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manuel 02/21/06 |
we are planning to have a St. Patty' Day Potato Bar at Church. Need some ideas as to what to serve, topping of patatoes, and Irish meals. Thank. manuel ross |
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manuel 02/21/06 |
we are planning to have a St. Patty's Day Potato Bar at church. Need some ideas as to what to serve, topping of potatoes, and Irish meals / dishes. Any ideas for activies? manuel |
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ellen 02/22/06 |
Manuel if you will send me an email address at the link for updates below, I will send you a work sheet for planning a potato bar with 100 servings. |
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Haley 03/15/06 |
baked potato bar Dear Ellen - we are planning a baked potato bar at church for about 50 people. Is there an easy way to calculate how much of each topping we should have? We are going with basics like cheese sauce, broccoli, butter, sour cream and bacon bits. |
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Melinda 03/29/06 |
we had a baked potatoe bar at school today....we need to know, do we need to refridgerate them after cooking...what do we do with the left overs! Help |
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ellen 03/29/06 |
Yes, refrigerate the potatoes. Any toppings in room temp for two hours, discard. You can make and freeze twice baked potatoes, cut into wedges brush with olive oil and lemon juice and sprinkle with Greek or Italian seasoning and roast at 400 till brown and crispy, grate or cube and fry for hash browns or cottage fries, make potato salad- a cooked potato is never wasted. |
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Laura Schmidt 04/19/06 |
Would you send me a work sheet for planning a potato bar with 100 servings. A dear friend volunteered to cook for 125 folks for 3 days (only cook) and I am helping her plan! She did not realize how much food that was! |
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ellen 04/20/06 |
Have just posted the first draft of "Potato Bar for 100" worksheet. Link is in Big Pots, in the planning section about 1/2 way down. |
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Rose Baxter 06/26/06 |
Ellen, I am planning a July baby shower with a baked potato bar for 50 people. (The worksheet will come in very handy, Thank You!) Along with the potato bar I will be serving fresh garlic rolls, fresh fruit and a canoli type cake for dessert. Do you think this is sufficient or do I need to offer something other than the baked potato? |
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ellen 06/26/06 |
If you use some of the meaty toppings- shrimp scampi or stroganoff if upscale, chili or chop bbq if informal, you do not need an additional entree. I might check for a good selection of the salady toppings such as diced tomatoes and maybe roasted bell pepper to offset the absence of an extra veg. |
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stacy 07/31/06 |
Ellen - We are planning a potato bar for between 150 - 180 people (adults and children). We will include a taco meat on the potato bar as an option as well as the usual toppings. Should I take your ingredient list for 100 and increase by 50%? That's what I was planning to do but seems like a lot. |
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ellen 08/01/06 |
If you have 180 people with quite a few kids, 150% of 100 will be fine. If it is teens, they count as a full person. Remember that 1/4 cup per person for 150 people is nearly 40 cups=10 quarts=2 1/2 gallons. You can reducecots by offering chili with bans instead of straight taco meat. |
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Kathy griesbach 10/02/06 |
baked potato bar trinityLutheran Church Please send me instructions for a potato bar for 100 people. we are doing this as a fund raiser for a mission trip and it all new to us .thanks |
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ellen 10/02/06 |
The directions for a potato bar for 100, including how to bake that many potatoes, is already posted on my site. Link is in Big Pots, in the planning section about 1/2 way down. |
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Deanna 07/06/07 |
Ellen, Could I please have the work sheet for plannng a potato bar for 50 or more. Thanks, Deanna |
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ellen 07/06/07 |
Go to the main cook talk page and press the button labeled "Baked Potato Bar". You will know all I know about doing it- |
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Ashley 08/29/07 |
Can I pre bake my potatoes and then reheat them or is that a no? |
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ellen 08/29/07 |
Ashley, they are not delicious reheated. Either make twice-baked, which CAN be reheated, or see the baked potato bar page for how to cook them over a longer period using ice chests for storage. |
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Vickie 09/14/07 |
baked potato bar for 25 I am having 25 women volleyball players and coaches. Do you still have a worksheet that details amounts of toppings? |
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ellen 09/14/07 |
Yes it is posted on the website. See the potato button at the top of the main cooktalk page. |
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Jacque 11/05/07 |
Would you please provide instructions of how to bake and hold the warming potatoes in an electric roaster for 50 people? How long, at what temperature, etc.? Thanks. |
