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Message
Easy meals for a crowd of 20 something foodies
Posted on 12/16/20 at 9:19 am
Posted on 12/16/20 at 9:19 am
I will have some friends of my children here for the holidays and need to have some easy meals prepared each day. These kids are from larger cities and do actually cook and have dinner parties. The problem is I have other obligations and zero cooking time. I will grab a honeybaked ham and make a charcuterie board but I am hoping someone has some ideas of easy things to do. I have a crockpot but no instapot. I also can't do gumbo since it will be served at another relatives house where we are going.
(For those who care- there are four kids in addition to my kids who all work at home and have only been social with each other during covid. They will be staying in a hotel down the street and coming here to dine on the patio)
(For those who care- there are four kids in addition to my kids who all work at home and have only been social with each other during covid. They will be staying in a hotel down the street and coming here to dine on the patio)
7
Posted on 12/16/20 at 9:25 am to madamsquirrel
How many days?
That's a lot to ask of you to cook 3 meals a day for everyone
If they're actually foodies, you should offer to supply groceries and let them take a few meals and cook a unique meal that they like.
That's a lot to ask of you to cook 3 meals a day for everyone
If they're actually foodies, you should offer to supply groceries and let them take a few meals and cook a unique meal that they like.
Posted on 12/16/20 at 9:29 am to madamsquirrel
quote:
Easy meals for a crowd of 20 something foodies
Popeyes.
Posted on 12/16/20 at 9:41 am to Ash Williams
My husband will do breakfast so I am just going to have something made they can eat on. It is my SIL and his brother as well as my stepson so I know those boys can eat. I can always do roast or pulled pork sandwiches but I feel like I am just always cooking the same things. (Which is also why I don't want to do gumbo, jambalaya, or spaghetti). I am seriously thinking I may just get multiple pounds of boudin also.
Posted on 12/16/20 at 9:58 am to madamsquirrel
3 men in their twenties? Keep them supplied with beer and boudin and give them something to bbq outside. Grab some specialty meats/apps and let them try not to screw it up on the grill the first night. That will get them acquainted with your grill. Your husband may balk at this, but make it clear that he is to supervise, not do. It will be hard to let another man touch his grill so you'll have to make it up to him later. Maybe cut him some slack if he drinks too much and takes a nap at 2pm.
Also, buy them a brisket or a pork butt, and let them prepare it that night. Let them go shopping for the ingredients for their rub/marinade. Then Day 2 make them cook it for everyone for sandwiches, or whatnot.
If they truly like to cook, they'll enjoy the time.
As far as daily? Have some fresh bread and cheeses to go along with your ham and charcuterie board. Maybe a fresh fruit and veggie tray, and olives. Let them assemble their own sandwiches as they need over the weekend. If they know it's available and free-game to eat as much as they want, you won't have to worry about them.
Also, buy them a brisket or a pork butt, and let them prepare it that night. Let them go shopping for the ingredients for their rub/marinade. Then Day 2 make them cook it for everyone for sandwiches, or whatnot.
If they truly like to cook, they'll enjoy the time.
As far as daily? Have some fresh bread and cheeses to go along with your ham and charcuterie board. Maybe a fresh fruit and veggie tray, and olives. Let them assemble their own sandwiches as they need over the weekend. If they know it's available and free-game to eat as much as they want, you won't have to worry about them.
This post was edited on 12/16/20 at 10:03 am
Posted on 12/16/20 at 10:06 am to madamsquirrel
A few suggestions
--Nothing wrong with good ol' red beans and rice and smoked sausage. Feeds a crowd inexpensively, is a completely traditional local dish, and is easily embellished with cornbread or corn muffins. Also easy to make ahead & heat when needed, either by you or by them. Add a big bowl of coleslaw for a green veg & you're done (slaw is also good made ahead of time)
--Boudin would be great, esp if you round out the spread with some whole grain mustard and some other local charcuterie (head cheese, cracklings, etc). Serve with some pickled stuff (okra, quail eggs, dilly beans) and some seasonal fresh fruit (satsumas, kumquats) and steamed seasonal veg (broccoli/cauliflower)
--Cauliflower is in season & hella popular with the youngsters. Look up some recipes for whole roasted cauliflower heads; two or three of them look great heaped onto a large platter. Or make a cream of cauliflower soup with fresh garlic croutons to garnish.
--Chili is nice at this time of year. You can make it now, take your time, and have it ready to defrost. A white-bean and turkey or chicken green chili is a good change of pace from the typical bowl of red. Add some fresh cilantro & sour cream to garnish, serve with a pile of tortilla chips on the side.
--Nothing wrong with good ol' red beans and rice and smoked sausage. Feeds a crowd inexpensively, is a completely traditional local dish, and is easily embellished with cornbread or corn muffins. Also easy to make ahead & heat when needed, either by you or by them. Add a big bowl of coleslaw for a green veg & you're done (slaw is also good made ahead of time)
--Boudin would be great, esp if you round out the spread with some whole grain mustard and some other local charcuterie (head cheese, cracklings, etc). Serve with some pickled stuff (okra, quail eggs, dilly beans) and some seasonal fresh fruit (satsumas, kumquats) and steamed seasonal veg (broccoli/cauliflower)
--Cauliflower is in season & hella popular with the youngsters. Look up some recipes for whole roasted cauliflower heads; two or three of them look great heaped onto a large platter. Or make a cream of cauliflower soup with fresh garlic croutons to garnish.
