Ship of Fools: Coffee Hour snacks

Thread: Coffee Hour snacks Board: Oblivion / Ship of Fools.

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Posted by HenryT (# 3722) on :

Our church would like people who are providing a snack at coffee hour to keep it simple. But, I'd like something with some protein. If it’s all sweet carbs, I will have a blood sugar crash.

Cheese and crackers is an obvious but mildly boring and in Canada, moderately expensive option. Any ideas about simple savories?

Posted by Ariel (# 58) on :

Sausage rolls, squares of pizza, chicken wings, sandwiches, slices of quiche, scotch eggs, onion bhajis, and samosas come to mind. There are other things, slightly less simple, though you may be able to buy them ready-made, but hopefully the above should be a starting point.

Posted by Lyda*Rose (# 4544) on :

I like deviled eggs. Cut up chunks of cooked sausages/hotdogs in barbecue sauce are good, too. Veggies and dip. Melon balls.

Fat, ripe strawberries in season. [Yipee]

Posted by Nenya (# 16427) on :

While these suggestions sound delicious I feel they're more suited to lunchtime or a buffet supper than something to nibble with the morning cup of coffee. What about nuts? Or something that is low GI such as dried apricots or fruit loaf or oatcakes?

Nen - who tries to avoid snacking with coffee as sometimes it gets out of hand. [Eek!]

Posted by Boogie (# 13538) on :

Well said Nenya - I always have an oatcake with my elevenses [Big Grin]

Posted by Merchant Trader (# 9007) on :

For me Heaven is where coffee and accompanying stuff is free. Purgatory is where there is a saucer for voluntary donations (the most common experience I have i the CofE) and Hell is where you get charged.

If free, I am just grateful for whatever is offered and if its going to affect my dietary targets I just stick to the coffee (or tea).

Posted by Wesley J (# 6075) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Nenya:
[...] Or something that is low GI [...]

Is that a very short American soldier?

Posted by Ariel (# 58) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Nenya:
While these suggestions sound delicious I feel they're more suited to lunchtime or a buffet supper than something to nibble with the morning cup of coffee.

Good point. Plain croissants?

Posted by leo (# 1458) on :

Does 'coffee hour' really last an hour?

Posted by jedijudy (# 333) on :

I think our coffee is about two hours! The early service people come over at 10:00, and I believe there are several that stay until the end of the 10:30 service. So, roughly 10-12 for ours.

Posted by cliffdweller (# 13338) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Ariel:

quote:
Originally posted by Nenya:
While these suggestions sound delicious I feel they're more suited to lunchtime or a buffet supper than something to nibble with the morning cup of coffee.
Good point. Plain croissants?

Ours has croissants, muffins, bagels w/ cream cheese, and sometimes some seasonal fruit or veggies w/ dip.

Posted by Merchant Trader (# 9007) on :

quote:
Originally posted by cliffdweller:

quote:
Originally posted by Ariel:

quote:
Originally posted by Nenya:
While these suggestions sound delicious I feel they're more suited to lunchtime or a buffet supper than something to nibble with the morning cup of coffee.
Good point. Plain croissants?
Ours has croissants, muffins, bagels w/ cream cheese, and sometimes some seasonal fruit or veggies w/ dip.

I think I want to come to your church, at last for coffee !

Posted by leo (# 1458) on :

quote:
Originally posted by jedijudy:
I think our coffee is about two hours! The early service people come over at 10:00, and I believe there are several that stay until the end of the 10:30 service. So, roughly 10-12 for ours.

Good grief - an hour spent on worship, two on socialising?!

Posted by cliffdweller (# 13338) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Merchant Trader:

quote:
Originally posted by cliffdweller:

quote:
Originally posted by Ariel:

quote:
Originally posted by Nenya:
While these suggestions sound delicious I feel they're more suited to lunchtime or a buffet supper than something to nibble with the morning cup of coffee.
Good point. Plain croissants?
Ours has croissants, muffins, bagels w/ cream cheese, and sometimes some seasonal fruit or veggies w/ dip.
I think I want to come to your church, at last for coffee !

hehe. That was how I sold it to my sons when I got the gig, which meant changing churches for 'em. It actually used to be even bigger, including cookies, cakes, chips & salsa, pitas & hummus, etc. We've toned it down lately.

