Need ideas for inexpensive food for 25 people

[Anonymous]

I liked Miss Endive's southern menu.

If it were me, I would do this menu

Chips & Salsa, hummus and veggies, etc.
Green salad
Spaghetti and marinara sauce
Meatballs in sauce
Chicken Piccata (lemon and caper sauce) or grilled chicken skewers if there are lots of kids coming
Eggplant parm if I thought I needed another main dish
Grilled vegetables and/or steamed green beans
Chocolate chip cookies, and a cake

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I liked Miss Endive's southern menu.

If it were me, I would do this menu

Chips & Salsa, hummus and veggies, etc.
Green salad
Spaghetti and marinara sauce
Meatballs in sauce
Chicken Piccata (lemon and caper sauce) or grilled chicken skewers if there are lots of kids coming
Eggplant parm if I thought I needed another main dish
Grilled vegetables and/or steamed green beans
Chocolate chip cookies, and a cake

I did too. But fried chicken for 25 would be too much work for me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I liked Miss Endive's southern menu.

If it were me, I would do this menu

Chips & Salsa, hummus and veggies, etc.
Green salad
Spaghetti and marinara sauce
Meatballs in sauce
Chicken Piccata (lemon and caper sauce) or grilled chicken skewers if there are lots of kids coming
Eggplant parm if I thought I needed another main dish
Grilled vegetables and/or steamed green beans
Chocolate chip cookies, and a cake

I did too. But fried chicken for 25 would be too much work for me.

The thing about fried chicken is you can buy it already made (very cheap) and serve it at room temperature.

I just did this and each piece was $1. I was doing a party for 100 people.

[Anonymous]

OP-what type of event is this? And do you have a sense of the food expectations of the attendees?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I liked Miss Endive's southern menu.

If it were me, I would do this menu

Chips & Salsa, hummus and veggies, etc.
Green salad
Spaghetti and marinara sauce
Meatballs in sauce
Chicken Piccata (lemon and caper sauce) or grilled chicken skewers if there are lots of kids coming
Eggplant parm if I thought I needed another main dish
Grilled vegetables and/or steamed green beans
Chocolate chip cookies, and a cake

I did too. But fried chicken for 25 would be too much work for me.

The thing about fried chicken is you can buy it already made (very cheap) and serve it at room temperature.

I just did this and each piece was $1. I was doing a party for 100 people.

Where did you buy it?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would do mac & cheese (I use the martha stewart recipe subbing equal parts sharp cheddar and jack cheese for the cheese, along with a spoonful of dry mustard and a little cayenne), black eyed peas cooked with peppers and onions (this could also be done as a cold salad), cooked collard greens (with tomato and onion) or a kale salad, corn on the cob, corn bread and texas style blueberry cobbler (frozen blueberries with a batter style topping).

I like this alot. I'd add some meatloaf and some sweet potatoes (roasted) to this menu. If you are adventurous, try two or three types of meatloaf, one turkey, another beef/pork combo, and another veggie.

That's a good idea. Menu poster here. I might do some barbecue glazed chicken thighs or drumsticks with this too. I don't have a grill, so would be done in the oven. Would coat chicken pieces in seasoned flour with a couple spoonfuls of baking powder (cook's illustrated trick), roast at 350, and baste with store bought bbq sauce every 20 min til done. You could do these the night before and warm in the oven day of, adding another coat of sauce.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would do mac & cheese (I use the martha stewart recipe subbing equal parts sharp cheddar and jack cheese for the cheese, along with a spoonful of dry mustard and a little cayenne), black eyed peas cooked with peppers and onions (this could also be done as a cold salad), cooked collard greens (with tomato and onion) or a kale salad, corn on the cob, corn bread and texas style blueberry cobbler (frozen blueberries with a batter style topping).

I like this alot. I'd add some meatloaf and some sweet potatoes (roasted) to this menu. If you are adventurous, try two or three types of meatloaf, one turkey, another beef/pork combo, and another veggie.

That's a good idea. Menu poster here. I might do some barbecue glazed chicken thighs or drumsticks with this too. I don't have a grill, so would be done in the oven. Would coat chicken pieces in seasoned flour with a couple spoonfuls of baking powder (cook's illustrated trick), roast at 350, and baste with store bought bbq sauce every 20 min til done. You could do these the night before and warm in the oven day of, adding another coat of sauce.

You can also cook baby back ribs (coated with a spice rub) in a 275 oven for a couple of hours the night before, and then finish them on the grill ( or broiler if no grill) with sauce in about 10 minutes before serving.

