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Italian Buffet
Ideas
An Italian buffet is
always popular. It’s mostly simple but
could take a few ovens to cook everything at the same time.
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Try to see
if a
friend can help you with the baking some of these Italian recipes.
If
the dishes are prepared ahead
of time and
all they need to do is warm it in an oven, they probably won’t mind
helping.
Use
caution if young children will be eating at this Italian buffet.
They
seem to find unique ways to show their enjoyment of the meal and ways
to spread the sauces. |
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Main Dishes:
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Sides:
Soups:
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| Italian
Pasta Salad |
16 oz. pkg. rotini pasta
1 small pkg. pepperoni
1 can sliced olives
1-2 tomatoes, diced |
Green onions, sliced
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
1 16-oz. bottle Italian dressing |
Cook
pasta according to instructions on package. Drain. Combine pepperoni,
olives, tomatoes and onions. Toss with pasta, cheese and dressing.
Chill and serve. |
| Italian
Chicken Pasta |
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8 oz. bow tie pasta
2 chicken breasts
1 can (8 oz.) artichoke hearts, drained
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1 can tomatoes, diced, drained
1 bottle capers
2 tsp. Italian seasonings |
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Cook
pasta according to package directions. Meanwhile, cut chicken breasts
into strips and saute in 1 Tablespoon oil. Combine all ingredients and
put in lightly greased casserole dish. Cover and bake in 350 oven for
30 minutes.
May be prepared a day or two in advance and
refrigerated until baking.
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| Broccoli
Stuffed Pasta Shells |
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24 jumbo shells,
cooked and drained
1 pkg. frozen chopped broccoli, thawed
1 cup ricotta cheese
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½ cup Swiss
cheese, shredded
2 Tbsp. onion, chopped
1 jar alfredo or spaghetti sauce |
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Combine broccoli,
both cheeses, and onion. Pour half of
sauce over bottom of pan. Spoon cheese mixture into shells and place
open side
up in a 9”x13” pan. Cover with remaining sauce. Cover with foil and
bake at 375°
for 25 minutes.
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| Caesar
Salad |
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1 head romaine lettuce, torn
½ cup parmesan cheese, shredded
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1 cup croutons
Caesar dressing |
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Toss together lettuce, cheese and croutons.
Serve with Caesar dressing.
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| Artichoke
Dip |
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1 can (8 oz.)
artichoke hearts
1 cup mozzarella, shredded
¾ cup parmesan, shredded
¾ cup mayonnaise
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½ tsp. dry mustard
1 tsp. thyme
Dash pepper |
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Drain artichoke
hearts and finely chop. Add rest of
ingredients and mix well. Cook in lightly buttered crockpot on high for
1 hour
or in lightly buttered dish in 350° oven for 30 minutes.
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Easy
Minestrone Soup
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1 can kidney
beans
1
can garbanzo beans
1 can
condensed tomato soup
2 cans
chicken broth
1 lb. pasta
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1 can
carrots, undrained
1 can green
beans, undrained
1 can
tomatoes, diced,
undrained
1 large
onion, diced
½ pkg.
frozen chopped spinach |
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Drain and
rinse beans. Combine all ingredients
in large pot, except pasta. Bring to a boil and add pasta. Continue
until pasta
is cooked. May keep warm in a crockpot, but do not cook pasta
in the crockpot.
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Hearty
Tomato Soup
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1 medium onion, diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 Tbsp. butter
1 tsp. Italian seasonings
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1 pkg. (8 oz.) cream cheese
2
cups milk
2 cans diced tomatoes, undrained
2 cans tomato paste |
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Cook onion and garlic in butter until done. Add seasonings and cream
cheese. Gradually add milk, tomato paste and tomatoes. Warm over medium
heat, stirring frequently. |
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to Party Food and Refreshment Ideas from Italian Buffet
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