Posted by Sparrow (# 2458) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Merchant Trader:
For me Heaven is where coffee and accompanying stuff is free. Purgatory is where there is a saucer for voluntary donations (the most common experience I have i the CofE) and Hell is where you get charged.

Very nice if you can afford to provide free coffee!

Posted by Lamb Chopped (# 5528) on :

quote:
Originally posted by leo:

quote:
Originally posted by jedijudy:
I think our coffee is about two hours! The early service people come over at 10:00, and I believe there are several that stay until the end of the 10:30 service. So, roughly 10-12 for ours.
Good grief - an hour spent on worship, two on socialising?!

Surely. Why not?!

Give me a church where the people actually like each other.

Posted by Rowen (# 1194) on :

Morning tea at church.... A good hour or so, and all those above- mentioned foods are in.
Savoury slice is good. Sandwiches. Sausage rolls in winter.
Make portions small.
Folk love to eat them.

Posted by leo (# 1458) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Lamb Chopped:

quote:
Originally posted by leo:

quote:
Originally posted by jedijudy:
I think our coffee is about two hours! The early service people come over at 10:00, and I believe there are several that stay until the end of the 10:30 service. So, roughly 10-12 for ours.
Good grief - an hour spent on worship, two on socialising?!
Surely. Why not?!

Give me a church where the people actually like each other.

Give me a church where we are sent out to serve the world rather than stay huddled together.

And a church that lets us spend quality time with our families on the one day when we can.

Posted by Lamb Chopped (# 5528) on :

Not having a good day, are we? Who's holding a gun to your head to stay for coffee hour?

Posted by Ariel (# 58) on :

Easy, now. Let's return to suggestions for snacks, as per the OP. Anything with amounts of heat is best chewed over on another board.

Posted by Pigwidgeon (# 10192) on :

Ours varies from week to week, depending on who has signed up. There are always cookies, brownies, cupcakes, etc. Fruit trays and veggie trays show up fairly often, as well as crackers/cheese, chips/dips, fruit, occasional cold cuts, and sometimes hot dishes. A few families prepare practical feasts, especially if it's to celebrate a family member's birthday or other event. It often lasts up to an hour, since parents have to wait half an hour or so while their children are in Sunday School. And we're a sociable bunch -- we like to hang out and visit. And yes, some people go out to lunch following all of this.

Since different parishioners bring the food each week, there's no money collected. We did have a donation jar for a while -- just to pay for the coffee, fruit punch, and paper products.

We have a lot of single people in our church, many of them elderly. This is one of the few opportunities many of them have to get out and socialize.

Posted by St Everild (# 3626) on :

We just have biscuits at ours - but it is at 11 am so is at "coffee time" really.

But I wish we could have proper coffee...

Posted by Palimpsest (# 16772) on :

I'm not a regular at church coffee hours. But the urge to drive people out into the world to do service or spend quality time with their families may explain a lot of church coffee. Of course, as an atheist, I do notice you can accomplish the same goals by simply skipping church entirely [Smile]

As for the topic, if you can find fresh bagels and cream cheese they make a fairly inexpensive nosh, especially if you slice them into small bits. Depending on where you are, you might be able to find a bakery open on your day of worship so they can be hot. [Smile]

Otherwise, fairly unsweetened oat scones with jam and butter might provide a relatively low glycemic option for those who can skip the jam.

Posted by Firenze (# 619) on :

I find the idea of anything too savoury with coffee Just Wrong. I think it has to be something baked - whether bread or cake or pastry.

There's always the ready made puff - sprinkle with a topping, cut, bake and Voilà cheese/sesame seed/cinnamon straws.