[Anonymous]

For something similar to chili but a little more interesting, you could do turkey posole. Roast some turkey pieces a couple days ahead and make a broth. Day before add the seasonings (chili in adobo, maybe some canned enchilada sauce if you want, tomato) and the hominy. Serve with shredded lettuce and lime wedges and whatever vaguely mexican foods you like--quesadillas (prep cheese and fillings, day of brush tortillas with oil, fill, and bake on cookie sheet in the oven), chips and guacamole, taco/burrito bar, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'll call myself whatever I please -- that's what the end of slavery meant for us. I've got the message that I serve expensive but inedible and unappealing food and will take that into consideration when planning future menus for guests.

DCUM Gals, Thank you for opening my eyes to the painful truth.

We aim to please.

You all have pleased me right off DCUM. I've posted tons during the last six years but never gotten slammed as I have for food, clothing, and dating advice in the past three months. Adieu, Bethesdans -- exeunt!

You'll be back. In fact, I bet you are reading this right now.

Yes, I am. Thanks for the great sendoff.

It's Bethesdians. You forgot the i - I thought you would enjoy a little spelling lesson - what is a DCUM thread with out a chiding for bad grammar or spelling.

I just call them the "beautiful people".

You clearly are not a published author. Both WaPo and Bethesda Magazine use the i-less form I used -- Bethesdans. It is correct.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'll call myself whatever I please -- that's what the end of slavery meant for us. I've got the message that I serve expensive but inedible and unappealing food and will take that into consideration when planning future menus for guests.

DCUM Gals, Thank you for opening my eyes to the painful truth.

We aim to please.

You all have pleased me right off DCUM. I've posted tons during the last six years but never gotten slammed as I have for food, clothing, and dating advice in the past three months. Adieu, Bethesdans -- exeunt!

You'll be back. In fact, I bet you are reading this right now.

Yes, I am. Thanks for the great sendoff.

It's Bethesdians. You forgot the i - I thought you would enjoy a little spelling lesson - what is a DCUM thread with out a chiding for bad grammar or spelling.

I just call them the "beautiful people".

You clearly are not a published author. Both WaPo and Bethesda Magazine use the i-less form I used -- Bethesdans. It is correct.

Welcome back Miss Endive! We missed you!

[Anonymous]

Ladies, please stop fighting!

[Anonymous]

it's true, i can confirm. Bethesdans is the preferred word. I have never heard Bethesdians.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:it's true, i can confirm. Bethesdans is the preferred word. I have never heard Bethesdians.

The rest of us call you Bethesdians - not to your face of course. or is that Bethesdites. (Okay - name the reference)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I liked Miss Endive's southern menu.

If it were me, I would do this menu

Chips & Salsa, hummus and veggies, etc.
Green salad
Spaghetti and marinara sauce
Meatballs in sauce
Chicken Piccata (lemon and caper sauce) or grilled chicken skewers if there are lots of kids coming
Eggplant parm if I thought I needed another main dish
Grilled vegetables and/or steamed green beans
Chocolate chip cookies, and a cake

I did too. But fried chicken for 25 would be too much work for me.

The thing about fried chicken is you can buy it already made (very cheap) and serve it at room temperature.

I just did this and each piece was $1. I was doing a party for 100 people.

Where did you buy it?

I was in Damascus - so probably not a good option for you. But I think Harris Teeter does very good fried chicken and you can call ahead to make sure it is fresh. Also there is a lady that did Fried Chicken (the best) and she was at Freddy's Lobsters in Bethesda but only on Thursdays. Not sure if she has her own restaurant yet.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Pasta (ziti or lasagna)

mac n cheese

salads (green, caesar)

garlic bread

sundae bar

Awful, fattening, no nutrient menu. Please don't listen, OP. Nothing is cheaper than green lentils. Cook some perhaps with a chunk of prosciutto and add chopped carrots and leeks and lemon-olive oil for a flavorful cold bean dish. Another easy salad involves cherry tomatoes with capers, yellow raisins, and cauliflower dressed in light oil. Think about doing a spicy chicken curry with rice or cook inexpensive fish filets in coconut milk and red peppers. Risotto prepared with stock, onion, and a heap of parmesan and butter is rich but not expensive. Perhaps add a handful of shrimp for flavor. Another standby of mine is spiced chickpeas garnished with cilantro. Finger food can be as simple as a cube of good cheese paired with a date on a toothpick or apples dabbed with goat cheese nestled in a single endive leaf. For dessert you can stew pears or oranges in wine and anise but that is more wintery. I have had success serving chocolate mousse or lemon mousse for dessert garnished simply with cream and raspberries. Or rich homemade brownies with a scoop of ice cream drizzled with raspberry coulis. Caramelized nuts and ginger cookies round out the dessert buffet.

And all of the above is so cheap....nothing cheaper than raspberry coulis and goat cheese in an endive leaf!

Risotto for 25?? I don't want to even think about how long that would take.