--Chili is nice at this time of year. You can make it now, take your time, and have it ready to defrost. A white-bean and turkey or chicken green chili is a good change of pace from the typical bowl of red. Add some fresh cilantro & sour cream to garnish, serve with a pile of tortilla chips on the side.
Posted on 12/16/20 at 10:14 am to hungryone
Excellent ideas guys! Thank you so much!
Posted on 12/16/20 at 10:24 am to madamsquirrel
A burger night with oven baked burgers smothered in pizza sauce or BBQ sauce or both options, with chips and dip.
Meat loaf, made ahead and frozen.
Stroganoff, with mushroom and beef stock rice.
Potato salad.
Sausages and grilled onions Poboys
Ham and cheese casserole with salad.
Taco burrito night with chips and salsa.
Meat loaf, made ahead and frozen.
Stroganoff, with mushroom and beef stock rice.
Potato salad.
Sausages and grilled onions Poboys
Ham and cheese casserole with salad.
Taco burrito night with chips and salsa.
Posted on 12/16/20 at 10:31 am to MeridianDog
Make ahead meatloaf is a great idea also. My kids love that. I made beef stroganoff at their request last year.
Burgers and tacos are the norm but I do have a recipe for an italian sausage and pepper pasta that I have been making for hubs recently that the kids have never had.
I just needed some inspiration to get out of a rut lol. Hopefully this thread will help others also.
Burgers and tacos are the norm but I do have a recipe for an italian sausage and pepper pasta that I have been making for hubs recently that the kids have never had.
I just needed some inspiration to get out of a rut lol. Hopefully this thread will help others also.
Posted on 12/16/20 at 10:32 am to madamsquirrel
Get a couple pounds of burger, couple pounds of breakfast sausage, pound of bacon, 2 big heads of cabbage, 3 cups of rice, and make cabbage rolls. It’s simple, delicious, makes a lot and is always a hit at my family’s Christmas. My family is from Croatia so we boil them in a big pot with sauerkraut instead of the baking method. Lots of videos on YouTube for cabbage rolls. In Croatia it’s called Sarma.
Posted on 12/16/20 at 10:41 am to HogBalls
My family does that on New Years!! My grandmas recipe and it is delicious.
Posted on 12/16/20 at 10:51 am to madamsquirrel
Slice up a whole beef tenderloin, have some rolls and horseradish sauce. Fairly easy to just throw in oven cook, and slice. Feeds a decent amount of people
Posted on 12/16/20 at 10:52 am to Ash Williams
quote:
That's a lot to ask of you to cook 3 meals a day for everyone
If they're actually foodies, you should offer to supply groceries and let them take a few meals and cook a unique meal that they like.
Sometimes mama squirrels just want to cook for their babies, even when they are grown men. It just makes you happy to see them all around and having a good time at your house.
Posted on 12/16/20 at 11:06 am to madamsquirrel
Make or buy a lot of chicken salad to have on hand with some croissants and other breads and crackers. Easy to pull out to munch on with some chips. I don't recall where you live, but if you are in BR, i'd get a lot of Calvin's chicken salad.
Pasta salads are also good to have in the fridge. A muffalatta pasta salad would be good to have on hand. It can be a meal, a side or a snack like chicken salad.
Shrimp salad is another suggestion. You can roast the shrimp in the oven for that to make it even easier.
Those funeral sandwiches with the ham and swiss cheese on Hawaiian rolls and baked are always popular with the kids. They scarf those down like crazy. They take no time to make and bake.
Pasta salads are also good to have in the fridge. A muffalatta pasta salad would be good to have on hand. It can be a meal, a side or a snack like chicken salad.
Shrimp salad is another suggestion. You can roast the shrimp in the oven for that to make it even easier.
Those funeral sandwiches with the ham and swiss cheese on Hawaiian rolls and baked are always popular with the kids. They scarf those down like crazy. They take no time to make and bake.
Posted on 12/16/20 at 11:16 am to madamsquirrel
(no message)
This post was edited on 5/31/21 at 8:49 am
Posted on 12/16/20 at 12:42 pm to LaLadyinTx
quote:
Sometimes mama squirrels just want to cook for their babies, even when they are grown men. It just makes you happy to see them all around and having a good time at your house.
Didnt realize from the original post that it was mainly family
Thought it was a couple kids and a bunch of their friends
Posted on 12/16/20 at 12:55 pm to madamsquirrel
Buy a bunch of naan, some pesto, rotisserie chicken, pizza sauce, and whatever you can think of for naan flatbread, naan pizza. Easy to indivualize, and just minutes to bake. If people are on different schedules they can make their own. Pine nuts, arugula, some of that honey ham, lots of ideas.
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