Simple, delicious meals that can be assembled but cooked later
Hi,
I've started making meals once a month for residents at a Ronald McDonald House as a volunteer project and I could use some help. I have to assemble the meals at the kitchen in the house due to food safety requirements and the idea is that I will prepare everything and leave it in the fridge so families just have to heat it up. The charity is required to reimburse me for the cost of the food so I don't want to make anything that requires lots of different spices or expensive cuts of meat. I'm thinking pasta bakes, casseroles, chili, etc. I also have to bring all the ingredients but I need to be able to carry it all since I'll be traveling there on public transport.
Does anyone have any ideas for me? The dishes need to serve 14-16 people and be ok to be dished up and served at different times since the families will eat at their leisure, not all together.
(They've never had someone do this for them so I can't ask what's worked in the past. I know this is quite common for the charity in the US, but not in the UK.)
Thank you!
Re: Simple, delicious meals that can be assembled but cooked later
I was lurking on here for some easy recipes for me but couldn't help but drop this off for you. My friend gave me the recipe for this chicken tortilla casserole awhile back and it's SUPER tasty and very easy to make. I think you would need to make 2 casseroles to feed 16 people.
First, just wanted to say awesome job volunteering and helping out w/ meals! I hope this is helpful; it's my goto for any frozen/ prepared meals for sick friends/ family/ new moms: http://allrecipes.com/recipe/baked-ziti-iii/detail.aspx
I'd make 2 or 1.5 of this recipe, depending on adult/ kid ratio- I'd do 1.5 if 50/50, more if more adults; if @ least half kids, you'll be fine w/ just 1 pan- it makes a LOT of food. Would also add a salad (even bagged) w/ 1 or 2 dressings or even just some celery and carrots and possibly a sliced loaf of French bread. (The recipe doesn't contain any veggies, which is why I'd DEF add these as a "side"). GL!
http://www.brannyboilsover.com/2011/09/06/buffalo-chicken-enchiladas/
http://www.brannyboilsover.com/2011/04/03/sweet-potato-black-bean-burritos/
From Hey To Horses
Meatloaf-I've got a few variations in my blog
Tortellini-Sausage Soup:
http://reservationsnotrequired.blogspot.com/2009/10/tortellini-sausage-soup.html
Beef and Cheese Manicotti:
http://reservationsnotrequired.blogspot.com/2008/04/beef-and-cheese-manicotti.html
Cheesy Baked Ravioli:
http://reservationsnotrequired.blogspot.com/2007/10/cheesy-baked-ravioli.html
Tacos-You could use ground beef, shredded chicken (easy to do if you can leave it to cook in a crockpot)
Barbecue Sandwiches (also easy to do with a crock pot)
Tortilla Pie or Chicken Pot Pie (use rotisserie chickens to speed up your process):
http://reservationsnotrequired.blogspot.com/2009/04/one-chicken-three-ways.html
Beef Stew or Beef Burgandy
White Bean Chicken Chili
http://reservationsnotrequired.blogspot.com/2008/01/still-cold-more-soup-recipes.html
How to Play House blog