Large Family Recipe

by April Hall

Overview

Never underestimate the importance of family dinners. They are generally cheaper and healthier than the fast food we often try to pass off as an evening meal. And if that's not enough to make you set a few extra places at the Sunday dinner table for your extended family, consider the fact that studies show an improvement in the grades and overall behavior of children whose families eat together regularly, according to Time magazine. If the thought of cooking for a crowd overwhelms you, relax--by keeping things simple, more will most definitely be merrier.

Dishes that can be made in bulk, like a lasagna, are perfect for a large crowd.
Menus Meant for the Masses

There are plenty of dishes that lend themselves to feeding a large crowd. Most of these are in casserole form and are made with very basic ingredients and methods. Consider lasagna--a great option because it can be made for vegetarians, too--or chicken and rice. Stay away from dishes that are too complex or need to be made to order, like souffles or crepes.

Double the Fun

Expand your recipe ingredient by ingredient to serve more people. For an extended family gathering, take a meal for four and double or triple it--whatever it takes to feed the number of people you're expecting. If you go beyond doubling, however, break the recipe into several cooking vessels so the cooking time is not extended so far as to dry out the dish.
Break It Down

Another option for meat eaters is to make one large, main course that can be sliced into individual portions, like a roast beef, a whole chicken or a leg of lamb.
Variety Is the Spice of Life

To keep recipes from becoming unwieldy, offer several options, particularly when it comes to side dishes. Instead of making a huge portion of one vegetable, for example, make average-size portions of three. People will take less if there's more to choose from, and the variety will please guests with different tastes.
Spread the Love--And the Work

Finally, don't be shy about asking for help. If the crowd is too large, make it a potluck dinner and allow guests to bring whatever dish they like (find out what they'll bring so there won't be eight bowls of mashed potatoes, though), or assign what food each person should bring. Serve it buffet-style, and use paper plates and disposable silverware to make cleanup easy.

References & Resources