mamapjama Posted March 29, 2009 Share Posted March 29, 2009 We try to eat very healthy here. If it is in the house it is just temptation. So we don't have chips, pop, etc. Last night we ended having a very impromput gathering of about 25 people as families popped by to watch us boiling maple syrup and to sample some fresh from the pan. So all of a sudden I need to feed people! Which is completely fine, but I never really feel organized for this type of thing. I ended up whipping up some crab cakes and some goat sausage. And thank goodness one of my completely resourceful friends brought some freshly made rolls, and her husband cooked up pork slices with maple syrup to go with the rolls. And they had some other things and homemade pickles. What kind of thing would you be able to throw together on short notice for a sizeable group? No one expected anything, but I did want to have food available. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tammy Posted March 29, 2009 Share Posted March 29, 2009 It wouldn't be possible at my house, LOL. I need to know ahead of time if I plan on feeding 25 people! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TXMomof4 Posted March 29, 2009 Share Posted March 29, 2009 Pancake mix. You can make 5 or 50 on short notice. Everyone hangs out in the kitchen anyway - so whip out those pancakes and everyone is happy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frogpond1 Posted March 29, 2009 Share Posted March 29, 2009 I couldn't do an impromptu 25 either. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mom2boys Posted March 29, 2009 Share Posted March 29, 2009 What kind of thing would you be able to throw together on short notice for a sizeable group? Take out! :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
~Jenn~ Posted March 29, 2009 Share Posted March 29, 2009 Yeah...take out would be the only option unless everybody would be happy with a bowl of oatmeal and hard boiled eggs.:D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SheWillFly Posted March 29, 2009 Share Posted March 29, 2009 I wouldn't have been able to throw anything together to feed more than say one extra person without notice. I plan my meals according to my schedule for the week, our family size and our budget. To feed 25 people I would have ended up emptying our pantry for the week. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stansclan89 Posted March 29, 2009 Share Posted March 29, 2009 There are 8 of us already, so doubling the number I could do without a thought (I always make extra to have leftovers). Tripling would take more thought but would still be doable. With Maple syrup cooking, I would be tempted to make breakfast--pancakes or waffles, eggs, ham or sausage or bacon, fresh fruit cut up, juice and milk... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mommyof4ks Posted March 29, 2009 Share Posted March 29, 2009 WOW, I'm impressed! If 25 people were coming to my house someone better stop by Pizza Hut if they want to eat LOL!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Renthead Mommy Posted March 29, 2009 Share Posted March 29, 2009 Okay, if you making maple syrup, I'm guessing you probably aren't living in the middle of decent sized city with a great grocery store so this may not work for you. I've usually only got enough food for about 4 1/2 days to feed 2 adults and a 6yo. We eat out too often to stock up on more than that! LOL! If I have suddenly more people, it's usually families with a lot of kids, so yeah, we tend to go the pancakes/waffles way. Chocolate chips dress stuff up pretty well for kids! As for adults, if I knew I was suddenly going to gave 25 extra people, I'd go pick up a few rotisserier chickens, a bunch of sushi trays, some veggies and dips, a few bags of frozen soybeans in the pods and some breads or rolls from the bakery. Super easy, all pre made, yet good and for the most part healthy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
missplacedalaskan Posted March 30, 2009 Share Posted March 30, 2009 If I had my pressure cooker available I could fix up a large batch of red beans & rice or chili. I usually have dried beans in the house and in the pressure cooker they don't take a terribly long time to cook...but I would still need about an hour to pull it all together.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peela Posted March 30, 2009 Share Posted March 30, 2009 I make lunch for between 12 and 18 people twice a week, at home. It's vegetarian. It's some sort of casserole, or curry, and rice, or soup and garlic bread, most times. Sometimes pasta and sauce (pesto or tomato). But I have the plates and glasses and cutlery and large pot and rice cooker to deal with the numbers. If I didnt, I would buy out (sushi is good). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