[ 16. March 2014, 06:35: Message edited by: Firenze ]

Posted by Ariel (# 58) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Firenze:
I find the idea of anything too savoury with coffee Just Wrong.

Yes and no... coffee as a breakfast drink can accompany a variety of savouries sometimes.

Posted by Jade Constable (# 17175) on :

I think tea goes better with savoury food.

I also wonder if OP's church couldn't morph this into an actual church lunch, maybe just once a month? Given the volume of food (not a criticism) it seems to be getting to lunch levels to me - but maybe that's just a UK v US portion size thing!

Edit - sorry, I mixed up the OP with Ariel's suggestions [Hot and Hormonal]

But a church lunch is still a nice thing to have.

[ 16. March 2014, 09:25: Message edited by: Jade Constable ]

Posted by Lyda*Rose (# 4544) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Firenze:
I find the idea of anything too savoury with coffee Just Wrong. I think it has to be something baked - whether bread or cake or pastry.

There's always the ready made puff - sprinkle with a topping, cut, bake and Voilà cheese/sesame seed/cinnamon straws.

That makes it a bit tough for us T2 diabetics.

Posted by Jade Constable (# 17175) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Lyda*Rose:

quote:
Originally posted by Firenze:
I find the idea of anything too savoury with coffee Just Wrong. I think it has to be something baked - whether bread or cake or pastry.

There's always the ready made puff - sprinkle with a topping, cut, bake and Voilà cheese/sesame seed/cinnamon straws.
That makes it a bit tough for us T2 diabetics.

Sweet baked things made with chickpea or coconut flour have much more protein and should be lower GI.

Posted by leo (# 1458) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Lamb Chopped:
Not having a good day, are we? Who's holding a gun to your head to stay for coffee hour?

There seems to be an assumption that you are not a 'proper Christian' unless you hang around for what passes as 'fellowship'.
I have stayed on for the last two sundays because there was alcohol - for a wedding and then for someone's birthday.

[ 16. March 2014, 13:45: Message edited by: leo ]

Posted by Ariel (# 58) on :

Let's not pursue this tangent any further, please.

Thank you

Ariel
Heaven Host

Posted by Sioni Sais (# 5713) on :

A friend of ours provides small cheese scones most Sundays and these go down well, especially with me.

I wouldn't recommend anything that needs cutting or buttering as people then hang around a crowded table to serve themselves, so that (IMHO) excludes cheese & biscuits and dips. Fruit and cherry tomatoes are a convenient alternative to the stodge.

Posted by Sir Kevin (# 3492) on :

Dr. Atkins breakfast bars?

Posted by Lyda*Rose (# 4544) on :

There are some tasty ones, but they are a bit expensive to provide for everyone.

(Anyway with Atkins bars, I say forget the breakfast bars and go straight for the fudgy brownies. [Yipee]

)

Posted by Belle Ringer (# 13379) on :

Totally depends on who is hosting that week. Sometimes it's a diabetic's nightmare, nothing but sweets. Other times there's fruit (grapes and strawberries are common), cheese, slices of sausage with crackers, occasionally someone brings mini sausages in a dip, deviled eggs, breakfast tacos, nuts, cookies, candies, a sheet cake, a tray of finger veggies - not all at once but any combination of these.

One man complained to the committee I'm on that it's not right to have so much food, it should be just coffee and one kind of cookies, otherwise some people make a small breakfast out of it. But the rest of the committee said so what, if people stick around to eat a bit and go back for more and it turns into a breakfast for them, that means they are chatting with more people, getting to know more people, that's the goal of a coffee hour.

The church provides the coffee, the hosts provide the rest so it's really up to them how much or little food they bring. Only small plates are put out, the silent invitation is to nibble, but there's no restriction on going back for more and people often do.

Posted by Lyda*Rose (# 4544) on :

We had a homeless guy come to worship with us last week and I'm glad to say he made a breakfast of our coffee hour goodies.

