| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| _Rebecca_ |
Posted - Aug 24 2007 : 12:45:39 PM
Has anyone on this forum got experience with cooking for large groups? Our school isn't going to have the lovely dear old couple cooking for them anymore like they have the last 3 years. They are just getting too old (in their 80s). I am going to pitch in to help and I thought I would ask for advice/suggestions! There is a large eating area and kitchen at our school. It would just be one luncheon a month.
Thanks in advance!
Rebecca
.·:*¨¨* :·.Rebecca.·:*¨¨* :·. http://boinglink.blogspot.com/ |
| 13 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| _Rebecca_ |
Posted - Aug 29 2007 : 09:31:21 AM
Meatloaf sounds great, or even meatballs/ I would love for you to come & help!! Since it's once a month the meal is generally a good one. The lady that was doing it used to do weddings and special events. So she made lots of nice meals for the school.
I'll have to check out the links, thanks. October is the first luncheon that is coming up.
.·:*¨¨* :·.Rebecca.·:*¨¨* :·. http://boinglink.blogspot.com/ |
| Buttercup |
Posted - Aug 28 2007 : 8:54:12 PM
Wow how neat! And what a lot of work too! Too bad I am not closer I would love to help!! I have worked in a LOT of cafeterias so let me think...
Baked potatatoes with toppings is fairly easy and often received well, taco bars are easy and healthy, pastas of course are old standbys and liked by many, But in all honesty it depends on the equipment as to how easy or hard many dishes will be to prepare and serve. If you are going to do sandwiches I would suggest long sub rolls made and then cut into smaller sizes because regular sandwhiches take too long to make ( I have made them for 800 people NOT fun!!!!  ) Meat loaf if it is a VERY good recipe is easy and quick with vegies and poatatoes fixed as sides is fairly easy, but again only if you have the right equipment! All the cooks should get together and make a menu out for the month so you are not feeding the kids the same things over and over too  (or do the students only get a hot lunch once a month?) I have worked with caterers too but since they are often paid more and often are hired for special occasions I will not give you those idea because while they are delicious, they take a lot more time and prep then you need to for a good wholesome sit down lunch for a group of kids(at least the ones I worked with)! Oh and also pizza buns or pizza begals are very easy and kids love them too! In all honesty you could take many regular recipes and simply convert the ingredients to make larger batches...here is a website that can help...
http://www.fruitfromwashington.com/Recipes/scale/recipeconversions.php
and
http://www.thatsmyhome.com/recipes/converter.htm
Let us know how it goes, and sorry I could not be of more help!
Hugz!
Talitha
PS I love Jo's ideas!! especially the international theme one! I LOVE high tea but don't know if I would want to make all those beautiful sandwhiches by myself for it! (If you do, large not too detailed cookie cutters (metal ones) make great sandwhich shape makers and you can have the cutest ones ever! But whew its a lot of work! )
"If we could maintain the wonder of childhood and at the same time grasp the wisdom of age, what wonder,what wisdom,what life would be ours" |
| Hideaway Farmgirl |
Posted - Aug 28 2007 : 06:50:33 AM
What a great idea to help kids learn how to act in restaurants and other people's homes.
For a fun thing one month, how about doing a "High Tea" - with fancy little quartered sandwiches and mini-sized assorted fruits and desserts? Teach them the art of drinking tea (pinkies up?)
Or, have one month be all about soup, and how to eat it properly in public! Or another month, how to eat spaghetti (rolling it onto your fork with a spoon) - or between slices of Wonder Bread which is the only true way, according to my DD!
You could do "theme" luncheons, too...have one month be about Wild Game if there are hunters in your area, or seafood or other local specialties. Or regional/international menus ... italian, mexican, chinese, etc.
Let us know how it goes!
Jo
"Wish I had time to work with herbs all day!" |
| _Rebecca_ |
Posted - Aug 25 2007 : 1:20:07 PM
Very good! I'll e-mail that link to the other moms! Thanks!
