Recipe

Foods You Can Make For A Wake

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Planning a wake can be a difficult and unique experience. When saying goodbye to a loved one it can be difficult to know what to do next - but honouring them with a send off party is the best way to celebrate their life and the way they impacted the people around them. 



This year we are going to take a look at planning a wake for your loved one and some of the easiest and best foods you can serve on the day. With make ahead meals and snacks, this is a helpful way to feed the masses while also being able to be in the moment on the day. 



Butterfly cupcakes 



Between considering the details of a funeral such as the caskets, gravestones, and music for the ceremony - you can also make some beautiful cupcakes for your wake that will bring a beautiful sign of respect to the day. Butterflies are synonymous with the soul - and these cupcakes will be a way to honour a soul that has been set free. 



Ingredients: 


  • 110g butter 

  • 110g flour 

  • 110g sugar 

  • 2 large eggs 

  • 1 pinch salt 

  • 1 tsp baking powder 

  • 1 tsp vanilla extract 

  • 150g butter (for buttercream) 

  • 300g icing sugar (for buttercream) 

  • Strawberry jam 


  1. Preheat the oven to 180C.

  2. In a bowl, beat the sugar and butter until light. Add the eggs and whisk until light and fluffy. 

  3. Add the vanilla extract and mix. 

  4. Add dry ingredients and fold, making sure to mix well without getting rid of the air. 

  5. Scoop into cupcake cases and bake for 14-16 minutes - or until a skewer comes out clean. 

  6. In a bowl, whisk softened butter and icing sugar to make a fluffy and creamy buttercream. 

  7. Once cooled, take a knife and cut a small hole out of each cupcake, going halfway down - keep the piece you have cut off and cut it in half to look like wings. 

  8. Add a small spoon of jam into the whole, before piping some buttercream on top of the cake. Finish by placing the ‘wings’ on top. 



Chicken salad wraps 


These chicken salad wraps can be made and cut into smaller bite size pieces to feed the masses on the day of the wake. Scale this up depending on the guests you have coming.


Ingredients: 


  • 4 tortilla wraps 

  • 2 large chicken breasts, cooked

  • Houmous 

  • 100g spinach 

  • 1 large beef tomato, sliced 

  • 50g grated carrot 

  • 12 slices cucumber 

  • Barbecue sauce 


  1. Cut up your chicken into strips or pull apart. 

  2. Spread some Houmous on the wrap. 

  3. Add the spinach, cucumber, carrot, tomato, and chicken. 

  4. Add a small squeeze of barbecue sauce. 

  5. Wrap up tightly and then cut into inch rounds, before storing in the fridge overnight. 



A charcuterie board 


For a smaller gathering with close family and friends, a great idea for your wake is to make up a charcuterie board that people can snack from with some wine during the afternoon or evening. This is a simple idea that can be mixed and matched to your liking. 


Ingredients: 


  • Cheddar cheese 

  • Brie

  • Manchego 

  • Red Leicester 

  • Stilton 

  • Crackers (3-4 different types) 

  • Red grapes 

  • Apple slices 

  • Roasted peppers

  • Hard boiled eggs

  • Tomato salsa 

  • Onion chutney 

  • Mango chutney 

  • Pickles

  • Antipasti 

  • Soft cheese 

  • Bread rolls 

  • Crustini


Arrange all of these ingredients, or some other ones, onto a charcuterie board and serve to your guests. 


Mini pizzas


Mini pizzas are always a winner and these are super easy to make on the day and they will be ready to eat within 20 minutes or so. 


Ingredients: 


  • Pizza dough 

  • Marinara sauce 

  • Cheddar cheese 

  • Mozzarella 

  • Parmesan

  • Mini pepperoni

  • Red onion slices

  • Red pepper slices

  • Jalapeños

  • Olives


  1. Take your pizza dough and split this into 6-8 small rounds. Flatten them out and place them on a baking sheet. Let them rest for 2-3 minutes. 

  2. Add your sauce, cheese, and toppings of your choice. 

  3. Bake in the oven for 10 minutes and then allow to cool a little. Serve as many as you need to throughout the day.



Barbecue beef sliders 


If you have a lot of people coming to the wake and you are unsure what the best thing to serve will be - we have you covered here today. This simple beef slider recipe is a make-your-own recipe and you can simply serve the beef and the slider buns on a table and allow people to make their own throughout the day. 


Ingredients:


  • 2kg lean diced beef 

  • 2 tsp garlic powder

  • 2 tsp onion powder 

  • 2 tsp tomato purée 

  • 2 tsp Worcestershire sauce 

  • 2 tsp smoked paprika 

  • Salt

  • Pepper

  • 1 tbsp Flour 

  • 1 stock cube 

  • 500ml water 

  • 300ml barbecue sauce (more if needed) 

  • Slider buns and butter 



  1. Season your meat with the spices, some salt and pepper, and 1 tbsp flour.

  2. In a large casserole dish, heat up some oil. Add your beef and fry on all sides until brown and sealed. 

  3. Add the tomato purée, Worcestershire sauce, stock cube, water, and barbecue sauce. Slow cook for 3-4 hours in the oven at 160C - or 8 hours in a slow cooker. 

  4. Once cooked through - pull apart the beef and taste. Add more barbecue sauce if needed. 

  5. Serve on the day in the casserole dish to keep hot, and serve the sliders on the side. 



Triple chocolate brownies 


Brownies are a simple sweet treat that you can whip up in no time and these will be the ideal treat to combat the other foods and wine of the day. 


Ingredients: 


  • 185g butter 

  • 185g dark chocolate

  • 85g flour 

  • 40g cocoa powder 

  • 285g caster sugar

  • 3 large eggs 

  • 150g milk chocolate chips 

  • 150g white chocolate chips 


  1. In a large bowl, add your chopped dark chocolate and butter. Melt over a pan of hot water or in the microwave in small blasts. Allow to cool completely. 

  2. Preheat the oven to 180C and line a rectangular baking dish. 

  3. In a bowl, whisk together your eggs and sugar until light and fluffy. Once mixed, add your cooled chocolate mixture and mix together.

  4. Add your flour and cocoa powder, a pinch of salt, and chocolate chips and mix. 

  5. Add to the baking dish and bake in the oven for 25 minutes. 

  6. If the brownies wobble when you take them out of the oven they need a few more minutes - allow them to cook for another couple of minutes until just set. 

  7. Cool and serve.



Instructions:

Cover photo: https://www.pexels.com/photo/food-people-woman-girl-6004793/

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