Posted by Huia (# 3473) on :

Ours is free - an anonymous person donates the tea, milk and plunger coffee. We usually have biscuits, but occasionally I bake mini-muffins. Also people bring produce from their gardens to give to anyone who wants it.

Usually it lasts 30-40 minutes. I noticed that more people stayed back while the earthquakes were more active.

Huia

Posted by Evangeline (# 7002) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Lyda*Rose:
We had a homeless guy come to worship with us last week and I'm glad to say he made a breakfast of our coffee hour goodies.

Absolutely, a group of older men from a nearby care facility used to attend the evening service of a church I used to visit purely, it seemed for the supper-which was deliberately quite extensive-hot chocolate, cuppa soups, lots of savoury snacks like sausage rolls and sandwiches, each home group used to take a turn at bringing supper so it wasn't too onerous for anyone.

Posted by Spike (# 36) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Belle Ringer:
Totally depends on who is hosting that week. Sometimes it's a diabetic's nightmare, nothing but sweets. Other times there's fruit (grapes and strawberries are common), cheese, slices of sausage with crackers, occasionally someone brings mini sausages in a dip, deviled eggs, breakfast tacos, nuts, cookies, candies, a sheet cake, a tray of finger veggies - not all at once but any combination of these.

Just about everything you've listed there, apart from the nuts, finger veggies and possibly the cheese, is pretty bad if you're diabetic

Posted by The5thMary (# 12953) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Lyda*Rose:

quote:
Originally posted by Firenze:
I find the idea of anything too savoury with coffee Just Wrong. I think it has to be something baked - whether bread or cake or pastry.

There's always the ready made puff - sprinkle with a topping, cut, bake and Voilà cheese/sesame seed/cinnamon straws.
That makes it a bit tough for us T2 diabetics.

I don't expect people to cater to my dietary needs/restrictions anymore. When my partner and I were attending a church a few years ago, one member suddenly discovered she was a Type 2 diabetic and she made lots of noise about how people who brought food for our Sunday buffets should make things that SHE could eat. Oh, brother! I'm also a Type 2 diabetic and gave up on trying to get people to prepare things for me that are diabetic friendly. What our pastor told this woman was basically what I discovered: Make your own food to eat and don't depend on other people to change their diets to accommodate your's. Have some of the food that the others bring but also make sure you have something that you can eat if there's nothing "safe" for you at the buffet.

Posted by bib (# 13074) on :

I don't go to church for a meal and am perfectly satisfied with a cup of tea and an occasional ginger nut biscuit. I'm really surprised that people want more than this.

Posted by L'organist (# 17338) on :

The answer to the coffee snacks is simple - Biscotti.

As for those with diabetes: when cooking for church I always do a version so it safe for diabetics: that goes for cakes, biscuits, sloe gin, etc. I've even got a version of Black Forest gateau that is gluten free and OK for for diabetics.

I'm not a diabetic fairy just come from a family with so many that the recipes handed down have all been made over to suit diabetics.

Posted by Ariel (# 58) on :

I have a diabetic friend who usually has shortbread - the unsugared sort - with his coffee. However, that probably doesn't quite fit the phrasing of the OP for "something with protein" and "simple savouries".

Posted by Boogie (# 13538) on :

quote:
Originally posted by bib:
I don't go to church for a meal and am perfectly satisfied with a cup of tea and an occasional ginger nut biscuit. I'm really surprised that people want more than this.

Same here

We do have Church meals - we had an excellent gourmet meal with five courses on Saturday (a fundraiser). But coffee time after Church is for a chat, coffee/tea and a biccy.

