Lulu's Luau - food help (as always)!

[Lulu76]

So, Miss Lulu is having a luau. Of course, the drinks (regular and strawberry margaritas and a vat of rum punch) are under control. The food, however, is a whole 'nother story!

I wanted to do just appetizers and small bites, luau inspired.

So far I have: ham and pineapple skewers, teriyaki chicken wings, coconut shrimp, pineapple salsa and chips, key lime dip with fruit, pound cake and graham crackers.

However, I feel like I need some sort of appetizer dip or something else. Maybe just a veggie tray for the non-meat eaters or, even though it's not really luau food, just doing a spinach dip (I always put it in a King's Hawaiian bread bowl).

Suggestions? You can even suggest a new direction if you think I am off-base!

Also, if anyone has a good coconut shrimp recipe that is not particularly painful to make, that'd be great! I was going to order it pre-made (lazy, I know) but GFS needs me to get a whole case and I don't have enough freezer room (or $90 for one app...)

[Lulu76]

P.S. I realize this may be a silly question to ask here, but should I do a gallon jug of painkillers as well? Just because that's easy and I have dark rum. Or maybe a sangria because I have a nice bottle of tempranillo that I could use?

[Xislandgirl]

I make cocunt shrimp from a recipe from Paula Deen's son. It is on the food network site and super easy.

This is what I would do for a menu:

Coconut shrimp
Terriyaki Chicken Skewers ( easier to eat than wings)
Terriyaki Grilled pineapple and ham skewers
Mango Salsa with Chips
Veggie Sandwiches on Mini Hawaiian rolls
Flatbreads with pineapple, Ham, jalapenos and cheese

Rum punch
Blue Hawaiians
Beer

[Lulu76]

Thanks! I hadn't thought of some of that stuff.

I know the margaritas and key lime dip aren't technically luau food, but the margarita buckets were end-of-summer clearance and the fruit dip was requested because I made it at another party and everyone loved it!

[sailorgirl]

Lulu, you must serve Mai Tai's with the umbrellas!

[California Girl]

You need pineapple chunks for the edge of the glasses so you can stick a paper parasol in them!

Rumaki is good. Pineapple chunk & water chestnut wrapped in bacon & skewered with a toothpick & baked! YUMMM!!

[Lulu76]

You know, I thought drink umbrellas would be too ridiculous, but I guess I have to have them.

I should be ashamed to say this, because I am a trained bartender, but I've never actually made a mai tai. And since my bartender training was 12, 13 years ago, can someone remind me what's in them

[CariBert]

Trader Vic's Mai Tai Recipe
Victor Bergeron of Trader Vic's says he invented the Mai Tai at his restaurant in Oakland, California in 1944. A rival restaurant, Don the Beachcomber, claims they invented the drink in 1933. The recipe on this page is one of the Trader Vic's Mai Tai recipes, and it includes lime juice, orange liqueur, rum, orgeat syrup, and sugar syrup.




Trader Vic's Mai Tai Ingredients:
2 ounces Jamaican Rum
1/2 ounce Orgeat Syrup
1/2 ounce Curacao or Triple Sec
1/4 ounce Sugar Syrup
Juice from one lime

Trader Vic's Mai Tai Instructions:
Shake all ingredients together and pour into a glass. Garnish with a sprig of fresh mint or with a cherry and a pineapple wedge.

[sailorgirl]

Trader Vic's Mai Tai Recipe
Victor Bergeron of Trader Vic's says he invented the Mai Tai at his restaurant in Oakland, California in 1944. A rival restaurant, Don the Beachcomber, claims they invented the drink in 1933. The recipe on this page is one of the Trader Vic's Mai Tai recipes, and it includes lime juice, orange liqueur, rum, orgeat syrup, and sugar syrup.




Trader Vic's Mai Tai Ingredients:
2 ounces Jamaican Rum
1/2 ounce Orgeat Syrup
1/2 ounce Curacao or Triple Sec
1/4 ounce Sugar Syrup
Juice from one lime

Trader Vic's Mai Tai Instructions:
Shake all ingredients together and pour into a glass. Garnish with a sprig of fresh mint or with a cherry and a pineapple wedge.

Add a float of dark rum on top and its perfect

[CariBert]

You are absolutely correct sailorgirl!! My kind of woman and drink!!

-Bert

[Ron in South Texas]

SPAM...it's a Hawaiian delicacy...lol