Need advice for amounts of food for party. Update p. 2, post 23

[RadioFanatic]

I've always read everyone's rsvp vents which made me bad on y'all's behalf and worried about my party which is coming up on Saturday for my 2 year old's birthday. Well, believe it or not, EVERYONE RSVP'd and EVERYONE is coming! We are talking about 51 people, 21 of which are 8 and under. I never in a million years thought that many would come! I am excited though because Buzz and Mickey Mouse are making an appearance! It's a Playhouse Disney Dance Party like they do at DHS! YEAH!

Anyhoo, I am making the food for the party - it's a lunch with birthday cake (no ice cream) for dessert. I'm making baked ziti with ricotta and mozzerella in it; homemade meatballs in a crockpot, salad and rolls. Appetizers are cheese and crackers and a couple of chips/dips. So I'm not having trouble with the menu but the AMOUNT of food to make.

So please help! What amount do you recommend to make for 51 people, 21 of which are 8 and under:

1. How many pounds of ziti?
2. How many pounds of hamburger for bite size meatballs
3. how much salad (I'm buying premix)
4. Also, we got a cake for 48 slices - do you think I should also buy some cupcakes or do you think the cake will last?

I can't wait to see the responses - thanks!

 

[OceanAnnie]

I'm no expert, but I'd get some cup cakes to round it out. This website seems to have some good advice. You may have to scroll down some:

http://www.ellenskitchen.com/forum/messages/12503.html

 

[Nancyg56]

I cannot help with the amount because I always make too much but I agree that you need more dessert. I would either make cupcakes or add brownies and cookies.

 

[OceanAnnie]

I cannot help with the amount because I always make too much but I agree that you need more dessert. I would either make cupcakes or add brownies and cookies.

I always make too much too.

I would probably buy the pre-made meatballs. There are some really good ones on the market and it would save oodles of time to just buy some in bulk.

 

[mjkacmom]

I think I might have some kid food, too (even if it was just noodles with butter - most of my kids hated baked ziti when they were under 8, and they're Italian. I've also found that when I served buttered noodles, adults would eat it too). I would say 1 box of pasta for every 5 people (I have to make 2 for my family of 7, with leftovers, but just with sauce).

Maybe you could add more options. Around here, there are usually 4 - 5 trays at events like this - pasta, chicken or eggplant parm, sausage and peppers... Save money by washing your own lettuce, or get a couple of the spring mix's at Costco.

Kids also seem to LOVE pigs in blankets, as do adults. You do need more desserts.

 

[KLAIT]

HAving been through those ages with my kids, I really really tend to agree with mjkacmom in that you should add some kid friendly food other than the baked Ziti with Ricotta...I think it sounds delicious but lots of kids wouldn't touch that with a 10 foot pole...

What I have found through 3 kids and several parties is that there is always a lot of cake left over....with the excitement of the party and the food that the kids snack on lots of kids don't even want cake..and for little ones you can cut the slices pretty small.when the bakery gives you an estimate of how many it serves, it is fairly large slices...

Good luck with the party...I give you a LOT of credit..that is a LOT of kids!

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Your menu is not reflux friendly.

I agree with the others on having a more bland, kid friendly option to your menu. Which means, no peppers, sausages, or tomato sauce.

I would do more appetizers as well. Cheese and crackers & chips and dip just does not cut it for that many people.

 

[KLAIT]

You know, I keep thinking about this....I know lots of people don't like to feed their kids hot dogs and the sort, but with this many kids under 8, I would have a few packages of hot dogs on hand...kids love HOT DOGS...easy to cook up some extra quickly if you need more and can always use the leftovers one way or another....

We have had Hotdogs and burgers on the grill for our sons birthday which is in early spring when people here are getting sick of indoor winter food and the snow is finally low enough to dig out the grill...100% of the time kids love the hot dogs....sounds simplistic, but it really does go over well...plus, it is a neater food for lots of kids running around the house when they are excited!

 

[RadioFanatic]

Thanks for all of the advice! I was going to do one tray of pasta and sauce without the cheese, but I never thought about pasta with just butter so I will do that as well!

I'm not having a lot of appetizers because the food is really all at once. It's just that the cheese, crackers, dips and chips are going to be out and about while you can serve yourself the rest. The entertainment starts about 45 minutes into the party so I want to get the food done. (except for the cake).

And I think adding hot dogs to the mix is a good idea.

I'm taking friday off to prepare everything so it will just be heated up on Saturday. I did it last year with pretty good success.

Still need some help with the amounts of pasta - someone said five people for a box - I have ten 16 oz. boxes of ziti - will that be too much, not enough? I don't mind making a lot of food if it gets eaten, and I really did make too much last year. I just don't want the leftovers like I had last year. And I'll get some cupcakes too to be safe.