Posted by Jade Constable (# 17175) on :

Like going out for breakfast after church, I feel like eating so much food is just an American cultural thing. I don't think it's bad, it just confuses me somewhat. Like others, I just expect a cup of tea and a biscuit (aka a cookie). Sometimes if it's a special occasion there's cake and wine, and we do usually stay behind for an hour or so to chat, but there's not actual food to go with that. Church meals are quite distinct. I also find that going out for breakfast at all in the UK is not very common - if you don't eat breakfast at home here, you grab it on the way to work or other duties, or you maybe hit a greasy spoon to cure a hangover. You don't generally go out for breakfast on purpose. I personally find breakfast is best served while still in pyjamas and watching Homes Under The Hammer [Biased]

Posted by Caissa (# 16710) on :

Our snacks tend to be all unhealthy, sugar filled foods.

Posted by daisydaisy (# 12167) on :

I like the ideas above of small cheese scones and sweet baked things made with chickpea or coconut flour, but our coffee rota people were reluctant enough to serve biscuits/cookies even when provided by someone else! But it might be time to try to introduce something else as they seem to have been won over and we now have lovely real coffee with standard sweet biscuits, which has made coffee time even more popular with the elderly and the youngsters. I usually get to the coffee just as it's running out, which is my excuse for a visit to the ice cream parlour for a mug of their coffee with soya milk (not usually an option at church) and to try this week's new flavour of sorbet. Oooh - how about ice cream ?

Posted by Jade Constable (# 17175) on :

quote:
Originally posted by daisydaisy:
I like the ideas above of small cheese scones and sweet baked things made with chickpea or coconut flour, but our coffee rota people were reluctant enough to serve biscuits/cookies even when provided by someone else! But it might be time to try to introduce something else as they seem to have been won over and we now have lovely real coffee with standard sweet biscuits, which has made coffee time even more popular with the elderly and the youngsters. I usually get to the coffee just as it's running out, which is my excuse for a visit to the ice cream parlour for a mug of their coffee with soya milk (not usually an option at church) and to try this week's new flavour of sorbet. Oooh - how about ice cream ?

I had no idea that people still visited ice cream parlours! I know some exist in seaside towns that get tourists but I always thought they were just for the tourists.

Posted by daisydaisy (# 12167) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Jade Constable:
I had no idea that people still visited ice cream parlours! I know some exist in seaside towns that get tourists but I always thought they were just for the tourists.

They are quite popular around here - as well as at least 2 in the local Big City (admittedly it's by the sea but by no means seaside) there is one in a village close to me, and my favourite (because they try out sorbets on me) is in my town - they are doing so well that they will be moving to a larger place around the corner in the next few weeks.

Posted by Ariel (# 58) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Jade Constable:
I also find that going out for breakfast at all in the UK is not very common - if you don't eat breakfast at home here, you grab it on the way to work or other duties, or you maybe hit a greasy spoon to cure a hangover. You don't generally go out for breakfast on purpose.

Depends where you live. It's popular here - I know because I often do it at a weekend and you do have to get there early. It probably is more a weekend thing though.

Posted by piglet (# 11803) on :

I often get the feeling that ours is a sort of competition, especially when the two "co-ordinators", who are both in the choir, are on duty - there's a veritable feast of cheese-and-crackers, scones with jam and cream, fruit-breads and home-baked wee buns. Another lady does sandwiches - you could probably eat enough that you didn't need lunch, if you really wanted to.

Posted by cliffdweller (# 13338) on :

quote:
Originally posted by piglet:
I often get the feeling that ours is a sort of competition, especially when the two "co-ordinators", who are both in the choir, are on duty - there's a veritable feast of cheese-and-crackers, scones with jam and cream, fruit-breads and home-baked wee buns. Another lady does sandwiches - you could probably eat enough that you didn't need lunch, if you really wanted to.

And who doesn't want to? Let the competition begin! I'd probably try to egg them on a bit, just to up the ante some...
[Devil]

Posted by Lyda*Rose (# 4544) on :

quote:
Originally posted by The5thMary:

quote:
Originally posted by Lyda*Rose:

quote:
Originally posted by Firenze:
I find the idea of anything too savoury with coffee Just Wrong. I think it has to be something baked - whether bread or cake or pastry.

