Family Reunion - Pasta in Roaster Oven?
Deb
11/14/08 		We'd like to make a special dinner for our Christmas Family Gathering (40 adults, 20 teens, & 20 children). Because we'll be in a hotel hospitality room, we'll be using roaster ovens. What's the best menu option? If we choose pasta, can we make it ahead of time and then mix it with the sauce in the roaster oven? While brainstorming possibilities, someone suggested goulash, because it was Grandma's favorite -- would that be possible?
ellen
11/15/08 		Goulash is perfect. Use 375 to start, turn to 325, cook about the same amount of time as you would on high in a crock pot.If I were trying to do pasta in this situation, I would make a pasta casserole (tetrazzini, mac and cheese, lasagna, etc) store in baggies and bake/heat in the roaster.
Deb
11/16/08 		Would we need two roasters for for the goulash (80 people total)? So our best bet is to make the goulash a couple of days ahead of time (boil the noodles & mix with the rest of the goulash), then put in containers & refrigerate until a few hours before dinner...then reheat in the roaster oven? Or should we put the raw noodles into the roaster & cook them there? Thanks so much for all of your advice -- it's a little unnerving trying it for the first time at the event.
ellen
11/17/08 		If you cook the noodles the day ahead, don't mix them with the meat- see the spaghetti/ lotsa pasta page for precooking and storing pasta. Don't refrigerate the stew for more than 72 hours- if you need to keep it longer, freeze and thaw. I would use 2 roasters for this main dish for 80 people.