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Dinner Swap ideas?

post #1 of 11
11/1/12 at 7:31pm
Thread Starter 

I've just joined a dinner swap with four other families, so on Dec. 1st we'll be swapping dinners.  I need to cook a dinner (main, side and dessert) for 15 people; preferably something that can be easily broken up into five parts and frozen.  Any suggestions?  I'm awful when it comes to meal planning...Thanks in advance!!!

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post #2 of 11
11/2/12 at 9:01am

First it would be good to know if there are any vegetarians/vegans, food allergies/intolerances or other factors that affect what food you can serve?

 

If it were up to me, I would be doing lots of one-pan stuff like enchiladas, baked pasta or potato bake (of some kind) with a pan for each family. Dessert could be a batch of cookies, pan of fruit crisp, brownies, cupcakes, pie, etc. It really depends a lot on what the people involved like to eat.
 

post #3 of 11
11/6/12 at 4:07pm

A huge vat of soup/stew/chili  with biscuits or bread, corn bread, roasted veggies, fruit or other pie...

post #4 of 11
11/6/12 at 7:33pm
Thread Starter 

Thanks for the response!  Restrictions are just no nuts. There is one vegetarian, but she said her family isn't so she can pick the meat out.  I was thinking of a one pan enchiladas, do you have a recipe?  Right now, I'm leaning towards making a 9" inch chicken pot pie for each family.  Thanks again!!!

post #5 of 11
11/6/12 at 7:36pm
Thread Starter 

Thanks for the response!  Do you have any good soup/stew/chili recipes that don't require a lot of ingredients?  Love the roasted veggie idea.  Thanks again!
 

post #6 of 11
11/6/12 at 8:03pm

I (loosely) use this enchilada recipe:

http://glutenfreegoddess.blogspot.com/2006/10/sweet-potato-black-bean-enchiladas.html

but I use a jar of green salsa for the sauce (cuts down the prep time). I haven't tried it, but an alternate version could be made with white potatoes, pinto beans, and red salsa (+/- eggs for a breakfast-y version).
 

post #7 of 11
11/6/12 at 8:06pm

A chili recipe that tastes great:

http://allrecipes.com/recipe/raes-vegetarian-chili/

Looks like a lot of ingredients, but it's really just opening cans & dumping in a pot - I make this in a crock pot. Couldn't be easier. The mustard and beer sound weird, but trust me, they make the dish.

post #8 of 11
11/6/12 at 8:07pm
Thread Starter 

Thanks!  do you modify at all for freezing?
 

post #9 of 11
11/7/12 at 7:43am

That I don't know because I don't have enough room in my freezer to prepare stuff ahead of time & freeze. I wouldn't freeze eggs or cheese, though.
 

post #10 of 11
11/7/12 at 5:17pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by CleaVanessa View Post

Do you have any good soup/stew/chili recipes that don't require a lot of ingredients?  

 

I don't think any of these have a super long list of ingredients, and they all make a lot or are easy to double. All family favorites from my old personal blog - 

 

Rustic Beef Stew

 

Pumpkin Ale & Onion Salisbury Steak (though you can use any kind of beer you want)

 

Pasta Bolognese

 

Crockpot Pulled Pork

 

Bacon & Whiskey Chili

 

For sides you could always do a good loaf of French bread or a salad. 

 

Desserts are easy - like someone else said, brownies or cookies are both good choices. 

post #11 of 11
11/7/12 at 6:39pm

I make double batches of this soup and eat one and freeze one - http://www.semihomemademom.com/2012/05/crockpot-chicken-taco-soup.html  Super easy and even though the recipe calls for 2 breats per recipe, I only use three per 2 recipes and there is plenty of meat for my meat lovers.

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