Dinner Swap ideas?

[CleaVanessa]

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!!!

[Ragana]

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.
 

[jane-t-mommy]

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

[CleaVanessa]

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!!!

[CleaVanessa]

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!
 

[Ragana]

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).
 

[Ragana]

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.

[CleaVanessa]

Thanks!  do you modify at all for freezing?
 

[Ragana]

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.
 

[kitchensqueen]

Originally Posted by CleaVanessa 

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. 

[34me]

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.