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ellen 11/05/07 |
All the poato baking instructions I have are on the potato bar page. If you do 50 in a roaster, remember, no foil, stand on end, allow about double the roasting time compared to a smaller number, and turn 10 180 when done. Will only hold about 2 hours before starting o get the old sweet-ish taste of overcooked potatoes. If holding, heavy skinned russets hold better than yellows or white rose. |
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Rae 03/01/08 |
We are entertaining a mixed group (nationalities) at a dinner which just so happens to be on 3/14/08. I want to do the traditional corned beef & cabbage, but am not sure how many would like this. I think the Czechs will be ok.. its the Americans I worry about. I also was thinking of a potato bar with many toppings one of them being stroganof, but I still want to have the corn beef too. Can I combine the two or should I go for something altogether different. We entertain alot of foreign military Colonels,etc. and I have to be aware of customs as well as their dislikes. Please give me any advise you can.. I want to get working on this soon. My husband will be on travel all next week so that gives me time to prepare and outline my dinner ideas and the decor. If it weren't for the fact that the 17th is St Patricks Day, I think I'd go for something with an easter theme. I know by now you can see how I could you use all your help. |
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Lisa 03/01/08 |
I am doing a potato bar on tuesday for 30 people I am serving 2 salads with the bar but nothing else but a dessert. Do you think that will be enough variety for 30 people? I was going to bring a small portion of chili but the lady that hires me said she didn't want chili since they had chili last month. so I am going to do a broccoli cheese sauce instead. Do you think that is good? |
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ellen 03/02/08 |
Rae, a baked potato bar with a corned beef and cabbage choice should answer all comers. I would allow 1 pound raw trimmed for each 4 people if there will be a meat/sauce choice with the potato, that is about half what you would allow for corned beef alone. Lisa if this is a ladies type lunch, this should be fine. If it is mixed or mostly men, you should add a meaty sauce/topping such as beef and mushroom or beef stroganoff or creamed chicken., |
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Rose Baxter 08/05/08 |
baked potato bar for 50 for the VFW I am doing a baked potato bar for 50 for our VFW post. What should be on the bar and how do we figure out how much of each item? Thank you so much! |
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ellen 08/05/08 |
Rose, read the article on baked potato bars for 100 and use half the amounts of everything in the tables. Button at the top of the main cook talk page. |
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Nancy 09/09/08 |
Is there a limit to how many baked potatoes you can put in your oven - a friend said I could burn out my oven!!?? |
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ellen 09/09/08 |
No, although it is a good idea to stick to a single layer and leave an inch all around for air circulation. 30 pounds of potatoes is no deadlier to your oven than a 30 pound turkey... |
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valton 10/24/08 |
baked potato bar/restaurant im considering starting a potato bar/restaurant. do you think this is a profitable business? is there any information you can pass along to me that will be beneficial? are there any knowm businesses that are in operation now serving mainly baked potatoes? HELP |
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ellen 10/25/08 |
Go to chef2chef.com. I would not start a food business in the current economy, particularly one that folks can do in their microwave. |
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Gloria Alcorn 01/14/09 |
Baking potatos for potato bar...cokking about 70 in a roaster. How do I do it and how long do they cook? |
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ellen 01/14/09 |
Probably a LOT for one roaster, two might be better. If you do the full amount in one, you can expect it to take 4-5 hours at 325. Did you see the info on heat and hold on the baked potato bar page? |
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Louise Reabe 01/20/09 |
Could you send the worksheets for a potato bar for 50 and for 100 as we prepare for a youth mission trip fundraiser. Thanks. |
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ellen 01/20/09 |
They are now posted- see the button at the top of the main cook talk page. |
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Gwen Mitchell 01/31/09 |
baked potato bar True Light Temple Church Please send me instructions for a potato bar for 100 people. we are doing this as a fund raiser for Vacation Bible School, and it all new to us .thanks |
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ellen 02/01/09 |
The instructions are all posted now, use the button at the top of the main cook talk page. |
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Merri 03/19/09 |
