How to Cook for 5,000
So, you've taken the plunge and people are coming over. What now?
What do you DO with them?
What do you feed them?
What about an emergency quiz for when it gets awkward?
Here's something I've learnt the hard way about the actual time people are round...
1. DON'T change your plans
People are coming to see you and to be part of your family, not to be entertained. If you were going to be eating leftovers, then so are your guests. This is a base line, obviously if a vegetarian drops in and your plans were a mighty meaty BBQ, then maybe change your plans a bit...or ask them to bring some halloumi...
2. Cook one thing, you're not running a cafe.
If you have people coming who are gluten free/dairy free/ vegetarian/ fruitarian*, then everyone eats the same gluten free/dairy free/veggie/fruitie dish .
2b. Pre-warn your family of the above dish - so they can practice their excited faces for when you serve it up.
*Fruitarians are people who will only eat fruit that falls off the tree rather than is plucked so as to not hurt the plants feelings. (and no, I didn't make that up).
3. Cook BIG.
If you're cooking for 5 you might as well scale it up and cook for 50, then freeze the extra. Then you have emergency food for those 'unexpected visitors' or an easy meal when you can't be bothered to cook (which is most days in my house).
4. Ramp up the veggies.
Vegetables are good for lots of reasons, but in hosting terms, they are good for bulking out dishes and are cheaper than meat. You can also pulse them up and make it into soup or stew and no one will question what they are!
5. Only cook one course.
If you want to let them eat cake, get them to bring their own, one course is more than enough. If people want 3 courses, recommend them a restaurant down the road.
And don't worry about what you will DO with them once they're here, just include them in what's already going on. Homework/housework/peeling all those extra veg/watching a film, it all counts as hospitality, and makes people feel part of your life not just part of the dinner plans.
What do you DO with them?
What do you feed them?
What about an emergency quiz for when it gets awkward?
Here's something I've learnt the hard way about the actual time people are round...
1. DON'T change your plans
People are coming to see you and to be part of your family, not to be entertained. If you were going to be eating leftovers, then so are your guests. This is a base line, obviously if a vegetarian drops in and your plans were a mighty meaty BBQ, then maybe change your plans a bit...or ask them to bring some halloumi...
2. Cook one thing, you're not running a cafe.
If you have people coming who are gluten free/dairy free/ vegetarian/ fruitarian*, then everyone eats the same gluten free/dairy free/veggie/fruitie dish .
2b. Pre-warn your family of the above dish - so they can practice their excited faces for when you serve it up.
*Fruitarians are people who will only eat fruit that falls off the tree rather than is plucked so as to not hurt the plants feelings. (and no, I didn't make that up).
3. Cook BIG.
If you're cooking for 5 you might as well scale it up and cook for 50, then freeze the extra. Then you have emergency food for those 'unexpected visitors' or an easy meal when you can't be bothered to cook (which is most days in my house).
4. Ramp up the veggies.
Vegetables are good for lots of reasons, but in hosting terms, they are good for bulking out dishes and are cheaper than meat. You can also pulse them up and make it into soup or stew and no one will question what they are!
5. Only cook one course.
If you want to let them eat cake, get them to bring their own, one course is more than enough. If people want 3 courses, recommend them a restaurant down the road.
And don't worry about what you will DO with them once they're here, just include them in what's already going on. Homework/housework/peeling all those extra veg/watching a film, it all counts as hospitality, and makes people feel part of your life not just part of the dinner plans.
Comments
Post a Comment