Planning a Large Party

[barbszy]

We have a big extended family so when we celebrate an event it is on a BIG scale. We invited 150 to Big DS's graduation party--to be held in 2 weeks. Still waiting on RSVPs but I am hoping to get it down to a more manageable size like 80 or under! (This is what happens when your mother-in-law is one of 7 children, and your dad is one of 5...)

DH did not want to have me cook the food for all the guests as he said I get too stressed out about it. BUT the prices for the cheap caterer we used in the past have gone WAY up--and I said, "I could do this for much less."

My biggest issue is always, "how much food should I make?" And I always overcook, which is the better way to go...I am planning meatballs with sauce, baked ziti, sausage & peppers, and POSSIBLY chili and kielbasa with sauerkraut. Side salads (potato & macaroni, and I will probably delegate those or buy them at the store) as well as tossed salad, bread, rolls, olive tray.

Any guidance on how much food I should make would be seriously appreciated. This week I need to plan it all out, figure out the arrangement of warming dishes, roaster ovens, etc.

[dallasalice1]

Inside or outside for the festivities?

Alice

[DeBora4BobbyL]

Barb, you can make things that taste good reheated or made into leftovers in case you have them. Also, I make Bran Rolls (http://www.momsmenu.com/forums/showthread.php?t=18) for big gatherings. I double or triple the recipe. These can be made and frozen for later. On the day, all you have to do is let them thaw and rise and bake. What about a tossed salad or lasagna?

Good luck and have fun!

[barbszy]

OUTSIDE! And at the moment we do not have a grill. Not sure if we will before the party or not.

We have a large (14 X 19) screened back porch so the food will all be kept in there.

No lasagna, DeBora. Too much prep. I get the same done with a baked ziti in half the time! LOL!

I hope to know by June 1 how many I am feeding.

I'm getting rolls at the bakery. 4-inch Italian dinner rolls at $1.80 a dozen. Can't beat it.

[dallasalice1]

In my past gatherings I would suggest U skip the salad it always got wasted at our gatherings. I think cuz it wilted fast in the heat even with it setting on ice. Great deal on the rolls. Pasta salads are easy & inexpensive to make. Wacky mac & italian salad dressing & add any other items U enjoy. My fave is black olives & cherry tomatoes.:) For a kid fave macaroni & cheese. Ziti is so great for gatherings!

Alice

[cat lover]

[QUOTE=barbszy

Any guidance on how much food I should make would be seriously appreciated. This week I need to plan it all out, figure out the arrangement of warming dishes, roaster ovens, etc.[/QUOTE]


There is a thread of "Quantities To Feed Large Groups" in this Forum of "Cooking For Large Groups". You can use it as a "guide" for how much food. Our families are big eaters; if yours is also I would go a little heavier than the chart says; I usually do! I always would rather have more food than needed than run out! Good Luck!

[cat lover]

Here's an easy fix ahead salad that does well on a buffet

Starboard Bean Salad

2 16 oz cans cut green beans, drained
2 16 oz cans lima beans, drained
2 16 oz cans kidney beans, drained
1 cup chopped tomato
1/2 cup celery slices
4 cups ( 16 oz) cubed Natural sharp cheddar cheese
1 8 oz btl. Catalina French dressing

Combine vegetables and cheese. Add dressing and toss. Chill overnight to blend flavors. Makes 20 3/4 cup servings

[barbszy]

At last count we have 90 people including us.

I am going to skip the salads. With the hot weather we've had here, I don't want to have to worry about the mayo-based foods. I got a big bag of "wacky mac" and will do a pasta salad, and I'm going to make a pickle & olive tray. Those will sit over ice in a chafing rack (no sterno!)

My neighbor is going to make kielbasa with sauerkraut for me, since it is her specialty. This week I'm going to prepare the sausage for sausage & peppers (I bake the sausages until done and then put in the roaster with the raw peppers & a little olive oil and let it all get hot), meatballs, baked ziti and chili. I'm also going to do one roaster with 2 dozen hot dogs for the kids.

[cat lover]

Sounds good! Wish I was close enough to come for a taste! LOL I know it will be a lot of work, but once the kids are grown they do remember it and once they are old enough they finally realize how much work it was for you, but you did it anyway! So you can look forward to a thank you when they are much older and know they truly do mean it!
You could always do a big fresh fruit bowl and then you don't have anything to worry about the heat, and it always makes a nice looking centerpiece too!
Have fun!

[DeBora4BobbyL]

Barb, that sounds like a "weiner." LOL Let us know how it goes.

[dallasalice1]

Hey Barbzy
How are the party plans? Meat & Cheese Trays & Veggi trays are always top party faves! Fruit platters. Chocolate fountain!!!, with the fruit & angel food cake would be awesome for dessert! I think U are to consider 3 drinks per person. 4 to 6 oz of meat, 1/4 or 1/2 cup of pasta portion per person! Hope this is helpful guidelines! Not to be a wet blanket but I would also plan on maybe 20 more that dont RSVP & extended friends that just happen to find out about the party!
Lots Of Luck
Congrats to the Graduate!

Alice

[DeBora4BobbyL]

Good luck! Remember me later! I'll be with you in heart!

[barbszy]

Alice, thanks for the info! I have 2 pounds of meat in the chili (6 qt of chili, with beans); 10 pounds of meat in the meatballs, at least 5 pounds of kielbasa and at least 7 pounds of Italian sausage. So that makes almost 25 pounds of meat PLUS 2 "hoagie trays" and 3 pounds of hot dogs. And then there's the ziti and the pasta salad!

I do have to call one guest family tonight as I know there are food allergies (eggs, dairy, nuts, chocolate) and I want to make sure that there's something the 2 allergic kids can safely eat. I already got a box of Rice Krispie treats with those kids in mind, because I know they can have them. At least this way they will get dessert.

If I buy a watermelon tomorrow, will I have to refrigerate it until Saturday or can I just keep it out and ice it down at the party? It would be a nice cool addition to dessert.

My husband is quite amazed that so far I have not turned into Screaming Meemie Party Mom. Although I told him that if he doesn't clear some big heavy stuff he left on the porch (my food area) by tonight, I will be a screaming meemie! LOL! Usually I'm fairly nuts by this time.

[DeBora4BobbyL]

Barb, do you have a large ice chest that you can place the watermelen in over ice?

[barbszy]

I only have 1 cooler but I am borrowing more from neighbors for the party. Plus I have one of those "big buckets with rope handles" that I could put ice in, and the melon.

[DeBora4BobbyL]

I was thinking that a ice chest or something like that would allow you to keep the melon cold. I know how those things can take up all your fridge space.

[barbszy]

The grocery store doesn't put the melons on ice, so I guess I'd be safe leaving it out until the party and then icing it down? :confused: Maybe when I go to the store I will ask the produce guy.

[DeBora4BobbyL]

Barb, that's how I do it. On the day that I serve it, I put the melon on ice myself. I hope it all goes well.

[cat lover]

If you keep the watermelon in a "cool" place you should be able to wait till Saturday morning to "ice" it down. I had one early once and made the mistake of sitting it on the table; the boys were little then and wanted to "move" it; they did, it "moved" all the way down the basement stairs and did a "gallagher act" at the bottom! LOL

[Coll]

Catlover, that had to be funny!

Coll

[cat lover]

Well, then I didn't think it was too funny, but I sure do now! And I still remember those little faces too! LOL