Reunion food- Cooking Ideas

Cooking for large groups
  Cooking for Large Groups is a Windows-based software program with over 1400 recipes that can be adjusted instantly to serve any size reunion. It also has extensive guidelines about institutional cooking and very useful conversion utilities. Details at www.cookinglarge.com. Cooking for Large Groups is customizable and bundled with hardcopy cookbooks.
  Convert recipes from any cookbook into electronic format. The program can instantly adjust recipe ingredient amounts based on the desired number of servings, and it has a tool for converting within and between Imperial and metric units of measurement. An egg conversion utility calculates the number of medium or large whole eggs needed to yield a desired quantity of shelled eggs. Once a recipe is adjusted, results can be saved to your computer or printed.
Cooking for Large Groups is so easy to use that a manual is unnecessary. Contact OSHA DATA/CIH, Inc, 12 Hoffman St., Maplewood NJ 07040-1114; 973-378-8011. Or order online at www.reunionsmag.com.
  System requirements: Windows 98/NT 4.0/XP, Intel Pentium Processor or better, 32 MB RAM, 20 MB free hard disk space, CD-ROM drive, SVGA monitor, keyboard, web browser (Netscape Communicator or Microsoft Internet Explorer), Adobe Reader, Window-compatible pointing device.


Miscellaneous food/ menu ideas
  Have chicken and pasta catered. Then, assign dessert, salads, casseroles, vegetable dishes and fresh corn.
  Soak corn in water early in the day. Don't bother shucking; just put the damp ears on the grill and let them steam-cook.
  Make-your-own-taco bar. Everyone brings favorite toppings. You may need to coordinate to have a variety but several people can bring the same thing (salsa, for example) so you have enough.
  Make-a-pizza bar. Again, coordinate everyone bringing favorite toppings. Use English muffins for little individual pizzas or loaves of French bread and let each family make a pizza. Have a contest for most toppings or most creative use of toppings.
  Kid food is a big thing. Have simple things like cereal and juice available and understand that children have different appetites. Many planners erroneously think kids can be easily integrated into sharing an adults’ buffet, but this doesn’t always work. The list of what works for kids is remarkably consistent: chicken fingers, macaroni and cheese, PB&J and Rice Krispie treats are all hits. Offer a variety so even picky eaters can sit down with something on their plates.
  Lower the kids’ buffet to their eye level -- to milk crates that even the smallest diners can reach.

Large group measuring
  Very few people ever have the responsibility to serve a meal for hundreds of people.
We found these interesting measures on the Kentucky Fried Chicken web site (www.kfc.com) along with other reunion hints.

  KFC estimates your chicken needs for adults at 2 1/2 pieces of chicken or 6 nuggets each. Therefore, if you are expecting 100 adults and children, you will need 250 pieces of chicken and 3 1/2 gallons (28 pints) of side dish items. Remember, 16 ounces is a pint and 8 pints is a gallon.

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