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Diane 07/11/07 |
Ellen, We are in the process of finalizing the plans for a small class reunion (only 26 in the class and only 21 will be attending). We are planning to serve the 21 classmates and their spouses a buffet of sweat and sour meatballs, potato salad, pasta salad and a meat/cheese tray with rolls. What are your thoughts on our menu, could you tell me how much of each we will need and if you have any suggestions of things we should add to it. The reunion is less than two weeks away. Thank you so much for your help. --- Diane Shaw |
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ellen 07/12/07 |
You don't say whether this is lunch or dinner or what your serving situation is (type of kitchen, help, etc), or- very important- the approxiamte age of the attendees. However, if it was me, I would look at my champagne lunch for 25 and make 2 of it- a simple, elegant, much more special meal- button is at the top right of the main cook talk page. Check it out and write back. |
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Diane 07/12/07 |
Sorry, the meal will be served at 6:00pm. The average age of the people attending is 38. This is a small town high school reunion. It will be held at a local hall using a kitchen that is about the size of your average home kitchen. |
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ellen 07/12/07 |
So, we must both be online right now. For this function, nice would be nice! Will there be dancing afterwards with food and drink, or some other function, or is the dinner the main event? Will there be alcohol served, for example, wine or beer? Do you have a good bakery in your town for breads and desserts? Are you willing to do some of the prep yourself or are you trying to stick with deli items? Do you have a very tight budget? |
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Diane 07/12/07 |
Yes there will be a dance afterwards with food and drinks. We will be offering beer and wine. The good bakery in our town is my mother and mother-in-law. My mother will make the rolls and my mother-in-law the desserts. My husband will be doing most, if not all of the cooking. As you call tell, we are on a very tight budget, but I would still like everyone to enjoy themselves. |
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ellen 07/13/07 |
OK, what a nice "family" event. If you want to stick with the deli meat/cheese tray for convenience- they are not cheap- you want 5 ounces deli sliced meats PLUS 2-3 ounces sliced cheese per person. I would tend to do a roaster of sticky chicken pieces (from leg quarters) instead of meatballs for variety of meats, allowing 1 piece per person. A roaster of rice or cheesy or scalloped potatoes would be much appreciated by the men. Then do just the pasta salad- MUCH quicker and easier than potato, and so many varieties- use 1/2 of a recipe for 100. You have exactly the right size group to use electric roasters (Nesco type) as the backbone of your cooking effort. Here are a few different menu ideas: my wedding chicken, a rice pilaf, antipasto salad tray or relish tray or artichoke-olive condite. Carolina pulled pork sandwiches, slaw, baked beans, pasta salad. Italian style with lasagna or baked spaghetti or mostaciolli. Tex Mex with a taco bar, rice, beans, salad (least expensive) In any case, you will want 6 pounds of excellent bread or rolls (that is a 5 pound bag of flour to start) and 6-8 pounds of fabulous desserts such as cheesecake. For the wine, allow 1/2 bottle per wine drinker, add an extra bottle or two you know about the beer. Arrange to buy the wine from a seller who will let you return unopened bottles. |
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Diane 07/13/07 |
Thanks for your help, greatly appreciated. |