Ottakee Posted September 8, 2013 Share Posted September 8, 2013 Tomorrow is a church picnic at the church we have been attending for the past 5 months or so. It is a large congregation of about 800 between the 2 services. The picnic is at the township park and 2 groups are cooking up chicken. We were instructed to bring a dish to pass---side dish or dessert. I always worry about their being enough food. Our last church only averaged about 150 and we would bring 2 dishes to pass, not just one. It will be dh and I along with our 3 kids, foster ds who will be 12 this week, and 2 extra boys that are 13 and 14. Basically it is 6 teenagers and 2 adults. So far I have: a large bowl of homemade cucumber salsa with a big bag of chips a large bowl of homemade freezer pickles a large bowl of fresh melon cut up (well, I will cut it up in the morning) Just wondering, should I also try to make my taco rollups or a pumpkin or pineapple cake? I have 3 items already but they aren't really "fill you up" type things. Since this is our first church picnic with this new church I don't know if the church also provides rolls or potato salad, etc. or if they do just the chicken. I also have no idea how many of the 800 will really come to the picnic. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Momling Posted September 8, 2013 Share Posted September 8, 2013 I always figure... if it's a potluck, it shouldn't matter how many parishioners are coming to the potluck... it just matters how many people you're bringing. So if every family who comes brings a dish that could theoretically feed their own family (if you were willing to eat only melon, freezer pickles and cucumber salsa, for example), then you're doing your part. You're just 'trading' with other families when you sample their dishes. Of course, you expect leftovers, so I usually bring more than that. But still, you should bring whatever you'd normally bring when you were at your last church, because it's about the ratio of people to food... not about the actual quantity of people. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chelle in MO Posted September 8, 2013 Share Posted September 8, 2013 In my world, that would be enough to contribute. Have fun! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lara in Colo Posted September 8, 2013 Share Posted September 8, 2013 I always bring enough to feed my people plus two I guess if I were you, I would make something else--- perhaps another side dish Since you don't know how tjis church works, I would rather bring stuff home than feel bad because there wasn't enough. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tiffnkids Posted September 8, 2013 Share Posted September 8, 2013 Sounds like plenty. Most potlucks have an insane amount of food (maybe because everyone is worried about not bringing enough)! My rule of thumb for these type of events is to triple what I would normally make as a side dish for my family. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TammyinTN Posted September 8, 2013 Share Posted September 8, 2013 That sound great...enjoy! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mom2samlibby Posted September 8, 2013 Share Posted September 8, 2013 I don't think it's enough. I usually think of a side as something more filling, for ex., baked beans, cheesy potatoes, or a desert. I went to a potluck a couple of months ago and each family brought something small to eat. If I wouldn't have shown up with cowboy baked beans, we all would have left hungry. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zoobie Posted September 8, 2013 Share Posted September 8, 2013 That sounds like plenty because the church is providing the main dish. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Julie in CA Posted September 8, 2013 Share Posted September 8, 2013 I'd mentally picture 8 plates, and then I'd try to imagine whether the food I had there would be enough to roughly fill the plates. If not, I'd bring something more, probably something filling, but cheap. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happy Posted September 8, 2013 Share Posted September 8, 2013 We actually went to a church where there was often NOT enough food. More than once--baffling to me. Families of four would bring a small side dish--and that's all. Our family is used to cooking for groups so we would do huge amounts of something simple--corn or green beans, plus a side dish kind of casserole and a dessert. Ever since going there, I've been nervous about potlucks. I still think you are okay, OP. Have fun! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ottakee Posted September 8, 2013 Author Share Posted September 8, 2013 Well, I got back on time from my early morning horseback ride so I decided to make the pumpkin cake with apple cider glaze. It is SUPER easy and quick---and the glaze goes on warm so that helps with time. I feel a bit better now. I have been to picnics with not enough food. I need to remind my crew to take SOME and then they can go back after everyone else is through the line. I hate when I see kids and teens go through the line ahead of the adults (esp. the elderly) and take 4 desserts and lots of the sides and then throw 1/2 of it away. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
QueenCat Posted September 8, 2013 Share Posted September 8, 2013 My rule of thumb is to bring enough to fill my family, and then a bit more. So I bring enough to fill at least 5 plates. Not that we'd eat all of one food but it gives me an idea of quantity. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ottakee Posted September 8, 2013 Author Share Posted September 8, 2013 It worked out very well. They had a LOT of extra chicken but they made 600 leg quarters. Nice variety of dishes and enough for all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happy Posted September 8, 2013 Share Posted September 8, 2013 It worked out very well. They had a LOT of extra chicken but they made 600 leg quarters. Nice variety of dishes and enough for all. SO glad it worked out well. I can't help but think if you hadn't made the cake this morning, there would not have been enough... :lol: The pumpkin cake sounds yum....care to share the recipe? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ottakee Posted September 8, 2013 Author Share Posted September 8, 2013 Pumpkin Cake 1 white or yellow cake mix 1 15 oz. can pumpkin (the plain stuff, not pie mix) Mix together and spread in a 7x11 pan (that pyrex one you never know what do to with) Batter will be very thick. Bake at 350 for about 30 minutes. Let cool 15 minutes or so and then glaze with 1 1/2-2 cups powdered sugar 1 tsp. pumpkin pie spice (or a bit less) 1/4 cup apple cider That is it. Super easy and very yummy. The cake is also great with cream cheese frosting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lara in Colo Posted September 9, 2013 Share Posted September 9, 2013 Pumpkin Cake 1 white or yellow cake mix 1 15 oz. can pumpkin (the plain stuff, not pie mix) Mix together and spread in a 7x11 pan (that pyrex one you never know what do to with) Batter will be very thick. Bake at 350 for about 30 minutes. Let cool 15 minutes or so and then glaze with 1 1/2-2 cups powdered sugar 1 tsp. pumpkin pie spice (or a bit less) 1/4 cup apple cider That is it. Super easy and very yummy. The cake is also great with cream cheese frosting. you don't eggs or oil or...anything to the mix, just pumpkin?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WestHoustonMom Posted September 9, 2013 Share Posted September 9, 2013 you don't eggs or oil or...anything to the mix, just pumpkin?? I wouldn't think so. Canned pumpkin works really well with cake mix. I make great muffins with just spice cake mix and plain canned pumpkin. They always come out nice and fluffy, and if you make them in small muffin tins they're 1 point on weight watchers. (At least they used to be, it's been awhile since I've been back to weight watchers, and they've changed programs a few times.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
---- Posted September 9, 2013 Share Posted September 9, 2013 . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ottakee Posted September 9, 2013 Author Share Posted September 9, 2013 It is a bit denser but very simple. NO eggs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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