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christmas dinner for 16 adults and 10 children - advice please!
artichoke
Posts: 1,724 Forumite
Hi all
I am looking for tips on how to arrange a christmas dinner meal for a very large family gathering. 16 adults and 10 children ranging from birth to 16 in age.
I keep the cost down in want to suggest that each family takes responsibility for bringing and cooking one part of the meal.
I know it may not be possible for each family to cook each part as there can only be so many people in the kitchen at once - but i was thinking if we ask someone to bring veg, carrots, sprouts etc they take responsibility for bringing the veg, preparing it and making sure it is cooked at the right time.
Has anyone got any experience at arranging such a large family gathering / meal?
We need to have a variety of different meats plus a vegetarian option...
HOw much meat and veg do you need for 10 adults and 16 kids?
any advice appreciated...
art
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I am looking for tips on how to arrange a christmas dinner meal for a very large family gathering. 16 adults and 10 children ranging from birth to 16 in age.
I keep the cost down in want to suggest that each family takes responsibility for bringing and cooking one part of the meal.
I know it may not be possible for each family to cook each part as there can only be so many people in the kitchen at once - but i was thinking if we ask someone to bring veg, carrots, sprouts etc they take responsibility for bringing the veg, preparing it and making sure it is cooked at the right time.
Has anyone got any experience at arranging such a large family gathering / meal?
We need to have a variety of different meats plus a vegetarian option...
HOw much meat and veg do you need for 10 adults and 16 kids?
any advice appreciated...
art
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0
Comments
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We probably need a bit more information.
Do they expect they traditional sit down roast turkey dinner?
Do you have large enough pots and pans?
Do you have the space for one sitting?
We have prepared the vegetables and taken them for our host to cook.
Personally I think that I would go for a buffet.'You can't change the past, you can only change the future' Gary Boulet.
'Show me the person who never makes a mistake and I'll show you the person who never makes anything'. Anon0 -
i have cooked for that many before at Christmas , and tbh you really dont want extra people in the kitchen it will drive you nuts , its not that much harder to cook for lots of people tbh , if needs be ask people to donate stuff and bring it round the day before0
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i agree with lesley1960, i cooked christmas dinner for my whole family last year and everyone was trying to get into the kitchen at the same time, in the end i banned everyone and told them all to go into the front room.
i am doing the same this year and each member of the family are bringing a different part of the meal the day before, ie sister bringing homemade stuffing balls and sausage and bacon wraps, mum, ready chopped veg, brother xmas trifle, sister sauces and gravy. brother beef joint, me turkey and pots, aunt veggie roast joint..
that way i have control of the kitchen and all the food is covered...
i hope this helps
bride0 -
Exactly what the others have said. Make sure they've all brough their stuff round the day before, keep them occupied in another room and make the kitchen a no-go zone unless you ask for help - maybe one trusted person?
I'd get someone else to do all the annoy extras, like vegetarian options, kids stuff - then you can concentrate on the main event. A turkey for 16 is not going to be more work than a turkey for 5, if you see what I mean, but endless alternatives are what will make the day a nightmare.0 -
Why not eat out at a Wetherspoons or similar who are offering cheap xmas dinner (I think £6.99 including drink). Then no-one has to go through the cooking nightmare and you can go back to someone's house after to relax. You have to book this.
Wetherspoons.Torgwen..........
...........0 -
Agree with everyone else; you will not want several cooks in the kitchen at once.
So either ask everyone to donate particular items but take charge of the cooking yourself, or go down the buffet route. And keep it simple, why do you need several meats?
Also ensure you have sufficient pans, cooking racks, crockery, utensils etc. Set the tables the night before.
The more I think about Xmas dinner for 26, the more I think it should be a buffet. Partly because you can prepare most of it in advance, possibly buying some ready made items and partly due to seating, assuming your dining room table can't seat 26.
If you do go down the cooked meal route, consider setting up a bar area outside the kitchen to ensure you don't have a permanent flow of numerous people in the kitchen, who then hover and get in your way! My parents do this every year and it works really well. 0 -
Kids on a big rug under the Christmas tree is an option. THey'll love a christmas picnic and the adults might be able to squeeze round a table?
Where are all your guests coming from?! Just being nosy, it's such a huge crowd - are they all family?0 -
Sounds like it will be a fantastic day!!
Being completely anal - I'd prefer to get all the food myself so that I know what's what.....I'd ask for vouchers or money towards it for a certain shop. I'd also ask everyone for a list of any foods to avoid for any reason.
If you're doing a full roast then keep it simple, you don't need 17 different veg and a selection of every sauce under the sun, you just need enough food for everyone and to have it all ready at the right time.
Buffet style could be easier if you've got enough fridge room to cope with cold cuts/salads etc being stored until you need them.
Don't forget to arrange for extra cutlery/crockery/glasswear - and don't rely on people bringing it on the day - they often forget!"Start every day off with a smile and get it over with" - W. C. Field.0 -
When we've had large numbers of children and adults we've done 2 sittings, children, then adults0
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my son is a Wetherspoons manager, their xmas dinners are mid November to mid december only.Why not eat out at a Wetherspoons or similar who are offering cheap xmas dinner (I think £6.99 including drink). Then no-one has to go through the cooking nightmare and you can go back to someone's house after to relax. You have to book this.
Wetherspoons.0
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