Family reunion
Old Mel
07/02/07 		I am having a family reunion for about 75 people. We are having corn on the cob (on the grill) brat, burgers, and hotdogs for the youngest. Potato salad, cuke salad, veggie macaroni salad, veggies, deviled eggs, baked beans, potato chips and a few appetizers,and a sheet cake with ice cream for dessert. How much of everything do I need?
ellen
07/02/07 		Hi, Mel,

Almost all these items, including all your adult foods. are covered in the plan for 100 table. I generally allow 1 burger (4 to the pound) PLUS 4 ounces brat per person for all the grownups, you will have some left but less than you expect, and grilled burgers do freeze well. There are recipes for all the rest as well as the tables, just make 3/4 the amount for 100. In case I haven't posted it yet, here is the cuke salad for 100.

arts

8 1/2 pounds cucumbers, sliced thin
1 1/4 pound onions, sliced thin
6 cups sour cream
6 cups mayonaise
3 teaspoons salt
5 tablespoons sugar
14 ounces light vinegar
1/4 cup dill weed

Combine sour cream, mayo, vinegar, salt and sugar to make a thin creamy dressing. Pour over cucumbers and onions and combine gently. Chill covered at least 1 hour, or overnight.
If peeling cucumbers add 1 pound. Burpless or English style have more tender skins.

Frances
07/05/07 		Our family wants fried fish for the reunion. unfortuately no one wants to cook it.

How early would i need to start frying fish, fries and hush puupies to be finished befroe lunch?

If it was fried early morning what would be the best way to keep it warm? If it was kept in an ice chest wrapped in foil would that wok or will it just all get smashed and soggy?

ellen
07/06/07 		Frances, I am sorry to say i know of no way to hold fried fish successfully- mayba a reader will help us.

You don't say how many people. There are caterers who specialize in bbq and fried fish, and one option is to hire the fryers and do the side dishes yourself. Another is to look into ordering the fish, fries and hush puppies and pick them up or have them delivered at lunchtime.

I don't recommend self-catering fried fish. The amount of hot oil is expensive and dangerous.

Bonnie
06/24/09 		WE are having a reunion this weekend, We are grilling burgers and to keep them warm we are putting them in a nesco roaster. What can we put on them in the roaster to keep them moist and not dry out.
ellen
06/24/09 		Put a rack in the roaster and fill the area under it with beef broth. Set the temp for 180 and preheat before adding patties. Keep the lid on.

If you make the burger mix with just a bit of moistened bread crumb, this will help. There is an article on this in the last Cook's Illustrated.