There's always the ready made puff - sprinkle with a topping, cut, bake and Voilà cheese/sesame seed/cinnamon straws.
That makes it a bit tough for us T2 diabetics.
I don't expect people to cater to my dietary needs/restrictions anymore. When my partner and I were attending a church a few years ago, one member suddenly discovered she was a Type 2 diabetic and she made lots of noise about how people who brought food for our Sunday buffets should make things that SHE could eat. Oh, brother! I'm also a Type 2 diabetic and gave up on trying to get people to prepare things for me that are diabetic friendly. What our pastor told this woman was basically what I discovered: Make your own food to eat and don't depend on other people to change their diets to accommodate your's. Have some of the food that the others bring but also make sure you have something that you can eat if there's nothing "safe" for you at the buffet.

I know. I don't worry too much about a particular spread. Besides, most of the time we have some variety of foods that I can eat. I was commenting specifically on Firenze's opinion that Savory Was Bad for coffee hour. If this was a common philosophy, coffee hour would truly be coffee hour for me

Posted by Moo (# 107) on :

quote:
Originally posted by piglet:
I often get the feeling that ours is a sort of competition, especially when the two "co-ordinators", who are both in the choir, are on duty - there's a veritable feast of cheese-and-crackers, scones with jam and cream, fruit-breads and home-baked wee buns. Another lady does sandwiches - you could probably eat enough that you didn't need lunch, if you really wanted to.

We have a similar situation at our Lenten soup suppers. The idea is supposed to be a very plain meal. However, many people make gourmet soups.

I don't think it's competition so much as a desire to give one's best.

Moo

[ 19. March 2014, 11:35: Message edited by: Moo ]

Posted by Gwai (# 11076) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Moo:
We have a similar situation at our Lenten soup suppers. The idea is supposed to be a very plain meal. However, many people make gourmet soups.

I don't think it's competition so much as a desire to give one's best.

Moo

Having been part of a similar situation at a book group, I think you are very much correct. Anticipated hunger can also matter, in my experience.

A couple of us seemed to find it rather important to bring appealing snacks for our book group. Another member of the group felt we were being either competitive or show-offy. We definitely wanted to bring our best, and perhaps there was a feeling that a casual chips and hummus only effort would have disrespected the effort the previous person had put. However I think it was also an age thing. A bunch of us were coming straight from work and were hungry while some of the people who didn't understand the effort were retired and had already dined at home.

Posted by Jade Constable (# 17175) on :

Also - I don't know about others here, but certainly I am from a family who always over-caters and worries that there won't be enough food!

Posted by leo (# 1458) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Gwai:
A couple of us seemed to find it rather important to bring appealing snacks for our book group. Another member of the group felt we were being either competitive or show-offy.

I convene a book group where soe hosts do lots of fancy snacks and put other people off from hosting it.

I think i need to make a ruling that there shall be no snacks.

People have homes in which to eat.

Posted by Garasu (# 17152) on :

quote:
Originally posted by leo:

quote:
Originally posted by Gwai:
A couple of us seemed to find it rather important to bring appealing snacks for our book group. Another member of the group felt we were being either competitive or show-offy.
I convene a book group where soe hosts do lots of fancy snacks and put other people off from hosting it.

I think i need to make a ruling that there shall be no snacks.

People have homes in which to eat.

But eating is so much more than refueling... as demonstrated by a certain religious tradition...

Posted by Lyda*Rose (# 4544) on :

quote:
Originally posted by leo:

quote:
Originally posted by Gwai:
A couple of us seemed to find it rather important to bring appealing snacks for our book group. Another member of the group felt we were being either competitive or show-offy.
I convene a book group where soe hosts do lots of fancy snacks and put other people off from hosting it.

I think i need to make a ruling that there shall be no snacks.

People have homes in which to eat.

As "convener" you are the one who can decide to have no snacks by fiat? Whoa. How about just clearing the air and reminding everyone that anything provided is fine and just a nicety anyway. Those who go all out may do it for their own enjoyment if they wish, but that it is not a necessity.

