening.

snigger · 27/04/2009 22:17

I can't imagine a world in which 12 year olds will turn their noses up at chocolate fondue

how about this cocktail?

though, www.cocktail.uk.com/db/viewAllCocktails.asp?type=4 some of the others on this page are worth a go

Original poster
janeite · 27/04/2009 22:17

Ooh art exhibition opening sounds good! We haven't got it yet, so I'm not sure of the precise details of it.

Things that 12 year olds will eat though? And as much veggie as poss?

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snigger · 27/04/2009 22:21

Here's the second one again can't link for toffee

If this thread continues much longer I may have to dig out my Robert Carrier Cookbook.

thumbwitch · 27/04/2009 22:30

well, going back to my vol-au-vents suggestion, won't 12 year olds eat those? they can be stuffed with mushroom thingies, prawn thingies, cream cheese thingies, chicken thingies - fabulous party food of the era! So you can have a fair whack of veggie alternatives. Also, my mum used to do celery sticks filled with cream cheese and dusted with paprika as a nibble, tres chic.

Also, just remembered prawn cocktail makes a great starter, can look sophisticated (it must have done at the time as it was the starter of the time )

Original poster
janeite · 27/04/2009 22:36

I love celery sticks and cream cheese!

Well my two lovelies won't eat prawns or mushrooms, I'm afraid and they are much better eaters than most of their friends! DD1 doesn't eat cheese either.

I think starter and pud okay now.

Main course - to buffet or not to buffet?

Is there some sort of warm veggie tart I could do with puff pastry? Maybe served with salad and new potatoes?

Arghh - can't think!

Thanks for cocktail link.

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thumbwitch · 27/04/2009 22:43

quiche! not puff pastry of course, but still.
caramelised onion tart is quite nice as well...

thumbwitch · 27/04/2009 22:44

roast stuffed peppers? but if you are all veggie then that is probably fairly standard fare for you...

I suppose mini pizza thingies are not classy enough?

Original poster
janeite · 27/04/2009 22:44

Quiche is a good idea and I know a couple of them will eat that. Not dd1 though!

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Original poster
janeite · 27/04/2009 22:45

Mini pizza thingies? As in little squares of pastry, pesto, vege, cheese? Or with proper pizza dough? I bet they'd love those actually.

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thumbwitch · 27/04/2009 22:46

quiche doesn't have to have cheese in it though - I did 3 different ones for DS's christening and only one of them had cheese in! Mind you, one of the others was mushroom which is no use to you - and the third one was - you guessed it - caramelised onions!

Original poster
janeite · 27/04/2009 22:47

Sorry I didn't explain myself properly - dd1 very funny about eggs too. Is not a vegan but might as well be most of the time.

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thumbwitch · 27/04/2009 22:48

yes, that was the sort of thing I meant - you could have little olive bits on them as well.

It doesn't matter if you use puff pastry or pizza dough, I wouldn't think - so long as there is enough topping to make them not too dry it shouldn't be a problem.

thumbwitch · 27/04/2009 22:51

ah, I did wonder as soon as I posted about the quiche if eggs were an issue as well.

caramelised onion tart then for her! Or red and yellow pepper tart, that could work.

Spinach and ricotta is another quiche idea that is nice - although actually I prefer it with a mild goat cheese or feta cheese.

Original poster
janeite · 27/04/2009 22:53

Am liking the sound of those - I think the puff pastry might elevate them more into 'tart territory' and therefore feel a bit more sophisticated than the usual party fare.

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Original poster
janeite · 27/04/2009 22:54

Red and yellow pepper tart sounds good: what does that involve please?

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