katemary63 Posted March 30, 2009 Share Posted March 30, 2009 Goat sausage? Do tell..what exactly is this? Like sausage links for on a bun made out of goat meat? Or ground goat meat with sausage spices? What do you do with it? Reason is, we raise meat goats now and we will butcher our first goat this fall for the freezer and have never eaten goat on a regualar basis before. ( we have tasted it and know we like it) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EKS Posted March 30, 2009 Share Posted March 30, 2009 Spaghetti. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Julie in CA Posted March 30, 2009 Share Posted March 30, 2009 I'd do mexican-- I almost always have a big pot of homemade refried beans in my fridge, and as a backup I keep the yucky canned kind in the pantry. I have an easy mexican rice recipe that uses ingredients I always have on hand. I'd make quesadillas to go with it, since I always have cheddar cheese and almost always have a big bag of tortillas. All of it is easy and *cheap*. Alternatively, I also tend to keep a lot of eggs on hand, and I can whip out huge omelettes filled with whatever's in the fridge. I keep bread in my freezer, and I could probably also do grilled cheese sandwiches. I always have frozen lemon juice or lemonade concentrate, so drinks would be covered. Lots of soups are easy/fast/cheap. If you have some potatoes, milk, onions, it's pretty easy and quick to whip up a big pot of potato soup. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tutor Posted March 30, 2009 Share Posted March 30, 2009 I would just toss together a simple soup and salad or make rice and stir fry with whatever I had on hand. Although, with maple syrup abounding, pancakes, waffles, or oatmeal would be rather quick and appropriate also. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mom2abcd Posted March 30, 2009 Share Posted March 30, 2009 I keep a 10# can of chili beans on hand for cases like this. Add veggies, tomato juice, etc. Other soup recipes can stretch to feed 25 pretty easily, too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peachskittles Posted March 30, 2009 Share Posted March 30, 2009 They would starve here LOL...Seriously, we buy enough for the week...My younger son has food allergies/intolerances as well, so food is a bit more expensive...I don't think I know 25 people to come over either...I might be able to get 10 people together...Twenty five would never happen... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Katrina Posted March 30, 2009 Share Posted March 30, 2009 Uh...water? and that's only if I have enough clean glasses. :001_smile: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
katemary63 Posted March 30, 2009 Share Posted March 30, 2009 Uh...water? and that's only if I have enough clean glasses. :001_smile: :lol: That's me too! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mamapjama Posted March 30, 2009 Author Share Posted March 30, 2009 Uh...water? and that's only if I have enough clean glasses. :001_smile: :lol: That's along my normal line or preparedness too! These are wonderful ideas. I'm going to print them off and create a little stash of supplies to keep at the ready. The other challenge to the night was that everyone was standing outside around the stove enjoying the smell of maple syrup as it bubbled and boiled. I generally don't use anything that is a one time use product, and as a result I don't have paper plates on hand. But I guess I should get a stash of those for next time too as I was lugging my plates and bowls etc. outside. katemary63 goat sausage is lovely! A friend of mine raises organically raised meat goats. She sells ground sausage, pepperoni, ground meat (wonderful - very little fat). The sausage we had this weekend had goat meat and feta cheese in it. So good! We do everything from slicing them and putting them on pizza to putting them in buns or eating them sliced with pancakes or omlettes. If you would like her email address or website let me know. She may have some ideas for you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
klmama Posted March 30, 2009 Share Posted March 30, 2009 I would have had a friend slice a bag of apples and I would have made popcorn. For 25 people, four or five batches would have done it. To make it an extra special experience, I would even have added some maple syrup to the oil in the pan to make kettle corn. It takes quite a bit longer that way, but it turns out very tasty! Just make sure you stir immediately upon putting it in the oil, or it will burn to the bottom of the pan. You do have to stir a lot while it's heating - I use one of those kettles with the crank for turning a wire to stir the popcorn. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AuntPol Posted March 30, 2009 Share Posted March 30, 2009 Here: Cut up whatever fresh fruit we have and probably end up opening a few cans and make a fruit tray. I make a fruit dip of cream cheese and marshmallow cream. I alway keep a jar of that cream in the back of the pantr for emergencies and usually have a block of cream cheese in the freezer. Ditto fresh vegetables and a ranch dip. I can throw a couple of different cereals together with some chocolate chips, dried fruits, and nuts for a trail/party mix. I usually have a package of sausage and can make sausage balls with Bisquick and cheese. For a real meal -pancakes, spaghetti, or quick chili are probably the best choices for last minute cooking for large groups. Maybe a baked potato bar if you microwave the potatoes. Nachos if you have tortilla chips. Deviled Eggs What I do with leftovers sometimes is take the cheap canned biscuits and put bits of the dough into a mini muffin pan to make a crust and fill with bits of leftover whatever -sloppy joe mix, taco meat, chili, green bean casserole and bake. You can also just brown meat, add some Bq sauce and top with cheese and bake. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kewb Posted March 30, 2009 Share Posted March 30, 2009 Impromptu 25. It would be a good way to clean out the fridge, I suppose. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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