IVDSO: HELP! I'm planning dinner for 60!

[Arie]

Hello all,

I know that the holidays are still a bit of a stretch away, but I need HELP!

I am in charge of planning our holiday luncheons for work. (I do HR during the day). In the past, we've always gone to the VFW post down the road, where they've put on a beautiful luncheon for us.

HOWEVER - "due to the downturn of business and the failing economy" (our VP and P's words) we will not be able to afford such a lavish luncheon this year.

Instead! They are asking ME!!!! to put together a luncheon here at work. (google : Zak Incorporated, Green Island, NY) We are a manufacturing company, primarily for the power generation industry. We are not really equipped to have a luncheon here.

We have a breakroom, but that's it. There's no ovens or stoves. Only 4 microwaves and 4 toaster ovens.

I pointed this out to VP and P, and they said "Just make it happen"....

So - what do I do?

I suppose I could call "Honey Baked Ham" and ask them to deliver, but I worry that will cost as much as a luncheon at the VFW.

Where do I start? Any suggestions?

TIA!

-Arie

[chitownmelli]

Slow cookers! Have you thought about going kinda potluck? Have a signup sheet for people and have them bring what they like? It would barely cut into the budget..... just a thought...

P.S. Have they given you a budget? It would be even easier to come up with suggestions knowing what sort of cash you are dealing with.

[Arie]

I was thinking a pot luck too, but both the VP and P shot it down. Bascially we're not going to be able to give out a holiday bonus like in years past... they don't want to 'add insult to injury' and tell them they have to cook their own luncheon too.

I will have to ponder the slow cooker idea some more. I know that you can actually cook a ham in a small cooker, and my mom has a few rotisseries we could use for turkeys (she used to own a small bakery/deli).

But then I realize - I must be NUTS thinking I can do this alone!

I don't even know HOW to cook!:hectic1:

[chitownmelli]

You can totally do it! Slow cooking is actually really easy.

Yep, you can put a ham in a slow cooker, I use my big Nesco cooker to make ham, it sort of steams it while it bakes.... hard to explain, but at the end of the cooking time, it just falls off the bone and shreds itself, perfect for eating just the way it is or on bread. You really don't have to do anything special to it, they taste fine just the way they are - just sayin' since you said you don't cook.

You can put a turkey in a large slow cooker - or like you said, the rotisserie....

Other options for meat in slow cookers are Italian Beef or Pulled Pork - remember to have a couple of options there, some people's religious beliefs prohibit eating pork.

Slow cooker baked beans
cocktail meatballs
sausages in bbq sauce
mashed potatoes can be made and kept in the slow cooker

That's all for right this second, I will come back if I think of more ;)

[sc00by1445]

I did a birthday party for 50 we had 4 of the 5 qt slow cookers all with different chillis ( reg, hot, white chicken, veggie) and then made a few really big subs out of the big loaves you can buy at kroger for 0.99 just but a bunch of lunch meat and cheese and then had chips and dip, fruit veggies . we found it was all very good and easy to do

[Mama Stu]

You could also see if you could borrow some of the roasters. Those will hold a lot of food and you can even cook turkeys in them. Turkeys are an inexpensive way to feed a large number of people. You could do a dessert bar, with several different kinds of bars. BBQ Beef is another one that will feed a large number inexpensively.

[angeleyeza]

you can make home made mac n cheese in a slow cooker... buy the Extra large big cans of veggies that look like they could kill you if you lift them up lol( walmart has them that Ive seen ) they can steam well in a slow cooker. They also have the the ex large big cans of fruit cocktail if you want to add fruit to the deal.you can always put them in large tupperware bowls and chill on top of ice.

some things for slow cookers:( i did these for our huge BDay parties )
a few cans of progresso noodle soup for a hot soup deal ( for the bowls hefty makes bowls )
au gratin potatos
manwhich/BBQ
ham helper
goulash

snack/desert Ideas:
rice crispie treats
ritz crackers and cheese cubes
5 min fudge
apple crisp ( does well in a slow cooker)
if you want to make like a bread type thing to go with the meal I suggest getting mini muffin tins that have like 12 muffin holes in them. they make small muffins yea but usually you can find cornbread muffin mix really cheap and that will go perfect for a sweet treat. HTh

here are some sites for slow cooker recipies
Slow Cooker Recipes - SlowAndSimple.com
Slow Cooker Main Dishes - All Recipes

or do a google search for slow cooker recipies

[chitownmelli]

Do you know the prices on those huuuuge cans at Walmart? Just wondering because they are around $5 at Sams (and I bet we would not renew our membership if the price was similar!)

