Feeding crowd recipes

[Rubelishous]

Here's a challenge for you CKers. I have been asked to help prepare a lunch for about 50 people.

The scenario is that a few people will be making dishes for this lunch so whatever I make doesn't necessarily have to feed everybody. However, since I can only make the item and won't be there to heat or serve it I'm looking to you guys to provide me with recipes/ideas for things that can be made the night before and then heated in my crockpot the next day until it is (hopefully) hot for lunch time.

I would like to make a soup or a stew that could be heated and kept warm in a crockpot. I'm already going to be making cakeballs and might even make a chocolate crockpot cake (I have 3 crockpots now).

Any suggestions/recipes/advice??????

[lampladies]

Re: Feeding crowd recipes

Rube, this is my "stand up and take a bow" Roasted Chicken Recipe that has NEVER dissapointed me. It looks good, is, re-heats very well, and is better the 2nd day! I'ma dump cook, so work with me on this! (BTW, the left over stock from this will make the most killer soup stock, you'll cry! I try to get all ingredients cut to about the same size, roasts quicker

Roasted Chicken Feb, 1997

my ratio is 1/2 chicken, and 1/2 veggies

cut up chicken into smaller pieces
corn on cob, cut to 2" pieces
small carrots
onions and garlic
green peppers (sometimes I add, or omit)
lotso mushrooms
baby new spuds cut in half if too big
can o tomatoes
basil, and bay leaves
s&p
bottle of burgundy or cabernate
2 beef bullion cubes

roast 450 @ hour, and keep turning the veggies w/ tongs.

hope this helps, Laura

[lampladies]

Re: Feeding crowd recipes

almost forgot, the Taco Soup recipe posted here is also a winner. If you wish, I also have a drop dead Beef Barley Soup recipe from my GF that is on the stove as we speak!

[olmphoto2]

Re: Feeding crowd recipes

Lampladies, this sounds great! Wouldn't making this with cut up bulk boneless thighs or breasts be killer and easy to dish up? Rube. would you provide Chinet or Styrofoam bowls for a soup or stew? Lampladies, does this recipe end up with lots of juices? I've read about (and done a long time ago) thickening crockpot recipes with tapioca---and someone on another thread wrote a recipe recently that used this method. Anyone remember where that one is??

[floridagirly68]

Re: Feeding crowd recipes

Check out this website, it has alot of good recipes.

http://recipesforacrowd.com/

[lampladies]

Re: Feeding crowd recipes

olmp, yes, a thin juice or gravy, haven't looked at thickening it up, this recipe doesn't call for a thicker gravey. but try it and let me know,please! Tkx.L

[DinDin]

Re: Feeding crowd recipes

On the site that Efue posted in chat forum they have a section on cooking for crowds and they sound like good recipes.

[Rubelishous]

Re: Feeding crowd recipes

Lampladies - there will be no where to reheat the meal. However, if it can be kept warm in a crockpot it would be fine.

I found a bunch of recipes also at Recipe Goldmine (always a wonderful source)

http://www.recipegoldmine.com/crowdmain/crowdmain.html

I might make stew. I'm always buying steak when it is on sale and that is usually cheaper than stewing beef.

Some of the recipes I've seen require last minute stuff done to it and there just won't be the people or time to do that. It has to be READY for serving. Crockpot will warm it up and keep it warm.

Thanks

[Damar12]

Re: Feeding crowd recipes

Or do chili and cornbread. Chili goes a longggggggg way.

[olmphoto2]

Re: Feeding crowd recipes

Italian Beef
We’ve made a recipe in our family for quite some time that is very similar to the recipe that follows. We use beer rather than water and don’t add the hot stuff. The meat we use is typiccally chuck roast. These sanwiches have appeared as the highlight of some Christmas buffets (my Uncle Fred’s favorite) and we made for DD’s graduation party. Can be made in a Nesco type roaster, a crockpot or in Dutch oven on top of the stove or in the oven. It’s very versatile! Start the night before on low and shred meat in am if you can start it using a low setting on a crockpot or Nesco. Otherwise, just make a day or so ahead of time, shred, refrigerate until ready to go into a crockpot for rewarming. It is juicy but the buns absorb the juice. You can serve pepperoncini or the like on the side if you wish.
Italian Beef Hoagies
This easy crockpot recipe uses just four ingredients and makes enough to feed a crowd these tender tangy sandwiches. The meat comes out of the crockpot tender and flavorful.
· 1 boneless sirloin tip roast - about 4 lbs, halved
· 2 envelopes Italian salad dressing mix
· 2 cups water
· 1 jar (16 ounces) mild pepper rings, undrained
18 hoagie buns, split
Place roast in a 5 quart crock pot. Combine the salad dressing mix and water; pour over roast. Cover and cook on low for 8 hours or until meat is tender. Remove meat leaving cooking liquid in crock pot; shred with a fork and return to crock pot. Add pepper rings and heat through. Spoon 1/2 cup meat mixture onto each bun.
Yield - 18 Servings
Tip: How to Shred Meat
For the best results when shredding meat, follow this method:
Remove the cooked meat from the crock pot, with a slotted spoon if necessary. Reserve the cooking liquid if called for. Place the meat in a shallow pan or platter. With two forks, pull the meat into thin shreds. Return the shredded meat to the crock pot to warm or use as the recipe directs.
[Recipe as is from “Easy Crock Pot Recipes” site: http://www.easy-crock-pot-recipes.com/crockpot-italian-beef-hoagie.html

[lampladies]

Re: Feeding crowd recipes

Rube, that's the beauty of this recipe, it'll stay in a crock pot for hours! It's not time stable. Hope this helps, Laura

[BJinTexas]

Re: Feeding crowd recipes

How about Max & Irmas Tortilla soup.....or pulled pork and some rolls

[olmphoto2]

Re: Feeding crowd recipes

Bumping this up for the "need some ideas thread"

[lampladies]

Re: Feeding crowd recipes

Hey Rube, what did you finally decide on to feed the hungery masses, and was it a succes? So we can all learn. Thanks, Laura

[Rubelishous]

Re: Feeding crowd recipes

It is for mid December and I've now been asked to make soup as there are several others bringing meat dishes. I think I'll make my mini-meatball ministrone. Of course I'm still going to bring cake balls as well.