Midnight Feast

OK, so its not your traditional midnight feast when kids sneak off without the parents knowing.... nevertheless, any fun ideas for what to serve kids between 3 and 11 years old. I have some ideas - funnel cakes with chocolate ganache, galette de perouge, pizza and we'll make our own coke icees........ANy other fun ideas are welcome as this might be one of many!

Kitchen Butterfly
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26 Comments

Kitchen B. May 30, 2012
@ SexyLambChops, ChefJune - it'll be difficult to find ReddiWhip in Nigeria....but I'll look out for it, just in case. Thank you for your wonderful suggestions - I'm slowly working on the menu - Friday night is the night though we had a wonderful trial run two nights ago with lemongrass tisanes, popcorn, funnel cakes and chocolate sauce. 4 of 7 people stayed awake for 2 full hours - we talked, ate, watched TV and just messed about! The kids were so thrilled that they woke up and stayed up! Thank you.
 
ChefJune May 29, 2012
A can of Reddi-Whip, a jar of Nutella and a box of graham crackers could make for quite an enjoyable late-nite feast. since it requires no cooking at all, can be totally impromptu.
 
bugbitten May 29, 2012
I had no idea. As a guy who wore a tie every day of high school, I defer. Bravo to this unceremonious celebration.
 
Kitchen B. May 30, 2012
Bugbitten- as a non-US person, I need to find out more about wearing a tie to school everyday of high school. I guess that was an odd thing? Tell me more please.
 
sexyLAMBCHOPx May 29, 2012
OK, this suggestion may be off base, but after spending time with my nieces & nephews yesterday (ages 2.5-9), a can of redi-whip was a huge hit at our party. They had a blast squirting it each other mouth (and yes, adults partook). Lots of fun for a special occasion. Love your spirit, KB!
 
Maedl May 29, 2012
What about the traditional 1940s midnight feast--a Dagwood. Kids can do ot on their own without feeling they are just the recipients.
 
Kitchen B. May 30, 2012
Thanks Maedl - I'm doing my Dagwood research and think sandwiches are a great idea - we may have to make mini 'mountain stacks' but we'll see. Cheers
 
Sadassa_Ulna May 28, 2012
Those are some lucky kids!
Monkey bread , fondue, parfaits, nachos come to mind... but you already have some great suggestions. Have fun!
 
Kitchen B. May 30, 2012
Thanks Sadassa_Ulna - many great suggestions, especially love the fondue!
 
Kitchen B. May 28, 2012
@Aargesi - LOVE the butterbeer idea - on the menu. Kids know of Potter but I'm steering them towards Enid Blyton and some of the books I read as a child. Call it nostalgia. Though I have read most of the Potter books......but as an adult!

@SummerofEggplant - very great suggestions, thank you so so much.

@Sam1148 - Popcorn's on the menu - cheers

@Homemadecornbread - sigh. You didn't have a deprived childhood. Sniff, sniff......thanks.
 
Homemadecornbread May 28, 2012
I remember midnight feasts! I somehow think the last one around thirty-five years ago, involved liverwurst sandwiches. And cheddar cheese and vidalia onion sandwiches with mustard. Yikes! How about unusual but fun sandwiches? Accompanied by chips, pickles and frozen snickers.
 
Greenstuff May 28, 2012
My memory of boarding school midnight feasts in books is that everyone would fall back to sleep and miss them, including the hostesses, who'd wake up later only to find a pool of melted ice cream in the middle of the sheet they'd planned to use as a tablecloth.

So...my recommendation would be to limit yourself to things that need no prep and that can be served quickly--before everyone dozes off. No cooking or thawing.
 
Kitchen B. May 28, 2012
Thanks a lot........as the hostess, I'll take special note :-). Will report back!
 
Sam1148 May 28, 2012
How about popcorn...with chopsticks. It's a good food item to learn how to use chopsticks. Could be a fun game to play for them too with eating a bowl with no hands.
 
sexyLAMBCHOPx May 30, 2012
Sam, using your fun idea this weekend!
 
Summer O. May 28, 2012
Our kids would want mac-n-cheese, chocolate chip cookies, ice cream, these frozen shrimp shumai we get, they also love pop-tarts homemade or store bought and they are absolutely bonkers for Midge's okonomiyaki http://www.food52.com/recipes/12352_okonomiyaki
 
aargersi May 28, 2012
Hey KB are your kids part of the Harry Potter generation? Maybe some Potter-esque stuff - maybe starting with ACs butterbeer?

http://www.food52.com/recipes/8368_butterbeer

 
SKK May 28, 2012
Hi KB – what fun! Here are three recipes that strike me as being fun for a midnight supper! And they could help make them if you choose.

http://food52.com/recipes/9709_nutella_pudding

http://food52.com/recipes/13791_blackberry_rosemary_and_yogurt_popsicles

http://food52.com/recipes/544_skillet_mac_cheese
 
Kitchen B. May 28, 2012
Thanks SKK - been meaning to give that nutella pudding a try......thanks for reminding me.
 
boulangere May 28, 2012
Sounds like fantastic fun! I love your phrase: "flatten myself into the pages of Enid Blyton's books." I felt that way about The Boxcar Children.
 
Kitchen B. May 28, 2012
Thanks Boulangere - I'll have to read up on the Boxcar children - thanks for the Literary Ed.
 
Kitchen B. May 28, 2012
Bugbitten - you and not at all ignorant. Midnight feasts are just an excuse to have fun but at night!

They are not a holiday or celebrated anywhere I know of. I am familiar with it from Google and from the world of fiction aka Enid Blyton books (which I read growing up - Malory Towers and The Twins at St Clare's). Essentially, kids sneak downstairs with parents still asleep and have a feast/at boarding schools, students bring together their provisions and feast on them after hours. There is a sense of sneaking about, and eating uncomplicated, cobbled together dishes or snacks.

In my case, I am the parent - my kids are on holiday and I'd like to do something fun with them apart from the usual 'staying up late'. Since I'd always longed to flatten myself into the pages of Enid Blyton's books.....this is my chance!
 
Kitchen B. May 28, 2012
Bugbitten - you and not at all ignorant. Midnight feasts are just an excuse to have fun but at night!

They are not a holiday or celebrated anywhere I know of. I am familiar with it from Google and from the world of fiction aka Enid Blyton books (which I read growing up - Malory Towers and The Twins at St Clare's). Essentially, kids sneak downstairs with parents still asleep and have a feast/at boarding schools, students bring together their provisions and feast on them after hours. There is a sense of sneaking about, and eating uncomplicated, cobbled together dishes or snacks.

In my case, I am the parent - my kids are on holiday and I'd like to do something fun with them apart from the usual 'staying up late'. Since I'd always longed to flatten myself into the pages of Enid Blyton's books.....this is my chance!
 
bugbitten May 28, 2012
Besides myself, I'm guessing that others are not familiar with this celebration. Is it associated with a holiday? I'm curious and ignorant at the same time, a typical situation for me.
 
Kitchen B. May 28, 2012
You're not spoiling our midnight fun - we're having a feast and are prepared for the consequences.... Any recipes to share????
 
Maedl May 28, 2012
I hate to spoil midnight fun, but aren't those foods going to cause an energy spike and make for a totally sleepless night?
 
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