Keep Ellen Cooking!
Support New Pages!
|
|
|
|
Kristy 05/31/08 |
I am cooking for a wedding reception for 150 people at 1:30 in the afternoon. They are only serving appetizers and not a meal. I am making Veggie Tray, Fruit Salad, Pasta Salad, Swedish Meatballs and Finger Sandwiches. I have looked at the fruit salad page but am unsure of the total pounds of prepared fruit I should have. I have calculated 9 lbs. of pasta sald, 300 swedish meatballs, and 180 finger sandwiches. Does this sound correct? Do you have a recipe for swedish meatballs in which I can use store bought mini meatballs? Thank you! |
|
ellen 05/31/08 |
Hi, Kristy, Although they are not planning to serve a meal, if the wedding is noon, many people will arrive not having eaten lunch and they will be hungry. So yu need to sit down with these folks and talk a little about amounts. It is disastrous to run out of food at a wedding reception, and the caterer is ALWAYS blamed; it can ruin your rep! This looks like not nearly enough food to me. For example, in the tea sandwiches article, I discuss that for 120 people who are hungry, you need 6-8 pieces per person (the amount you would use for 250 in mid afternoon), and discuss amounts: www.ellenskitchen.com/bigpots/plan/recep2.html? That is 1 1/2 to 2 full size sandwiches per person. Your present estimate is not even enough for the midafternoon amounts. I would use pasta salad based on 10 pounds of pasta- it is a cheap filler. You need to calculate 4 meatballs per person, not 2, especially since there are no other hot dishes. Veggie tray, cheapest filler, allow 6-8 pieces or about 3 ounces per person, plus 2-3 quarts dressing per 100. Fruit, see the fruit tray page. Try to get them to accept 6 times the amount for the fruit tray for 25 and serve as trays, not salad- it makes a much better display. I would try to get them to add a cheese tray selection, at least 18-20 pounds- most of this could be cheese logs, balls and spreads, less expensive than solid cheeses- plus 9 pounds of crackers or 10-12 of bread. Part of the cheese weight could be egg salad. I would also strongly suggest 9 pounds of mixed nuts for the tables. You need to talk with them about beverages? |
|
karen 06/20/08 |
I am helping at a graduation party and there are going to be 50 people. I was asked to make a fruit salad how much fruit is going to be needed. thinking of watermelon,canalope, strawberrys and red or green grapes. |
|
ellen 06/20/08 |
See the fruit tray page, and look at the fruit tray for 25. You need about twice that amount of fruit, you can use the tables in that article to substitute whatever fruits you like in your fruit salad. Enjoy. I make a dressing to serve over fruit salad, plain yogurt with real vanilla, honey and mace (a mild spice like nutmag). It is really good with fruit. |