Baptism party help

I am in search of an idea for an economical entree to serve at a baptism party over Memorial Day weekend.  We had initially planned to grill out, but don't have a good source for hamburger patties (no Sam's Club or Costco nearby) and ground hamburger is expensive here. We expect 50-75 people, as we live in a Catholic college town with lots of large families.

Criteria:

-The baptism will follow a 10:30 Mass.  I need something that can be prepared ahead and kept warm in the oven or slow cooker while we are at church so it is ready to serve soon after we get home.

-People often serve pulled pork at these parties, but we are coming off a stretch of Confirmations, First Communions, and graduations, so I was looking for something different, although using pulled pork in a taco bar could be fun.

-Ditto for ham, following Easter.

I would love to hear your ideas!

More ways to add savory flavor

The Cook's Country site currently has an article called "Getting to Know: Umami Powerhouses" available on their site. Some of the suggestions are the same as ones I featured in this post, but there are a few new ideas as well. Check it out!

I don't have much of a post for today, as we just got back from a trip last night, but our trip included a stop at Eataly, where I had an amazing ravioli dish with a pea and ricotta filling.

I was holding a squirmy baby at lunch, so this picture is from someone on Yelp.

We haven't seen much by way of fresh peas up here in the frozen north, but you can bet I'll be trying this as soon as we do. If you live in warmer climes and can get your hands on some, this recipe looks pretty close, but I'd skip the onions and garlic. Eataly serves theirs with butter and little pieces of asparagus, but the lemon butter in the recipe sounds like a winner as well.

Five Favorite Quick and Easy Meatless Recipes

I was going to type up a somewhat elaborate recipe for today, but after a cranky baby and I woke up rather too early, I've decided that I'm in the mood for something else entirely. Here are five favorite quick and easy meatless dinner options.

If you're coming over from the the MoxieWife linkup, welcome, and be sure to check out our archives for more recipes!

Homemade Taco Salad Shells

The perfect solution when you have tortillas, but not enough for taco night. If you can get your hands on uncooked tortillas (like TortillaLand), they come out even crispier.

Baked Tilapia with Dill Sauce

Fifteen minutes in the oven, which is plenty of time to whip up the sauce. Serve it with some rice and a salad, and you're set!

Aztec Quiche

Use a premade pie crust to bring this together quickly. You can even make it ahead and freeze it!

Puffy Oven Apple Pancake

Because breakfast for dinner is always a good idea.

Fusilli With Spinach, Ricotta, and Raisins

For this recipe, you literally toss all the ingredients together in a bowl. Italian simplicity at its finest. Fresh baby spinach would also be good here, and then you wouldn't even have to thaw anything!

Brown Rice in Half the Time

Brown rice, with its nutty flavor and complete proteins, is a natural accompaniment to meatless meals. When I just want to throw together a quick stir-fry, though, I'm probably not going to wait an hour for the rice to be ready. Cooking brown rice by the pasta method (in lots of water, and then draining it), cuts the cooking time in half, and results in more evenly-cooked, tender grains. I haven't looked back since discovering it.

To cook brown rice by the pasta method:

Fill a medium saucepan with salted water and bring it to a boil. Add the rice and return to a boil. Lower the heat slightly and cook, uncovered, until the rice grains are tender, 20 to 25 min (keep an eye on the water level). Drain the rice through a mesh strainer or fine colander.