Good day - Thank you for the wonderful resource! Your recipes fit our fundraising needs so well! Just a couple of questions- could you help me the amount of chopped ham you would recommend for our baked potato bar? We are planning to offer: chopped broccoli, chopped ham along with sour cream, butter & shredded cheese. We also offer salad, sandwich meat and rolls - just incase some people don't care for baked potatoes, this is a fundraiser for our mission trip served before lenten worship. We average 100 for a dinner. Second question: The directions for the electric roaster read preheat to 400 with 10 - 15 pounds per roaster - do you continue to bake at 400? How well do they hold? We serve for 1 hour (5:30-6:30). Thank you inadvace for your advice and love your recipes! Merri |
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ellen 03/19/09 |
You want 2-3 ounces chopped ham for each person. Once they are baked, turn down to 180. They hold up to one hour. |
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ellen 03/19/09 |
If you have a roaster with the heating coil on the bottom (every brand but Nesco), put a rack under the potatoes. They bake better if put in vertically. |
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jana 04/20/09 |
I am doing a Baked Potato Bar for my daughter's graduation. No idea how many people but will work that out. My question is whether you have any ideas on how to do a buffalo chicken topping for the potatoes. She and her dad LOVE hot wings and with teenagers coming it seems like a good idea. |
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ellen 04/20/09 |
I would use the boneless chicken thigh meat chunked up into bite size pieces, fried with a seasoned crispy coating (like a sweet and sour pork piece is, but buffalo wing flavor), then put the sauces out with it and don't forget the blue cheese crumbles or blue cheese dressing if you want to be really authentic- and the celery sticks of course- You could use chunked up chicken tenders, but they will be both drier and more expensive. The thigh meat is actually closer to wing meat texture and flavor. I would allow 1 pound raw boneless chicken for each 4 people, or for each three if it is a long party, lots of guys/ heavy eaters or not too many other choices. However, consider a chili or shredded beef BBQ as a second topping- both sure to be a hit with this crowd. |
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ellen 04/20/09 |
I just read that boneless buffalo wings are available frozen. Chunk these up as an alternative to making your own. Don't forget that guacamole and sour cream would both be good toppings with this selection. |
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ellen 04/20/09 |
Here are 2 web recipes for boneless wings: www.mamasource.com/article/awesome-boneless-buffalo-wing-recipe Or for an oven-fried choice: www.hungry-girl.com/chew/chewdetails.php?isid=1309 |
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Kristie 06/04/09 |
Baked potatoes for a camping trip My family and I are camping next weekend with a group of friends (there will be about 25 of us in all). We are planning a potluck meal one night and I had thought about baking potatoes. Since we will be in a campground, I obviously won't have access to an oven, but I do have a large Rival roaster (holds about a 16 pound turkey). Could I roast the potatoes in that all day (or part of a day)? Do you put foil on them or not? Pierce them? Just wondering. Thanks! |
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ellen 06/04/09 |
Kristie, what I know about baking and holding potatoes is covered in detail on the baked potato bar page. |
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Jessica 11/09/09 |
baked potato bar Could you email me the potato bar worksheet for 100? |
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ellen 11/09/09 |
Jessica, it is now posted. You can use the "printer friendly" button at th ebottom of the article to get a page you can print yourself. |
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Maura 03/03/10 |
First off, thank you for this wonderful resource. I really appreciate it and I am so glad that I came across it. We are doing a baked potato bar and the average weight of the potatoes I picked up are 12 oz a piece. I am planning on doing the cook and hold method and I am wondering if I should bake them for longer before putting them in the cooler. |
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ellen 03/03/10 |
That's some BIG potatoes! Very good question! Yes, I would add 50% more time in the oven before transferring to the chests. |
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Sandy 03/15/10 |
I am providing the bake potato for about 50 people and have not a clue how to cook them ahead and keep them hot, etc. |
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ellen 03/15/10 |
Sandy, read the baked potato bar article. It is not complicated. |
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ESTHER ROIG 03/17/11 |
baked potato bar how to set up a baked potato bar |
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ellen 03/18/11 |
complete directions are on the potato bar page. After reading, you can post any further questions. |
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Kathy 05/23/11 |
I am hosting an open house (4 hrs.) and serving baked potatoes. How should I bake them and keep them warm so that the potatoes keep? |
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ellen 05/23/11 |
See the bake and hold instructions on the baked poato bar page. |
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Veldene 07/10/11 |
baked potato bar for a wedding My daughter is wanting a baked potato bar for her wedding. We are planning on have hamburger, ham & chicken for the meats along with chili, cheese, broccoli ect. How do I figure out how much meat to plan for each person. |
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Veldene 07/10/11 |
