Cooking For A Large Group

If you have friends that drop in unexpectedly or if you know that you will have a few party goers over for a function this Saturday night you may need to do some planning to make sure that you have enough food to get you through. You never know exactly how many people you will end up having to feed or how hungry they will be until they arrive on the door step. So how exactly do you plan enough food to feed everyone and still have enough left over for the few that are coming later?

The first thing to decide on is when will you hold the meal. Will it be early in the day or later on? This will assist you to figure out a menu. If you pick a time that is near a meal time you can be sure everyone will be hungry. If it is in between meal times, like mid afternoon then you will be able to make a lighter meal.

Next you need to figure out how many guests you will be serving. Have all guests RSVP by a date at least a week in advance. The best thing to do is to take that number and add at least two more to it. There are times when extra guests drop in and you want to make sure that you are a polite host by offering everyone a seat at your table.

Plan your menu so you have a large assortment of food. You need to have side dishes, bread and dessert along with your meat and potatoes. Not everyone likes the same side dish, remember the vegetarians, so that is why it is important to offer several.

Breads are a great way to compliment the meal and at the same time fill up your guests. There is a large assortment of bread available so look beyond white and brown.

Some may think that this is a great opportunity to make a new recipe while others may want to stick to the basic recipes that they make all the time. For the most part, those who plan on their meal coming out okay may very well experience a disaster. Make sure that you always allow yourself enough time to make a substitute if you something goes wrong.

A crock pot can be a handy appliance to help the meal go to plan. They are great for keeping food warm and there are heaps of crockpot recipes you can try. Consider a crockpot meatballs recipe or a macaroni crockpot recipe.

When planning out your grocery list, make sure you allow for the extra amount of food you will be cooking. We usually buy without thinking so if you are used to a four serving amount you may find yourself going back to the store for the extra amount. Plan your trip to the local produce store two days before your meal so you can make sure that you have everything that you need. If you need to, you can run back to the store and still have plenty of time.

As your guests arrive, have an appetizer available to fill them up until the meal is served. One good point about appetizers is if they don’t turn out okay then you can always open up a bag of chips and dip. Make sure that you have something extra on hand just in case. Your appetizer and a sparkling beverage will make everyone feel welcome and your party more enjoyable.

Relax and enjoy the occasion. Mix with your friends and have the best party ever.