Well, it's just a once-a-month thing, and they aren't forced to eat. It's just trying to teach them appropriate table manners. Like what you would teach a kid when they go visit someone or when they enter the working world, etc.
Thanks!
.·:*¨¨* :·.Rebecca.·:*¨¨* :·. http://boinglink.blogspot.com/ |
| Maryjane Lee |
Posted - Aug 25 2007 : 10:58:07 AM
Oh, wow Julie! What a wonderful website!!!!!! I am always cooking for large church groups, etc. Thanks for the great tip! Good Luck Rebecca!
Hugs,
Maryjane Lee
The Beehive Cottage~
est. 1971 |
| willowtreecreek |
Posted - Aug 25 2007 : 10:44:46 AM
I have BIG issues with the not getting dessert if you don't clean your plate and being forced to eat things but I won't address that! ;)
I think pasta is a good suggestion but maybe instead of regular spagetti with red sauce use lingini and a veggie primavera sauce for something a little different. You could bake chicken cutlets and prepare a nice marsala and mushroom sauce to pour over and serve with plain noodle or rice and a salad. Here is a good website http://www.50plusfriends.com/COOKBOOK/cookcrowd/index-5a.html
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| _Rebecca_ |
Posted - Aug 25 2007 : 10:33:10 AM
Actually, what they have done in years passed is cook a meal that is not geared towards kids and that includes salad or veggies and the kids are expected to eat it. They are not allowed the dessert that is offered if they haven't cleaned their plate. It has been a challenge to some to try new foods, but most of them do quite well. They are expected to have their best manners on and show honor and respect by eating what they are given.
.·:*¨¨* :·.Rebecca.·:*¨¨* :·. http://boinglink.blogspot.com/ |
| Alee |
Posted - Aug 25 2007 : 08:46:21 AM
I would stick to stuff that kids like- spaghetti, homemade pizza, lasagna, hamburgers, etc. Then I would also not recommend not using mixed veggies because lots of kids won't eat stuff that is mixed.
Alee
The amazing one handed typist! One hand for typing, one hand to hold Nora!
http://home.test-afl.tulix.com/aleeandnora/ |
| _Rebecca_ |
Posted - Aug 24 2007 : 3:03:24 PM
Great! Thank you so much!
.·:*¨¨* :·.Rebecca.·:*¨¨* :·. http://boinglink.blogspot.com/ |
| Georgia |
Posted - Aug 24 2007 : 2:09:53 PM
We have a small restaurant and catering company, if you are talking Pasta usually plan on about 8 per pound. Pasta, salad, and garlic bread makes a great meal. 6 to 8 per head of lettuce. If you want to do a meat we plan on 1/4 lb per person and if their are alot of kids just put 2 to 1 on portion sizes. Look at he back of cans or boxes, they will give you portions per box or can. Chili, stew, Ham, chicken. If you want to email me with questions I would be glad to help!
Angie
dreamer |
| _Rebecca_ |
Posted - Aug 24 2007 : 1:28:55 PM
Kids (about 74, mostly 6th grade & under) and adults (so all the staff).
It's a once-a-month luncheon. The staff and students sit down to a hot meal. The boys push the chairs in for the girls. Everyone practices their manners. It's really quite nice.
.·:*¨¨* :·.Rebecca.·:*¨¨* :·. http://boinglink.blogspot.com/ |
| KYgurlsrbest |
Posted - Aug 24 2007 : 1:22:51 PM
pastas and lasagnas are economically smart, and serve multitudes. I always think church socials and boyscout dinners--what do folks serve--spaghetti dinners, turkey and dressing. Things are that are both good tasting and feed the masses, but won't break the bank.
"She was built like a watch, a study in balance ... with a neck and head so refined, like a drawing by DaVinci"...
NY Newsday sportswriter Bill Nack describing filly, Ruffian. |
| KYgurlsrbest |
Posted - Aug 24 2007 : 1:20:58 PM
For the kids daily lunches or for adults?
"She was built like a watch, a study in balance ... with a neck and head so refined, like a drawing by DaVinci"...
NY Newsday sportswriter Bill Nack describing filly, Ruffian. |
