Roped into cooking for 40 people - HELP!

[Chocolate Teapot]

Mods - please can we leave this thread in here and not in the food forum, need as many responses as possible, thanks

Basically my future Mother in law organized a party for her family and friends (around 30 - 40 people) for her sons 18th, she has been really ill all week and has asked if I would sort out all the food for it, I begrudgingly agreed

it's a help yourself from a table of food kind of thing, so far previous to her falling sick she asked me to make a huge chili for everyone so we already have that prepared, looking for ideas and suggestions on what else to serve with it all.

So far I was thinking:

Chili
Rice
Nachos
Parmesan
Tortillas (maybe)
Salad

The rest I am unsure of, what else could we do that would go well with the chili?

Other stipulations are it's not got to cost silly money and it has definitely got to be easy to make and prepare!

Thanks all

[Mars]

If you're going with Tex/Mex then fajtas and tachos are easy to put together too. You only need to throw chicken strips into a pot with some spicy sauce for the fajitas, then microwave the tortillas for a minute. Similar with tachos.

Just do lots of chopped salad in bowls.

Grated cheese too.

And Doritos with dips everywhere.

[Shaw Tarse]

A veggie option might be worth thinking about?
Cheese & pineapple on cocktail sticks?

[plg101]

Cool yogurt dip? (Yogurt, cucumber, spices)

Veggie option needed - 3 bean version (cans of 3 bean types available from most supermarkets) - make in parallel with the chilli, make up a spicy tomato sauce, then use the beans at the end of the process (not the start or they will break up)

Guacamole

Refried beans

Or tortilla stack - http://www.recipezaar.com/Eight-Layer-Tortilla-Sta... - easy to bake?

[trumpet600]

Jacket potatoes? Dead simple food to prepare and doesn't cost a lot. Beans, grated cheese, coleslaw or chilli to fill.

a bigbowl of pasta with peppers,corn, olives, tuna or whatever takes your fancy to mix in with it. Again, costs bugger all and is quite filling

[muley]

You're on the right track. Sounds good.

What you could do is cook a chicken and take the meat off in smallish bits - or buy chicken pieces. Then on a big dish create 2-3 layers of nachos, chicken, tinned chopped tomatoes,grated edam cheese, jalapenos/olives (optional) and chuck it into a preheated oven for 15 mins or so - just as the top nachos get black at the very corners. Serve with soured cream.

Edited by muley on Saturday 13th December 10:27

[rhinochopig]

What about a big pan of beef stew with some jackets for the "I ain't eating that foreign muck" generation.

You can cook it prior to the day and then reheat so about as stress free as you can get.

[TWSTEEL]

Toreador pancakes

Use ASDA ready made pancakes or make your own but it sounds like you'll be rushed a bit
In a bowl, mix corned beef and onion and mash well
Place some of the corned beef mixture into each pancake and roll up
Lay filled pancakes in a lasagne dish
Pour condensed tomato soup over
Sprinkle crushed plain crisps over
Put aside till you're ready to party
Bake at gas mark 5, 190°c or 375°f for approx 20 minutes

[RJE1966]

trumpet600 said:

Jacket potatoes? Dead simple food to prepare and doesn't cost a lot. Beans, grated cheese, coleslaw or chilli to fill.

a bigbowl of pasta with peppers,corn, olives, tuna or whatever takes your fancy to mix in with it. Again, costs bugger all and is quite filling

Yep.....having had to cater for large groups in the past that is spot on advice.....and don't forget a pudding

Edited by RJE1966 on Saturday 13th December 10:30

[sprinter885]

Outside Caterers !! It's too near Christmas to be roped in for that amount of aggro.

[TWSTEEL]

sprinter885 said:

Outside Caterers !! It's too near Christmas to be roped in for that amount of aggro.

££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££

[Chocolate Teapot]

trumpet600 said:

Jacket potatoes? Dead simple food to prepare and doesn't cost a lot. Beans, grated cheese, coleslaw or chilli to fill.

a bigbowl of pasta with peppers,corn, olives, tuna or whatever takes your fancy to mix in with it. Again, costs bugger all and is quite filling

Sounds excellent everyone!

So far got:

Chili
3 bean chili or a vegi pasta dish
Rice
jacket potatoes
Nachos
Tortillas
Crusty bread
Parmesan (finely sliced)
Cheddar (grated)
Coleslaw
Guacamole
Humous
Cool yoghurt dip
Salad
Sausage selection

Gateaux of some sort
Cheescake
Cheese and biscuits possibly

future MIL says get a few small pizzas as well as there are a few young kids going

Do you think the above (in large enough quantities) will be enough choice for 40?

sprinter885 said:

Outside Caterers !! It's too near Christmas to be roped in for that amount of aggro.

I enjoy cooking it's just a bit short notice and having not slept because our 8 month old was awake most of last night the creative juices just aren't flowing yet

Edited by Chocolate Teapot on Saturday 13th December 10:45

[Snag1981]

Have you seen the advert for Iceland that's on at the moment?

[Shaw Tarse]

Snag1981 said:

Have you seen the advert for Iceland that's on at the moment?

I was going to suggest that, a couple of packs of their party food wouldn't cost a lot.
Spicy chicken wings are quite easy to make and cheap.
When is the party?
Try to prepare stuff the day before.

[staceyb]

If you are going tex/mex get a big watermelon (if you can find one) and just do big chunks for a dessert.

I would also vote for a few of the party platter things from tesco or somewhere as well the stuff you are already doing.

And I wouldn't make the chilli too spicy as the older family members may not like it.

[Chocolate Teapot]

Shaw Tarse said:

Snag1981 said:

Have you seen the advert for Iceland that's on at the moment?

I was going to suggest that, a couple of packs of their party food wouldn't cost a lot.
Spicy chicken wings are quite easy to make and cheap.
When is the party?
Try to prepare stuff the day before.

Tomorrow

Not really into the whole pre prepared shove in the oven stuff, would rather go fresh and simple as much as possible, planning on doing all the prep tonight.

have it all worked out now so thanks everyone

Mains:

Chili (already made)
Pasta (pasta spirals, corn, red pepper, olives, basil, cherry tomatoes, sliced mozzerella, olive oil dressing - all served cold)
Sausage selection (wild boar, tomato and pork, linconshire and sausage in bacon)

Sides:

Rice
Tortilla
Doritos
Crusty Bread
Coleslaw
Guacamole
Humous
Cool yoghurt dip
Salad
Jacket potatoes
Cheddar (grated)
Parmesan (finely sliced)

Desserts:

Gateaux
Mince pies (brandy butter and double cream)
Cheese board (Brie, stilton, cheddar, edam, grapes, pickled onions, pork pie, pate, biscuit selection, crusty bread & some other cheeses I can't think of from the shop)

[plg101]

Sounds good... can we all come as well?

[davido140]

pretend you have Aids, the BAD kind.

Problem solved, no body will want you cooking for them, might cause a few probs with the Fiance though.

[gazza_3]

Get a meal for one from the local Chinse place. Just times it buy 40.

[elster]

18th Birthday party.

Surely only alcohol and lots of his female friends are required..food at an 18th. You must be joking.

But on a serious note, if you can't be bothered go to a local food serving pub and see what they can knock up for you. Sure a few easy dishes won't cost the earth.