Lunch for a Crowd

My dream job has always been to cook/cater meals. I love the whole process from preparing the food to setting the table. Anyone who knows me well will be familiar with my phrase, "It's all about presentation." What looks enticing to the eye will usually also please the palate. So when my office job ended, I was pleased to have the opportunity to cater meals for my husband's office meetings. Catering these meals has been very satisfying for me and only encourages my "dreams!" The recipes that follow were prepared for a recent committee meeting and seemed to be enjoyed by all. In calculating my expenses, I realized that the turkey wraps, though they were delicious, weren't the most economical. I don't skimp on the ingredients so the deli turkey meat and the herb-flavored cheese ($5 for one package!) snuck a little from my profit--but it was worth it as evidenced by the clean plates!

Hope you are living YOUR dream!

Smoked Turkey Wraps

Southern Living

(Makes 8 servings)


2 (6.5-ounce) packages garlic-and-herb-flavored cheese, softened*
8 (10-inch) whole grain pita wraps or flour tortillas
Caramelized Onions
1 1/2 pounds thinly sliced smoked turkey
16 bacon slices, cooked and crumbled
4 cups loosely packed arugula or gourmet mixed baby salad greens

Spread softened cheese evenly over whole grain pita wraps; top cheese evenly with Caramelized Onions and remaining ingredients. Roll up, and wrap in parchment paper; chill. Cut in half to serve.
* For testing purposes only, we used Alouette Garlic et Herbes Gourmet Spreadable Cheese for garlic-herb-flavored cheese.

Click here for a printable version of this recipe.

Ina Garten's Lemon Bars

Ingredients for the crust:
1/2 pound unsalted butter, at room temperature
1/2 cup granulated sugar
2 cups flour
1/8 teaspoon kosher salt

For the filling:
6 extra-large eggs at room temperature
3 cups granulated sugar
2 tablespoons grated lemon zest (4 to 6 lemons)
1 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
1 cup flour
Confectioners' sugar, for dusting

Directions: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
For the crust, cream the butter and sugar until light in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Combine the flour and salt and, with the mixer on low, add to the butter until just mixed. Dump the dough onto a well-floured board and gather into a ball. Flatten the dough with floured hands and press it into a 9 by 13 by 2-inch baking sheet, building up a 1/2-inch edge on all sides. Chill.

Bake the crust for 15 to 20 minutes, until very lightly browned. Let cool on a wire rack. Leave the oven on.

For the filling, whisk together the eggs, sugar, lemon zest, lemon juice, and flour. Pour over the crust and bake for 30 to 35 minutes, until the filling is set. Let cool to room temperature.

Cut into triangles and dust with confectioners' sugar.

Click here for a printable version of this recipe.