[irishsaver]

Do not get overwhelmed it will work out. ok

Get the Budget Amt you have... and make it stretch by calling around. They mean well but you should not have to do it all alone. Let them know that perhaps ask for a volunteer to pick up stuff for you with a list or call around.


Try this link great idea for Crowd cooking crowd - Recipes - p1 - Recipezaar

Check out the local supermarkets they usually cook food and is cheaper than ordering from the gourmet places. Calculate 60 people first then price around using the per head $$ amt... I have found once or twice it was actually cheaper to buy than make the dish. just twice.

However if you want to cook ahead a few dishes. You will need to spend money on?

Price out (as throw needed below) Find out who is going to wash all the stuff afterward try buy disposable if its just you ok.?
Silver Pans
Holders
Sternos
Decoratings
Paper goods
Drinks
Desserts need fruit tray/fruit bowl easy..

idea for menu
1. Sausage & Peppers w/ Rolls not too messy easy to make ahead and wrap in foil and just reheat put in sternos rolls on the side

2. Baked Ziti cheap and easy to feed the crowds make a day or two ahead ok put in sternos.

3. Potato Salad & Macaroni Salad buy if it is quicker

4. Green Salad Few bags of salad or chop up few heads of lettuce throw in a grated carrot Few onions cherry tom & dressing on the side.


Plan it out designate someone other than you to help if possible.. Keep track of spending ie. decorations etc. table cloths they all add up.

You can and are quite capable of doing this...

Best of luck let us know how it works out.

[Arie]

(You guys have seriously made me get all teary eyed. What a wonderful group of guys and gals we have here on HCW!)

Okay - I had lunch to think about it, and for a change I actually left my desk on lunch! I sat in my car with a note pad and sort of figured some things out.

Last year, our budget was $1800 for 60 people. That's ~30 per person. This year, the goal is to be at HALF of that, so $900 for 60 people, or ~15 per person. Thinking in those terms and having a starting point makes it seem much more 'doable'.

My first hurdle is going to be the fact we only have 30 chairs. I need an additional 30 (do I rent? Buy? Pull the fire alarm at the company across the street and steal their chairs while they're doing a fire drill?). That, I'm sure, will put a rather nice dent in my budget.

Then, I need to work on decorations. I did some digging around in the storage closet (of course I'm wearing a white sweater today!) and found an artificial Christmas tree. On our last 'blind survey on non discrimination', we found that 52 of the employees listed "prefer to celebrate Christmas in specific', 5 listed "I don't care either way", and 3 people failed to turn in their slips. My VP and P say "We've always said "Merry Christmas" and put up Christmas Decorations. We're not going to change that now!" For my own sanities sake, the comfort of all employees, and not to even mention the legal stand point on that, I'm going to either not put up the tree, or try and include other religions decorations as well. (Please take opinions to HUTC).

So - now that has been said. I'm going to try and seperate things into three catagories. "Everything", "Non-Pork" and "Vegetarian".

My three main things would be:

-Turkey (problem: it would have to somehow be pre-sliced)
-Ham
-Lasagna (problem: my lasagna always tastes like cardboard and sauce)

I'm going to take the advice of irishsaver, and make a few phone calls to see what companies would charge for doing it for me. (It may cost more money, but would save my last few, very frazzled nerves!)

In the event they can do most of it (the three big things) that would be a super help in itself. I can manage making salad, mashed potatos, opening some canned veggies and slicing cranberry sauce.... I think.

It may come down to me having to cook it all though. In that case, a few bottles of cheap wine will be added into the expense sheet. I seem to be less frantic about cooking if I'm half sloshed when I'm doing it. Hehe!

Thanks again everyone, and keep the great ideas rolling in!