Posted by Jade Constable (# 17175) on :

quote:
Originally posted by leo:

quote:
Originally posted by Gwai:
A couple of us seemed to find it rather important to bring appealing snacks for our book group. Another member of the group felt we were being either competitive or show-offy.
I convene a book group where soe hosts do lots of fancy snacks and put other people off from hosting it.

I think i need to make a ruling that there shall be no snacks.

People have homes in which to eat.

But snacks needn't be expensive, and are part of socialising for many people (myself included). Just some biscuits would be enough.

Posted by Amazing Grace (# 95) on :

If you can't politely make a suggestion to the hosts for consideration (not sure how the setup works at your place ... at our place the church pays for basics like coffee/tea/sugar/paper napkins and the hosts donate the rest, so they are absolutely free to bring whatever they want), you can leave some hard boiled eggs for yourself in the church fridge. I have been known to stash some (or little bags of nuts) for myself for long days.

But here's stuff that I have done to provide something with more protein:

* cheese (it may be "boring" but it is popular with a lot of people)

* hummus

* devilled/stuffed eggs (these always disappear first)

* roasted nuts

We always have fruit, but the cut fruit or anything that looks too aggressively "healthy" is the thing most likely to be left after everyone finally clears out. LOL

Posted by Lyda*Rose (# 4544) on :

Our Sunday morning crew will eat everything and fruit is a favorite as are cheese and crackers. Actually there are usually just a few spare donuts left. But I think that is because usually several families will bring them since they are easy to pick up on the way to church. At our church we have an alphabetical rota.

Posted by ken (# 2460) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Amazing Grace:

* cheese (it may be "boring" but it is popular with a lot of people

Cheese? Boring? [Roll Eyes]

Maybe in a certain well-known country where 95% of all cheese is basically branded versions of mild cheddar. But in most of the world cheese is diverse, fascinating, interesting, and tastes bloody good.

Posted by ken (# 2460) on :

And ours is basically the usual biscuits. But recently some of the ladies (a word I find almost impossible to use in most of my life but in this context I think these people really do call themselves "ladies") who supply the food have taken to chopping up a few baguettes and simply putting some butter in them. So more or less bread rolls. Cheap, easy, and popular. They go quickly.

When there is a special occasion - perhaps once a month - its not unusual for a family who are celebrating something to supply other food. Tends to be kids party food - fizzy drinks, juce, little cakes. Also sometimes West African snacks of various kinds.

Posted by piglet (# 11803) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Amazing Grace:
... cheese (it may be "boring" but it is popular with a lot of people) ...

Too right - most of our coffee-hour hosts provide cheese and crackers, and people (even the kids) positively inhale them.

In fact, if D. is playing a particularly long organ voluntary and I'm turning his pages, there quite often isn't any left by the time we get down there ... [Frown]

Posted by Amazing Grace (# 95) on :

quote:
Originally posted by ken:

quote:
Originally posted by Amazing Grace:

* cheese (it may be "boring" but it is popular with a lot of people
Cheese? Boring?

Yep, that's why I put it in scare quotes ... don't agree with the OP that cheese is boring at all.

quote:
Maybe in a certain well-known country where 95% of all cheese is basically branded versions of mild cheddar. But in most of the world cheese is diverse, fascinating, interesting, and tastes bloody good.

I live in a cheesetopia so that's fortunately not *my* problem [Smile]

. With that being said, mild (or mild-ish) cheddar definitely has a place in the "snacks for a lot of people" pantheon ... inexpensive and popular, and comes in blocks so easy to slice/arrange. A lot of the groceries here are selling it as part of "pre sliced" cheese trays, which makes potential feeding of the multitudes easier.

The *good* stuff is still usually spendy and I for one am not providing it in quantities for 100+ peoples' nosh but occasionally we luck out with the "I had a party and bought this, it didn't get eaten" donations.

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