Brunch with only one oven?

[PeterPan]

Ok, I'm spoiled.  I have multiple ovens in my house.  But I need to host a wedding shower at someone ELSE'S house, in another state no less, and they have one oven in a rather small, antique kitchen.  And I was thinking for the shower we might do brunch to save $$, then I realized I don't know how to do that with only one oven, kwim?  Like everything I was thinking of is baked!!   :scared:

 

So can it be done?  I had been assuming 4 quiches, a cheesy potato casserole, and white powdered donuts stacked to look like wedding dresses.  Then we'd have the party and a chocolate fountain later with fruit.  I guess we could do fruit salad with the brunch, yum.  Then do just the bacon, pretzels, marshmallows, etc. with the fountain.  The bride apparently ADORES chocolate, and that's the major reason I was asked to host this, because I have one.  Don't even get me started on that.   :thumbdown:

 

Any tips?  I keep trying to think if there's a way for me to bring an extra oven.  I like quiches but I don't make them very often.  How far ahead could I do them?  Like do them first and then the potato casserole?  Or the reverse?  I think the oven will have two racks, but I'm not sure how big it is.  I think that would be a lot to do the 4 quiches AND the potato casserole at the same time.  And I feel like I have to have something kind of proteiny to balance out all that chocolate.  We could go later (1-4pm), but then it's like late lunch.  Oh, and did I mention this is all right after Thanksgiving, when people are already cooked out?   :scared:   So SIMPLE is what I want, low work, charming, and cheap.  Would anything brunchy work in a crock pot?  I have scads of crockpots. 

 

Additional info.  I will arrive in probably the night before, and I want prep to take no more than 3 hours total. I will have 1-2 kitchen slaves. It's a really awkward kitchen and so tight really only two people can work at once.

 

Edited September 25, 2016 by OhElizabeth

[Forget-Me-Not]

I've seen breakfast type casseroles done in a crockpot.

 

Can the quiche be made ahead of time (even way ahead and frozen) and reheated to serve?

[PeterPan]

I'm googling this, and it says you can make a quiche ahead and warm it up the day of.  Has anyone done this?

[Cosmos]

I always make quiche ahead of time. I think it's best room temperature or cold. Too hot and it won't slice nicely unless it's overcooked. So I would make my quiches at home, and time them to come out of the oven just before heading over to the event. Then pop the potato casserole in the oven there and work on setting the table and cutting up fruit while it bakes. If the quiche is out two hours, make sure to put it in the fridge.

 

I've never had more than one oven. Wish I did, though!

[PeterPan]

Ooo, this Epicurious link is saying you can serve a salad with strawberries and vinegraite, yogurt parfaits...  those won't take an oven!

[ktgrok]

Quiche is best at room temp or just a little warm. Make the quiches first, then the casserole. The quiches will cool enough to be perfect by the time the casserole is done. 

[KatieJ]

Toaster/convection ovens are portable and would easily accommodate a casserole. If you have one or the home where you are serving has one maybe? I use mine a lot on holidays...same idea. Not enough oven space. Or I would switch to an egg bake instead of quiche.

[Um_2_4]

My standard size oven would hold 4 9x13 pans. Is her's smaller?? Maybe do an assortment of casseroles (french toast, scrambled eggs, potatoes) with fruit salad and yogurt parfaits and croissants. Then do the fondue later with marshmallows, strawberries, pretzels.

[Pippen]

You could easily do potatoes in an electric roaster or crockpot.

 

Not my recipe, but for example:

http://www.nesco.com/recipes/?category%5B%5D=700&submit=recipe&uid=c871fa936d46

 

I'm a huge fan of the Nesco 6 quart roasters.

Edited September 26, 2016 by Pippen

[Pippen]

Also instead of multiple smaller quiches, to maximize oven time you could modify and use a sheet cake pan, or something comparable that fits the oven. Google quiche sheet cake pan for recipe suggestions.

 

This suggests freezing mini muffin sized quiches and reheating.

http://addapinch.com/mini-quiche-recipe/

Edited September 26, 2016 by Pippen

[PeterPan]

You could easily do potatoes in an electric roaster or crockpot.

 

Not my recipe, but for example:

http://www.nesco.com/recipes/?category%5B%5D=700&submit=recipe&uid=c871fa936d46

 

I'm a huge fan of the Nesco 6 quart roasters.

 

Whoa, that's new for me!  I have a big electric roaster, but I didn't know about the smaller ones!  Awesome.

 

 

Also instead of multiple smaller quiches, to maximize oven time you could modify and use a sheet cake pan, or something comparable that fits the oven. Google quiche sheet cake pan for recipe suggestions.

 

This suggests freezing mini muffin sized quiches and reheating.

http://addapinch.com/mini-quiche-recipe/

 

Ooo, hadn't thought of that!  And you're right about making them ahead.  If I could get them there already frozen and we just popped them in the oven, that could be really good.

 

All the advice was very helpful, thank you!!!  :)

[Storygirl]

I freeze quiche all the time. I tend to make two at once and pop one in the freezer for later. I always do this around the holidays, because we have quiche for breakfast on Thanksgiving and Christmas, and I am busy cooking other things on those days.

 

Really, they taste just as good as when they are fresh.

 

If you plan to use the oven for the quiches only and use the crockpot for the potatoes I think your plan is doable. Or skip potatoes and do a salad as a side dish. I have a great recipe for a salad that has candied almonds and mandarin oranges. I can make all of the parts of the salad ahead of time and just assemble it the day of. It's pretty, too (I add dried cranberries).

