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Cooking for Large Crowds

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So you've "volunteered" to cook or organize the cooking for the family reunion, church picnic, Boy Scout Jamboree or some other large crowd! Well, I've done that before...cooked food for my own wedding reception. Luckily, I had someone handy who knew the amount of food needed to feed 125 people. She was a caterer and school head cook. If you have someone like that around to ask, lucky you. If not, here are a few examples of what you'll need for that big meal!

FOOD	SERVES 25	SERVES 50	SERVES 100
Rolls	4 dz	8 dz	16 dz
Bread	3/1 lb loaves	6/1 lb loaves	12/1 lb loaves
Butter	1/2 lb	3/4-1 lb	1 1/2 lbs
Mayonnaise	1 C	2-3 C	4-6 C
Sandwich Fillings (ie:egg salad)	1 1/2 qts	2 1/2-3 qts	5-6 qts
Fruit/Sweet Fillings	1 qt	1 3/4-2 qts	2 1/2-4 qts
Jams/Jellies	1 1/2 lb	3 lb	6 lb
Crackers	1 1/2 lb	3 lb	6 lb
Cheese/2 oz serving	3 lb	6 lb	12 lb
Soup	1 1/2 gal	3 gal	6 gal
Salad Dressing	1 pt	2-3 pt	1/2 gal
Hot Dogs/Sausages	6 1/2 lb	13 lb	25 lb
Ground Meat	9 lb	18 lb	35 lb
Poultry/bone-in	13 lb.	25-35 lb	50-75 lb
Fish/whole-lg	13 lb	25 lb	50 lb
Fish Fillets	7 1/2 lb	15 lb	30 lb
Potato Salad	4 1/4 qts	2 1/2 gal	5 gal
Scalloped Potatoes	4 1/2 qts (12X20" pan)	8 1/2 qts	17 qts
Mashed Potatoes	9 lb	18-20 lb	25-35 lb
Spaghetti	1 1/4 gal	2 1/2 gal	5 gal
Baked Beans	3/4 gal	1 1/4 gal	2 1/2 gal
Jello Salad	3/4 gal	1 1/2 gal	3 gal
Canned Veggies	1 #10 can(12 -13 C)	3 #10 cans	4 #10 cans
Lettuce	4 heads	8 heads	15 heads
Carrots/3 oz serving	6 1/4 lb	12 1/2 lb	25 lb
Tomatoes	3-5 lb	7-10 lb	14-20
Watermelon	37 1/2 lb	75 lb	150 lb
Fruit Cup/ 1/2 C serving	3 qts	6 qts	12 qts
Sheet Cake	1/10X12"	1/12X20"	2/12X20"
Layer Cake	1 1/2/10" cake	3/10" cakes	6/10" cakes
Whipped Cream	3/4 pt	1 1/2-2 pt	3 pt
Brick Ice Cream	3 1/4 qts	6 1/2qts	12 1/2 qts
Bulk	2 1/4 qts	4 1/2 qts or 1 1/4 gal	9 qts or 2 1/2 gal
Coffee	1/2 lb and 1 1/2 gal water	1 lb and 3 gal water	2 lb and 6 gal water
Tea	1/12 lb and 1 1/2 gal water	1/6 lb and 3 gal water	1/3 lb and 6 gal water
Other Beverages	1 1/2 gal	3 gal	6 gal

Thanks to: Cookbook Publishers, INC ,1982

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