Catering my own wedding, portions/recipes?!

[tyoung0080]

Hi!

I am planning on prepping if not "pre"-making food for my wedding for a family friend to prepare for the reception! There will be about 120 in attendance (15 under the age of 13). I am looking for simple/tasty recipes (for this amount of people)! Or even suggestions!!

The food we would like to have:
Loaded mashed potatoes
Sweet potato fries
fried chicken
and either sliders or ham and rolls
(sounds unhealthy, but there will be a veggie/fruit bar!)

Thank You!!
tiff

[Dee514]

Here are some links (cooking for 100+) you might find helpful:

http://www.almanac.com/content/party-planner-cooking-crowd

http://www.ellenskitchen.com/bigpots/

http://www.ellenskitchen.com/bigpots/plan/quan100.html

http://www.angelfire.com/bc/incredible/indexhundred.html

[Zeldaz]

Make Ahead Mashed Potato Casserole

[Chicagoland Chef du Jour]

Since you mentioned sliders, I remembered a ham & cheese slider I had at our Holiday House Hop / block party.

Here are several posted her. They were SO GOOD!

http://www.food.com/recipe-finder/all/-ham-and-cheese-sliders

[SarasotaCook]

Fried chicken you can keep warm if prepared correctly.
Sliders I wouldn't put together until right before, SOGGY
The fries, bad idea unless cooking them right before serving

It isn't a difficult menu; but those are items that really are best made right before. And 120 is a group. I cater, but that is a large amount.

[Zeldaz]

I wish you all the best, but no way I would ever take that on! It's a day for you to concentrate on so many other things. Can't some friends take responsibility for the food?

[Chicagoland Chef du Jour]

Zeldaz wrote:
I wish you all the best, but no way I would ever take that on! It's a day for you to concentrate on so many other things. Can't some friends take responsibility for the food?

Me either. I cannot imagine trying to pull together a menu, make it and serve it on my wedding day.
My SIL thought she could pull it off and I suggested she look into having it catered or finding a restaurant. It was held at a restaurant.
Funny thing, she doesn't really know how to pull together a meal when she entertains and she ain't much of a cook. I'm glad she "saw the light".

The ceremony and after party was at their home, and that was plenty.
Dinner at the restaurant was divine!

It might be worth checking into. Sometimes you cannot do it any less expensive using a caterer vs. doing it yourself. Really. I've done it both ways and priced it out.

.

[SarasotaCook]

I cater and there is NO WAY I would do my wedding or a wedding I was in. I may cater a friends; but the food you are planning for 120 is just crazy. It is a very difficult menu especially without commercial equipment.

[DEEP]

Just the thought of frying 60 lbs. of chicken makes me cringe in horror! I love to cook, but......NO WAY!

[Sue Lau]

Don't do it. You should be read the riot act for even thinking about it. It's not like a backyard barbecue.

No money? Stick to a cake and champagne reception.
And don't put your friend through that. It's really hard work and I think your friend would rather remember your wedding with enjoyment. j/s

[SarasotaCook]

I did do a wedding for a friend for about 100 people; but they decided to something much similar. A cupcake tier for the cake vs a whole cake; I did dips and salad, not like pasta salad, but egg salad, roast beef salad, chicken salad, and everything was served simply with chips, crackers, pita chips, etc. A variety of dips. I think a couple were hot in the crock pot. It was easy, simple food. All which can be made ahead. It was small nibbles rather than a whole plate of food. I also did a fruit tray and vegetable tray. But that was it other than a couple of bowls of olives and spiced nuts. It took very little time to prepare and set up, and it was very casual as well. It's still food, but it would be much easier.