25th Wedding Anniversary
Michelle
05/23/11 		Hi Ellen, I am cooking for 140 people, I went on your plan for a hundred. What do you think about these quantities.

25 heads of lettuce
25 lb of boneless ham
110 pieces of chicken thighs & drum sticks
280 meatballs
13dz rolls
22lb pasta shells
45lb baby carrots
60lb roasted potatoes

ellen
05/23/11 		Hi, Michelle, it looks like you are making a good start, and could you outline your actual menu and tell me what else you are serving? For example, what sauce for the pasta? Is the ham for sandwiches, and if so, what about sandwich condiments?
It is also helpful to know what time the party starts and how long it lasts, as both affect quantities.
Write back.
Michelle
05/24/11 		Hi Ellen, The party begins at 1:00 pm they will be serving their own appetizers. I will serve dinner between 1:30 - 2:00 o'clock. It is a buffet so I have staff to serve so we can control portion size. I have homemade spaghetti sauce to go with the shells and meatballs, I'm baking the ham in coke, brown sugar and pineapple and have bake chicken(thighs & drumsticks) to go with the carrots and roasted potatoes. I also have a garden salad and rolls and butter.They have their own desserts the party ends at 5:00pm
ellen
05/24/11 		OK. You are over what I would do on some items, especially since there are appetizers and desserts:

for 140 people, I went on your plan for a hundred. What do you think about these quantities.

25 heads of lettuce- how about a more interesting salad? Look at the salads that hold, esp the Greek village salad- do only about 120 servings
25 lb of boneless ham-OK, you may have leftovers
110 pieces of chicken thighs & drum sticks-OK
280 meatballs- OK if large, allow 3 if small.
13dz rolls- OK, if dinner rolls, 4 pounds butter
22lb pasta shells- 18 pounds
45lb baby carrots-30 pounds
60lb roasted potatoes-45-50 pounds (you have pasta)

Michelle
05/25/11 		Thank you very much Ellen, this was helpful.