Cook Talk

Graduation party on Sun. 6/12
Marie
06/07/16 		Hi Ellen~
Having a H.S. Graduation party for my daughter and desperately need help. Already I've learned a lot from your pages. I've looked through your site but my mind is swimming & confused. Can't figure out how much to get with the combination of food I am planning. Especially the chocolate fountain items and sandwich meats. Estimating 75-100 people (55 confirmed Yes by evite (25 adults, 29 kids), 22 families not yet replied by evite, + 50 teen invites w/o rsvp handed out, some for their families. est. about 25 from this group?). Party is from 4-8pm this coming Sunday. "Light refreshments & cake" but i want to have enough food.

Menu:
-Meatballs in sauce (planning 20 lbs of Costco meatballs, in ketchup grape jelly sauce)
-Self serve mini sandwiches (using dinner rolls 36ct/bags from Costco. some people will eat just the rolls)
-Turkey & ham deli meat: 20 lbs total
-Cheese slices: 9 lbs
-Condiments:
mayo 3qts
mustard 2 qts
honey mustard 1 qt
lettuce? 8 heads
butter 2 lbs.
-Crackers 8 lbs
----served w/ spinach artichoke dip ? lbs & basil s.d.tomato cream cheese tortes ?
-Fruit trays: 4 - 20" serve 25 each, per your page
-Veggie platter 12.5 lbs total of: carrots, grape tomatoes, celery, bell peppers, pea pods, cucumber, olives (love your cabbage dip cup idea!!!!)
-Tortilla chips 8 lbs & salsa ?
-Chocolate fountain w/ strawberries, large marshmallows, banana chunks in skins?, nutter butter cookies, pretzel rods for dipping in fountain.
-Cake: 1/2 chocolate double layer sheet cake, 1/2 double layer white sheetcake from Costco (each serves 48).
-Drinks: I have yet to look at your beverage planning page...water, lemonade, cran/apple juice & gingerale punch. Should I also serve bottled sodas & iced teas?

How do my quantities look? And would you add anything? Supposed to be 90 degrees out so planning to serve food & cake inside, and chocolate fountain & drinks out on deck.

Thank you!!!!

Marie
06/07/16 		Oh No, I saw your chocolate fountain page and now I am thinking i shouldn't do it. We have lots of kids coming.
ellen
06/07/16 		I am concerned you may have substantially underestimated your attendance. Evite is notorious for unexpected guests and even party crashers. But even just invited, if you sent 80 evites, expect at least 68 yesses, some multiples, and with the teens and families, another 50; so that looks like closer to 150, rather than 100... Your amounts are pretty good for 100- you can always call for some pizza delivery if things get out of hand!

Skipping the chocolate fountain is a really good idea.

-Meatballs in sauce (planning 20 lbs of Costco meatballs, in ketchup grape jelly sauce)- OK

-Self serve mini sandwiches (using dinner rolls 36ct/bags from Costco. some people will eat just the rolls)
-Turkey & ham deli meat: 20 lbs total
-Cheese slices: 9 lbs
-Condiments:
mayo 3qts
mustard 2 qts
honey mustard 1 qt
lettuce? 8 heads
butter 2 lbs.
OK plenty for 100+

-Crackers 8 lbs
----served w/ spinach artichoke dip, 1 pint per 15 lbs &
basil s.d.tomato cream cheese tortes , 1 small slice per person (about 2 bites)
-Fruit trays: 4 - 20" serve 25 each, per your page- OK
-Veggie platter 12.5 lbs total of: carrots, grape tomatoes, celery, bell peppers, pea pods, cucumber, olives (love your cabbage dip cup idea!!!!) OK

Tortilla chips 8 lbs & salsa ? pint per pound, serves 100

Chocolate fountain w/ strawberries, large marshmallows, banana chunks in skins?, nutter butter cookies, pretzel rods for dipping in fountain.
As noted in article, consider just doing fruit trays per the fruit tray page

-Cake: 1/2 chocolate double layer sheet cake, 1/2 double layer white sheetcake from Costco (each serves 48). 1/2 sheet two layer will serve 60.

water, pint per person, buy where you can return unopened cases
lemonade, 6 gallons per 100
cran/apple juice, could skip or sub for lemonade
gingerale punch, see punch thread, 6 gallons per 100
Yes to iced tea, inexpensive, 6 gallons per 100 with the other beverages; 1/3 unsweetened. Lots of fruity interesting flavors available!

Now it's my turn to ask a favor of you. EllensKitchen.com is remodeling and I want to provide the changes YOU (my readers) have been asking for. So after 18 years of supporting my readers as a hobby, I'm asking you for help
We're 15% of the way to our goal for the next three months. If you're able to donate even just $5, please click on the masthead at the top of the page to visit www.EllensBigPots.com and keep us cooking for another year!

Marie
06/08/16 		Thank you so much for your help!!! I appreciate it you are a life saver!!! Will be glad to give a donation. Just a couple more questions...
1-How many of the dinner rolls would you estimate are needed for people to make their mini sandwiches or eat with butter? maybe 3 rolls per person?

2-To clarify, is it one pint of artichoke dip per 1 lb crackers?

3-Beverages: How many gallons total would you say to plan for 100 for 4 hour openhouse? Do I need 6 gallons each (18 gallons total not including the water) of lemonade, iced tea, and the gingerale/cranapple juice punch, plus a decanter of iced water with limes/lemons in it that I can refill?

Temp for the day has changed from 93 now to 81. How much do I fluctuate for drinks?

Thanks again!

ellen
06/08/16 		1. 12-14 pounds per 100
2. Yes, with artichoke dip, maybe a little more- or add second dip/salsa
3Besides water, at least 1 pint per person not counting ice. Divide total according to local taste and age-

You are welcome

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