 

Quiche, potatoes or salad, the doughnuts (sounds very cute). Maybe I'd add something like store-bought mini croissants with some butter, for those who don't want a powdered doughnut. Sounds like a nice meal! If you make a salad ahead of time instead of doing potatoes, you avoid one thing that needs to be heated. And the croissants and doughnuts are your starch component.

[Cinder]

The showers I've been to recently have all been brunches and the food included only one hot dish--egg casserole. The rest were sandwich-y food--like chicken salad w/mini rolls/croissants or pre-made subs--along with fruit and cheese/crackers. And cake, of course. I always thought those were sufficient for the occasion.

[PeterPan]

Story, I would LOVE your mandarin orange and almond salad recipe!!!   :)

 

Cinder, that would really solve our problem!  At first I suggested little sandwiches, and someone latched onto the idea.  I like that we could MERGE the chicken salad (affordable) and the brunch food.  That's fabulous!  

 

And I totally agree about your ideas about mixing them.  I felt like we had lost the daintiness somewhere along the way when POTATO CHIPS got brought into the scenario.   :svengo:  But now I love where this is going, with one kind of little sandwiches, some kind of quiche/egg bake, a salad, the fruit and cheese.  And really, you need PROTEIN when you're about to gorge yourself on chocolate!   :smilielol5:

Edited September 26, 2016 by OhElizabeth

[heartlikealion]

Keep it simple. I think unless the guests are expecting some gourmet brunch, I don't see the need for it to be so elaborate :confused1:

 

When I think shower (bridal, wedding, baby) I think cake and punch and gifts. Seriously. If someone told me "brunch" I wouldn't expect the hostess to be pulling multiple items out of an oven.

 

Echoing some of the same things. Muffins (don't even necessarily need to be homemade), parfaits, croissants. Did anyone suggest biscuits? Chicken or sausage or ham on a biscuit? You can literally buy a bag of frozen biscuits, too. I only have one oven, but we have a large toaster oven. It can accommodate a casserole dish as well as a pizza pan. Ask if anyone close to the group can bring their toaster oven over. If not for cooking, it could maybe be used to keep items warm.

 

Edited: not the pizza pan and casserole dish at the same time LOL

Edited September 26, 2016 by heartlikealion

[SparklyUnicorn]

Lot of that can be done ahead.  Do the quiche ahead.  You could do those super early in the morning if you insist and just keep them on the counter and serve at room temp.  Or day before and warm them up and keep on the counter or just keep on the counter to bring up to room temp.  Donuts, were you thinking of making those yourself?  Maybe find a bakery that does donuts and buy them in the morning.  Potato casserole could be made up and heated just before.  Some items could be super easy like buy croissants already made.  Maybe some chopped up fruit. 

 

Your plan doesn't sound too insane.

[gstharr]

You will be surprised how well a large counter-top toaster/roaster works.  The one I have will roast a whole 5 lb bird in 90 minutes.   very good brands in near new condition show up in the large thrift stores regularly for $20.00, or so. Frequently far less.  

[PeterPan]

Well I'm excited to talk with the other person and see if they like this blended idea.  I think it will really work, and it gives us enough affordable proteins to balance out the CHOCOLATE!!   :drool5:

[PeterPan]

You will be surprised how well a large counter-top toaster/roaster works.  The one I have will roast a whole 5 lb bird in 90 minutes.   very good brands in near new condition show up in the large thrift stores regularly for $20.00, or so. Frequently far less.  

 

Yes, I have a big one that I roast 30 pound turkeys in.  I realized from the link that I've *seen* the smaller ones at parties and didn't realize what I was seeing.  It's definitely going on my Christmas list!  :)

[SparklyUnicorn]

Even those chafing dish things aren't too expensive.  You can rent nicer ones or buy the disposable ones. 

 

 

[ktgrok]

Another option is quiche, fruit and cheese platter (no cooking), and muffin assortment (bake ahead of time). 

[Carol in Cal.]

I'd go with chicken salad tea sandwiches, and cucumber tea sandwiches, and I would precook tortellini and then put them in a chafing dish or crock pot with alfredo sauce for something hot.  I'd prebake several meringue pie crusts, and have French silk pies, which are the ultimate chocolate dessert and which are served cold.  And I'd use the oven for apple crisp, which is heavenly for fall.  (My recipe for apple crisp is somewhere on this site, and it's easy to partially prepare in advance.)  

 

This way most of the work would be done in advance, and I'd be able to easily enjoy my own party, which is always a priority of mine!

[PeterPan]

Hmm, cucumber tea sandwiches.  I've never had those!  I think my dd made them once for a party...

[Storygirl]

Mandarin Orange Almond Salad

 

romaine lettuce

1-2 stalks of celery, chopped

3 green onions, sliced

1/2 c. sliced almonds

7 T. sugar, divided

1/2 c. vegetable oil

4 T. vinegar

6 T. fresh parsley

1 t. salt

can of mandarin oranges, drained

dried cranberries (optional)

 

Carmelize the almonds: Saute in a pan over medium heat with 3 T. sugar until almost to the burn stage. Watch carefully and stir often. Turn out onto a cookie sheet, separating into bite-size clumps (warning -- very hot, so do not touch). Cool completely.

 

Dressing: Blend oil, vinegar, parsley, 4 T. of sugar, and salt in a blender or food processor until smooth. Refrigerate.

 

Add the celery and green onions to the lettuce in a large salad bowl. Add the oranges, cranberries, almonds, and dressing. Toss gently and serve immediately.

 

Note: You may not need all of the dressing, unless you make a very big salad. It is also very sweet, so you could reduce the sugar if desired.