Thanks again!

 

[Nancyg56]

I always make too much too.

I would probably buy the pre-made meatballs. There are some really good ones on the market and it would save oodles of time to just buy some in bulk.

I always buy them too.

Still need some help with the amounts of pasta - someone said five people for a box - I have ten 16 oz. boxes of ziti - will that be too much, not enough? I don't mind making a lot of food if it gets eaten, and I really did make too much last year. I just don't want the leftovers like I had last year. And I'll get some cupcakes too to be safe.

Thanks again!

I think that ten boxes is a lot. I would make five at most.

 

[KirstenB]

Thanks for all of the advice! I was going to do one tray of pasta and sauce without the cheese, but I never thought about pasta with just butter so I will do that as well!

I'm not having a lot of appetizers because the food is really all at once. It's just that the cheese, crackers, dips and chips are going to be out and about while you can serve yourself the rest. The entertainment starts about 45 minutes into the party so I want to get the food done. (except for the cake).

And I think adding hot dogs to the mix is a good idea.

I'm taking friday off to prepare everything so it will just be heated up on Saturday. I did it last year with pretty good success.

Still need some help with the amounts of pasta - someone said five people for a box - I have ten 16 oz. boxes of ziti - will that be too much, not enough? I don't mind making a lot of food if it gets eaten, and I really did make too much last year. I just don't want the leftovers like I had last year. And I'll get some cupcakes too to be safe.

Thanks again!

For me, the pasta is easier to visualize servings per pan. Like a 9x13 pan would serve 9-10 people. I'd probably use 1 lb box of pasta in that pan. So if you have 10 lbs of ziti, that's more than enough. I'd make 2 pans with butter and parm, like others have suggested for the kids.

 

[kwelch10377]

I would maybe just make the pasta and then put out seperate dishes with butter, parma cheese and pasta sauce. This way people can put which ever one on the plain pasta.

 

[krcit]

How about a big bag of chicken nuggets? For the salad, since you are buying bag salads, don't open them all at once so they don't go to waste.

 

[NotUrsula]

The caterers' rule on drinks is that children can be counted on to drink 2X what the adults do. I'd calculate between 20-24 oz. per child.

 

[Cindy's Mom]

I tend to overcook as well. I would make a huge pot of Mac and cheese and boil up some hotdogs for the kids.

For the baked ziti - I'd go with 5 pounds. I'd make about 60 meatballs/1 ounce each. so, like 6 pounds of meat. But I"d buy the premade ones from the Italian store down the block. Too time consuming to make them by scratch.

Your measurements for the pasta will be different because you are adding all the cheese its more filling than just regular pasta and sauce. I would make 2 full foil pans of the ziti

 

[RadioFanatic]

thanks again guys - I hope the responses will keep coming! Drinks I have covered - got in on the pepsi deal at CVS with the rebate from Frito Lay - so I got 12, 12-packs which in the long run will essentially be free - then I will have a big several gallon cooler for lemonade. And coffee throughout if wanted.

I'm thinking of cooking 6 boxes of ziti to make five trays - one with butter, one with sauce only and then three for baked ziti. I got the pasta for 38 cents a box this week at Price Chopper. I'm making a crockpot full of meatballs - I am making them because hamburger was $1.69 a pound and I had a $3 coupon off ground beef this week. They are quick to make and cook. I think I'm going to make 5 pounds worth because I don't mind having extras of that as they are easy to freeze. I already had the tomato sauce from a previous deal. I already have hot dogs in the freezer where, with a sale and coupon, I got them for 18 cents each. Do you think 16 would be enough (two packs) or should I do 24 (three packs)?

Salad bags and dinner rolls I'm getting from Aldi's tonight.

 

[KLAIT]

Not being any help here at all, but I have to laugh...the amount of work we go through for parties for our kids! Back in the day when I was a kid we invited a few kids over, had sloppy joes and a cake, played around doing what ever we did, but nothing special and then the kids went home....

my mom just shakes her head when I was planning parties for my kids....of course all themed for a million people, etc.....

 

[RadioFanatic]

LOL KLAIT - I totally agree. But honestly, I think of it as a celebration for us parents too - his birth was the happiest day of our lives - and it took 10 years to get there. So we "do it up right!"

 

[KLAIT]

RadioFanatic--absolutely...worth every minute to us as well..never thought twice about it, but reading about you go through it made me realize it! Hope the party is tons of fun....for all of you.

 

[RadioFanatic]

RadioFanatic--absolutely...worth every minute to us as well..never thought twice about it, but reading about you go through it made me realize it! Hope the party is tons of fun....for all of you.

Thanks KLAIT!