[SccHarpGirl]

Hi all,

My church has what we call Saturday Night Suppers (SNS) after the saturday mass that are coordinated by students. I've avoided coordinating one so far because I don't know how to cook for large numbers, but the current chairperson is having trouble recruiting coordinators and I'd like to help out.

So my question to all y'all is, do you have any recipes that are good for large groups? Large defined as around 30 people, give or take about 10. A couple of constraints: It has to either be vegetarian or have a vegetarian main course option (for instance, if cooking lasagna you could either make a meat lasagna and a vegetarian lasagna, or just a vegetarian lasagna). Typically it includes a salad, some side dish, a main dish, and a dessert. I can handle the salad and probably figure out a side dish and a dessert, but I just don't know that many vegetarian recipes that I can duplicate for that many. I can do lots with chicken, but I don't have a costco membership and chicken at the grocery store = $$$.

So if anyone has any suggestions for your favourite large scale recipes, I would love to hear them!

Thanks all

[FTS]

I don't have a recipe for it, but vegetarian chili would be an easy thing to upscale. I've seen vegetarian pizza made for a school lunch (about 150 kids), but again I don't have a recipe (but should be pretty easy to come up with). I have an extremely tasty recipe for vegetarian lasagne, but it's only about 6-8 portions.

The main thing when it comes to cooking for a vast amount of people is prep. You've got to get all your mise en plase ready to go before cooking. So that's basically getting all your ingredients chopped/sliced/grated/whatever, getting all your equipment ready, before you even think about cooking. That way, when it comes to cooking, you're not rushing around trying to dice your carrots or celery or whatever while the onions are sweating, or something of that nature.

[H.M. Murdock]

I believe Mrs. M has a pretty fantastic vegetarian/tofu chili recipe around here somewhere. It's delicious.

[El Tim's Mom]

Originally Posted by SccHarpGirl

Hi all,

My church has what we call Saturday Night Suppers (SNS) after the saturday mass that are coordinated by students. I've avoided coordinating one so far because I don't know how to cook for large numbers, but the current chairperson is having trouble recruiting coordinators and I'd like to help out.

So my question to all y'all is, do you have any recipes that are good for large groups? Large defined as around 30 people, give or take about 10. A couple of constraints: It has to either be vegetarian or have a vegetarian main course option (for instance, if cooking lasagna you could either make a meat lasagna and a vegetarian lasagna, or just a vegetarian lasagna). Typically it includes a salad, some side dish, a main dish, and a dessert. I can handle the salad and probably figure out a side dish and a dessert, but I just don't know that many vegetarian recipes that I can duplicate for that many. I can do lots with chicken, but I don't have a costco membership and chicken at the grocery store = $$$.

So if anyone has any suggestions for your favourite large scale recipes, I would love to hear them!

Thanks all

Vegetarian soup, soup goes a long way and have you ever thought about Pancakes or breakfast like eggs sometimes it is good for dinner. there are a lot of egg dishes Good Luck

[2ManArmy]

Several lasagnas, a huge salad, garlic bread... easy and people love it. Plus it's on a Saturday, not a Friday, so eating meat is no obstacle Veggie lasagnas are really easy,too. Use the lasagna noodles that you don't have to boil. That is the easiest thing I have found to make for large groups (because I do cook for large groups regularly). Actually something that is even easier than vegetarian lasagna is spinach quiche. All you need are frozen pie shells, eggs, parmesan cheese, frozen spinach, and I like to add sliced onions.

[bobthecockroach]

Anything based on pasta or rice is pretty easy to expand to massive quantities. The easiest meal to prepare for a large group, for example, is probably red beans and rice. You simply cook up a massive amount of rice and a massive amount of red beans and then serve. Looking for a recipe which consists of two almost entirely seperate components will also help. Pasta + sauce and veggies, for example. In that case, each component is easy to expand to massive quantities and then all you have to do is serve em together.

[MtlMom]

Originally Posted by H.M. Murdock

I believe Mrs. M has a pretty fantastic vegetarian/tofu chili recipe around here somewhere. It's delicious.

It's in the Recipe Exchange thread. There are several other vegetarian dishes there, so you might just want to check out that last page of the thread. I've made the tofu chili for large crowds. I don't mention that it's a vegetarian dish unless someone cares. It's just good food.

Spaghetti is also a great choice, and meatless sauces are easy to come by. You could have meatballs on the side so that those who choose to eat animals have the option to do so.

[PontiusPirate]

Chili, Pasta, Lasagne are all excellent ideas.
Homemade Pizzas as well.
As for spaghetti, try sauteeing portabello mushrooms and putting them in the sauce instead of meatballs.
I'll try to think up some recipes.

[2ManArmy]

Originally Posted by PontiusPirate

Chili, Pasta, Lasagne are all excellent ideas.
Homemade Pizzas as well.
As for spaghetti, try sauteeing portabello mushrooms and putting them in the sauce instead of meatballs.
I'll try to think up some recipes.

Grrrreat suggestions, imo. Especially chili, because you can serve it with rice and you can't be killed for not having a salad to go with it (and for the vegetarians, you can use beans rather than meat, though that would be totally un-Texan ).

[SccHarpGirl]

Yeah, I think I might do the chili for a supper once the weather gets a little more wintery. Then I can just make masses of cornbread to go with it, and a salad, and it's all good.

[LadyCroft]

I used to cater, and will tell you that, by far, the EASIEST thing to make for large groups is definitely pasta. I liked to make the pasta solo, with marinara, and then make sides of meatballs, italian sausage in one pan, and another pan of grilled portabello mushrooms, roasted red peppers, and sauteed onions. This is an good option for everyone, because, lets face it, spaghetti needs help. Your carnivores will be happy that there are meat options, your vegetarians will be pleased with the veggies, and a lot of your guests will feel like they're eating a really filling meal if they indulge in both the meat(s) and the vegetables.

Salad, Garlic bread...the typical pasta sides. I personally would avoid lasagna, only because, depending on the space you have to work, it can be a tremendous pain to have to worry about pans and pans of lasagna. Get a few huge pots of spaghetti or ziti cooked, and you'll be in business!

~

[Bryan]

Stoufers Lasagnas are great and easy, provided you have a place to cook them. that's what I'd do (vegetarians would be on their own, silly people)

[PontiusPirate]

.......Nice.