baked potato bar for a wedding My daughter is wanting a baked potato bar for her wedding. We are planning on have hamburger, ham & chicken for the meats along with chili, cheese, broccoli ect. How do I figure out how much meat to plan for each person. |
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ellen 07/10/11 |
Are we talking shredded meats for toppings or separate sliced meats as entrees? Write back. |
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veldene 07/27/11 |
beef & shredded or chopped chicken. Also, if we shred the chicken will it get dry? How do I keep if from drying out? |
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ellen 07/28/11 |
Use all of these:
hamburger, 1 pound raw per 4 Have a little sauce on the chicken; chicken gravy, mushroom sauce, or BBQ sauce. |
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Vickie 02/06/12 |
Please send me instructions for a potato bar for 100 people. I am doing a ladies luncheon at our church in March! THANK you so much! vmdeering@sbcglobal.net |
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ellen 02/06/12 |
Vickie, it is already posted on the website- go to the main cooktalk page and press the taco/ potato bar button. |
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Lynn 02/20/12 |
Do you have instructions for a potato bar for 150 people? I'd like to do a barbeque topping aong with green onion, sour cream, broccoli Cheddar and butter. Would you say 1/4 cup barbecue would be right amount? Thank you |
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ellen 02/21/12 |
Take the potato bar for 100 and make 1 1/2 times the amounts- all that is covered. |
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Liz 02/27/12 |
Where do you get the potatoes for a Potatoes Bar, we are planning to have one at church?? |
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ellen 02/27/12 |
A produce wholesaler, or a restaurant supply place like Sysco or Restaurant Depot, is the best choice. |
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Anita Egbert 05/22/12 |
Could you please email me a Worksheet for planning a potato Bar for a family reunion. Thanks |
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ellen 05/22/12 |
No, it is on the site, just print it off for your own use. |
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Lupe Hernandez 06/25/12 |
Please email me a worksheet for planning a potato bar for our church women's guild fundraiser for St. Patrick's Day 2013. Thanks |
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ellen 06/26/12 |
Lupe, this is on the site, you can copy it yourself or send it to yourself email: www.ellenskitchen.com/bigpots/plan/potabar1.html |
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Ann 09/04/12 |
We are having a steak dinner at our church this weekend and my husband was asked to buy the sour cream. How much should we allow per person when buying the sour cream? |
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ellen 09/04/12 |
See the baked potato bar, that is for 100, just divide to get the amount for your size group. |
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Kathy 10/29/12 |
Could I please get approx amounts for a baked potato bar for 100 |
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ellen 10/31/12 |
Yes, see the article "Taco Bar/ Baked Potato Bar for 100". The button is at the top of the main forum page. |
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Loretta 02/27/13 |
100 baked potatoe I need to know the topping amounts to buy for 100 baked potatoes please. |
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ellen 02/27/13 |
Look at the taco/potato bar, those are the toppings for 100. |
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Yvonne 02/28/13 |
I am doing a baked potato bar for my church with an estimated 125 people to attend. Can you help me figure out how much of each topping item I will need. Than you |
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ellen 02/28/13 |
Yvonne, go to the taco/potato bar page and use 1 1/4 times the amount for 100. www.ellenskitchen.com/bigpots/plan/potabar1.html |
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Anita 07/14/14 |
baked potato bar / vacation Bible school We are planning a baked poato bar, and a taco bar, for VBS, I just need an idea of how to cook all these potato's and how much I will need, Also for the taco Bar How much meat I should get.. We are planning for 100, it will be mostly kids 6-18 ages, and we thought since it is kids, we would use smaller potato's then the bigger ones any help would greatly be appreciated |
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ellen 07/14/14 |
Anita, how to cook and hold the poatotes is discussed in some detail on the taco/potato bar page. The kids from 6-10 do want a whole potato, but only eat about 1/2 of the toppings an adult would eat, so make a rough count of the kids by age to figure your number of servings; but also, don't forget to count the staff and cooks. And do the same size potato for everyone, not too big. For the taco bar, use the amounts for 100 on the taco bar page, but cut back everything except the shells/tortillas 10%. |
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Allie 01/18/15 |
Are the baked potatoes good in the electric roaster or better in the oven and why not put foil ???? |
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ellen 01/18/15 |
No foil is explained on the potato bar page. basically, a food safety issue. A bit dryer and fluffier in the regular oven, but both work. |