Cooking for large groups

skintchick

I am part of a church group and each week we go to each other's houses and eat.

This week it was my turn and I did a chilli that I'd done on the Sunday evening, with rice and bread and salad.

But I cannot think of things I can in future.

I don;t get home till 6.15 and they arrive at 7.30, so there's not much time, plus I have to avoid spicy stuff and two of them are mostly vegie :rolleyes:

I hate cooking for so many - ten of us this week and sometimes up to 14 - and this week nearly cried, I found it so stressful.

Any ideas other than sausages and baked beans?? Oh, and it needs to be cheap cos this week cost me over a tenner which I can;t afford on just one night's food.

I have a slow cooker.

Bobbykins

Hi Skintchick

oh poor you.....it's very brave of you to even consider feeding so many people when you find it such a strain. I could suggest lots of stew/casserole thing for the slow cooker, but the trouble would be the vegetarians.

Does you oven have a timer? I'm thinking about maybe jacket potatoes (cheap!), done on the timer in the oven and a selection of toppings that you can prepare quickly or even in advance...grated cheese, cottage cheese/pineapple, baked beans etc etc etc.

I'll have a think and see if I can come up with anything else

Bobbykins

Hi again skintchick

just had a look at the indexed collection on here for you, there are a few vegetarian slow cooker recipes that might help.

I've done a link for you here

HTH

skintchick

I'll have a look at that.

I don;t have a timer on my cooker, and I live alone so I either have to cook it in advance or do it in an hour start to finish.

I feel a failure for not being able to dit - but they expect dessert as well!! I only cook for two at most usually so doing it for ten or more is scary in my teeny tiny kitchen.

Mado

Vegetarian lasagna cooked the day before.
Do it in 2 dishes, it should be plenty.
Use soya mince , loads of tomatoes, onions, red lentils in the "bolognese" sauce, plain lasagna sheets and basic white sauce with ordinary cheese on top.

kittyscarlett

Maybe stuff you can prep beforehand , do you have a freezer with enough room to store dishes for the suppers, or bread etc ?

Yep, jacket spuds sounds good ! All the following can be made/prepped ahead and heated up etc... how about soup and different types of bread - so many veggie thick filling soups out there that the meat eaters won't miss the meat and you could take advantage of reduced price bread etc. Macaroni or cauliflower cheese with baked or fresh tomatoes as a side dish. Big vat of spag bol - again, easy to make vegge and bulk out with lentils etc. Pitta bread and vegetable crudites with hm dips - hummous, salsa and cheap/low fat versions of creamy dips are easy to make, all can be prepped ahead except for heating up the pittas. Baked hm spiced potato wedges with same accompaniments as baked pots. Pasta bake and hm coleslaw.

Right, I'll shut up now but hope that's given you some ideas

PS dessert as well ?? blimey thats a bit cheeky !!! do they think you're made of money ? I know everyone takes it in turns but still, its quite a lot to put on one person ! I think everyone should bring a bit of fruit and you can have a fruit bowl or fruit salad for afters !

skintchick

THis week was a disaster really as a lady came who is allergic to cats - I have one - and won;t eat chilli! She ate rice and salad.

I actually nearly cried in the kitchen.

kittyscarlett

Aww cmon hon, don't get stressed. If someone hasn't got the courtesy to inform you about allergies or what they can and can't eat then that's their problem and NOT your fault ! its really not that hard to cook in quantity once you get used to it - and maybe make it a point to get everyone to speak up if theres something they really won't eat or are allergic to ( there is a difference ! )

skintchick

I'm a much better guest than hostess!!

Olliebeak

skintchick wrote: »

I am part of a church group and each week we go to each other's houses and eat.

If this is really a group of 'christian people', they should certainly be understanding about people's circumstances and what is possible when you have only an hour after coming home from work.

I'd treat them all to a 'poverty lunch' as a lesson in 'how half the world lives'.

As an example, the article below gives details of one type of 'poverty lunch'.

"Christmas Poverty Lunch - come and support Oxfam

Bring your family and friends along to the Labour Hall, Lyndhurst Road, Worthing, at 3pm on Sunday 9th December, for our Christmas Poverty Lunch. Home made soup, bread and cheese will be served, and there will be music and entertainment. Come along in support of Oxfam.
Posted by Poppea on 11/23 at 07:26 PM" http://ewaslabour.org.uk/ee/index.php/site/comments/christmas_poverty_lunch_come_and_support_oxfam/

belfastgirl23

second the veggie lasagna idea with maybe some garlic bread or salad.

Thick pasta stew/soup combos might also work as might pasta bake.

I'd def stick with the veggie ideas, they're a lot cheaper as well.

I do think you should suggest that someone else brings dessert and the host just provides dinner, less stress for everyone. Fruit crumbles etc are reasonably cheap to make

Think it's a nice thing to do though but I can see how stressful it would be...