Cooking for a Crowd- Tonight!

Updated on April 20, 2013
A.W. asks from Saint Charles, IL
5 answers

Hey Mamas! Quick question. I'm making spaghetti and meatballs for the dinner we're serving at the homeless shelter tonight. I'm hoping that I'm making enough! What do you think? There are usually 30-40 people (a mix of adults and children). I made the sauce with about 100 meatballs from a little over 5 lbs of meat and beefed up a bit with breadcrumbs, 210 oz of tomato sauce, and I'm making 6 lbs of penne noodles. The other people in my group are bringing salad and dressing, garlic bread, fruit, and dessert.
What do you think? Is that enough? Should I throw in another bag of noodles? One my friends is bringing a couple of jars of sauce just in case but I'd rather the clients have a fully home cooked meal then something that had to be piece-mealed together, ya know? So do you think I need more sauce? Meatballs?

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So What Happened?

Thanks everyone! I did end up making some extra sauce and an extra pound of noodles. There weren't as many people there tonight as there usually is- only about 20 clients.So there was plenty of everything and a good amount of leftovers. Everyone really enjoyed the meatballs and sauce (yay!). As far as making sure everyone got meatballs- I am the one who serves the food so I knew how many each person would get if I had to ration them out.

More Answers

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T.S.

answers from Washington DC on

I agree. More pasta. It's the most filling part of the meal, and this may be the first, not third, meal several of the diners are eating today, so you want to have plenty. Also, pasta is cheap, so if some goes to waste, so be it... although I'm sure you'll find SOMEONE willing to have seconds :)

Similarly, if you can easily stretch the sauce now, I'd do it. You can always bring extra home. If you end up having to pop open the jars mid meal, don't stress. I'm sure everyone will really enjoy the dinner no matter how it comes together!

T.

3 moms found this helpful
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M.T.

answers from New York on

If anything, I'd say more pasta.What a wonderful thing that you are doing!

2 moms found this helpful
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F.C.

answers from Tampa on

I would say more noodles - some kids eat it plain

2 moms found this helpful
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S.S.

answers from Chicago on

not sure if this is too late to say but I would not make meat balls I would brown the ground beef and mix it in the sauce. unless you have a vigilant server everyone might not get meatballs. I make meals for our parish down at hesed house in aurora. we actually feed more than 200 per meal. but the point is unless you have someone who says ok now lets divide the meatballs up per person your going to get some people who get a bunch of meatballs and some who get none.

2 moms found this helpful

X.O.

answers from Chicago on

More pasta. My mom used to use 2 lbs of pasta for the 7 people in my family.

1 mom found this helpful
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