How did you learn to cook for a large crowd of people?

BeachBaby07

i am the worst!

 

I have all my recipes, I know what I need to do, I know when I need to be finished.....but I never know when to start so the food is warm when we are ready to eat it. To compound the issue I am bringing it all to my in-laws because we cant have 14 people sit down at the same time to eat at our house. It always seems like such a great idea to do this until I am actually doing it! 

hookersbabe

watching my father...talking it through, planning, and years of doing it...

LaVitaBella

Lots of trial and error!  What are you making?  

HarrietNJMommy

For me, cooking for a crowd is so much easier, since I usually opt for something simpler. 

I can shove a roast in the oven, roast some veggies and potatoes, make a salad and call it a day.

I set my oven to "warm" so that things are at the same temp when we sit down. I have 2 ovens though. Is this possible for you? 

mrs.marie.g

my brother who is a chef/caterer taught me smething. something comes off the stove goes into its serving dish hot and immeditalty cover it with saran wrap. it helps keep the dish hot till its ready to be eaten

and i try and figure out what needs the longest cooking time. what needs to sit. (like if i am making a turkey i know the turkey needs to sit for 20 min before you carve it. so while that is sitting i cook the rolls, do the veggies whatever. and whatever is then done comes out and gets covered with saran wrap

NJ905wife

My mom! And luckily whenever I'm having these big parties she's here w me to help. I'm always afraid my roasts aren't cooked enough and she helps me w the gravy

HarrietNJMommy

Oh, and I do a timeline or a schedule. I mean, I'm very anal that way. I have what goes in at what time, etc.

JillBrady

I am cooking for approximately 60 people this weekend.  I am starting on Friday with all hot/cooked items.  Saturday morning will be cold food and last minute cut up stuff.  An hour before people start showing up, start warming food in the oven.

For 14 people.  I would start the morning of with all the prep work.  Get everything done and in a tray.  Start warming it up in the oven 30-45 minutes before you are ready to eat. 

It also depends on what  and how many items you are making.

Good luck.

 

UsedToBeGoldie

i call my caterer lol

Peanut1334

Start your timetable backwards. Like when do you want to sit down and move back from there. Plan on what needs to be in the oven, what can go on the stovetop, etc. Don't put other things in the oven if you have a roast becuase then the roast will take longer. Chop what you can the night before. And write the schedule down! My family makes fun of my dry erase board where I list my schedule---but at least they are eating, hot good tasting food when they tease me about it! Sometimes I forget to erase it!

BeachBaby07

LaVitaBella:

Lots of trial and error!  What are you making?  

4 meatloafs to cook for 45 minutes

Green Beans with almonds and fried onions

Succotash

Mashed Potatoes

I also need to frost my cake before we leave

I do much better in the summer when stuff can sit at room temperature for awhile  

LaVitaBella

I learned at cooking class that you can boil potatoes in advance and leave them in the water for quite a long time (hours) before mashing.  

Also, sternos help me.   

mrs.marie.g

BeachBaby07:

LaVitaBella:

Lots of trial and error!  What are you making?  

4 meatloafs to cook for 45 minutes these will need to cook longer then 45 minutes because when cooking things together it takes longer or a higher temp

Green Beans with almonds and fried onions is this a dish that needs to be cooked in the stove or on the stove top?

Succotash. i know jack about succostash so I can't help you there

 Mashed Potatoes premake and bring in a crockpot or two add a little sour cream if they get dry

I also need to frost my cake before we leave

I do much better in the summer when stuff can sit at room temperature for awhile  

BeachBaby07

mrs.marie.g:

BeachBaby07:

LaVitaBella:

Lots of trial and error!  What are you making?  

4 meatloafs to cook for 45 minutes these will need to cook longer then 45 minutes because when cooking things together it takes longer or a higher temp

Green Beans with almonds and fried onions is this a dish that needs to be cooked in the stove or on the stove top?

Succotash. i know jack about succostash so I can't help you there

 Mashed Potatoes premake and bring in a crockpot or two add a little sour cream if they get dry

I also need to frost my cake before we leave

I do much better in the summer when stuff can sit at room temperature for awhile  

Thanks for the meatloaf tip, I am going to make them, put them in fridge and I will give them a little less then an hour

You have to cook and blanche the beans and then warm them with lemon juice and butter and then mix other stuff in--I am going to blanche ahead I think and just let them sit

Succotash= corn, lima beans, red pepper, butter and some spices. I can make and leave out and just reheat in the microwave 

KellMichelle

My husband is Italian and we get together for Sunday dinner every week.  We rotate houses and so once a month it's at my house.  I have to cook for between 14 and 20 people, and it can't just be something simple like a roast and sides, there are at least 2-4 main dishes and then sides.  How did I learn?  I just got thrown to the wolves as I never cooked before I moved in with DH.  I can't say the first meals were good, but I've gotten better as time has gone on. 

melbride2005

my parents and my grandparents taught me everything I know, from the time I was really, really young

ATSBRIDE

I'm Italian..its in my blood. We overcook for EVERYTHING. We can have 4 people for dinner and cook like there will be 20. I actually feel like I cook better when we have a ton of people vs. 2.