Menu idea for small group! Please!

[pagal]

I host small group bible study in my home for 12 couples for the next 4 weeks while we finish up a study at our church.

I love to cook and bless these people but I'm running out of menu ideas that dont' take so much work or cost a small fortune!

I'm not the 'sloppy joe" type (not that there is ANYTHING wrong with that!) it's just a like to have things really nice for people.

So far, I've cooked Chicken Dinner, Pasta dinner and I'd love to try something really delicious but that I can make AHEAD!

I'm leading the study so I need extra time to prepare!

[jadeeyes]

When I've hosted small groups, I prepared a pot of chili in advance. I put it in the crockpot and keep it warm. I also cooked some hotdogs. You can set out chopped onions, pickle relish, mustard, ketchup, grated cheese, jalapenos, crackers and anything else you think your guests might enjoy with their chili, chili dogs or hotdogs. It's also a good idea to prepare a salad or a veggie tray in advance. If the weather's nice and you have a deck or some place outdoors where y'all can meet and can get your hands on a fire pit, y'all can roast the hotdogs over a fire.

[Bamagirl]

Ham and turkey wrap
Take flat bread ( looks like pita) spread thin layer of cream cheese sprinkle with parsley and garlic powder, lay ham, turkey, or whatever meat you like on top, roll it up tight and slice it into thin slices. These are soooo gooood! heap too, you can use variety in them, I like roast beef and the garlic/tomatoe cream cheese.

[smileychick]

:hug How about a taco night or mexican night for your group? That's a good low money dinner. You can supply the seasoned beef and tortillas or shells and have every couple bring a topping? One couple can bring shredded cheese or one can bring sour cream. That could be fun too!

[dusty]

These are some standby favorites...most go a long way in feeding a crowd on a budget and can be prepared ahead...

stuffed pork tenderloin
sliced roast beef
pepper-jack mac & cheese
chicken fried rice
rice stuffed cabbage rolls
salisbury steak (using ground turkey or hamburger)
cornish hen halves
veggie stir-fry over rice
roasted turkey
ground beef stroganoff
eggplant parmesan
veggie or chicken chow mein
rice stuffed bell peppers

[Kliska]

Wow, that's what, then about 24 people...that's a tough one, esp. if you want to make ahead.

Not something to make ahead, really but a shrimp boil of some sort is often fun, and you can make it to everyone's liking, depending on what you put on to boil. Look for "low country boil" in recipe searches.

Also, there are some simple baked shrimp recipes that may work (here's a fav from paula deen: http://www.foodnetwork.com/food/recipes/recipe/0,,FOOD_9936_27978,00.html the only thing I change is I do use pre-pealed shrimp). Broiled fish might be a way to go too; esp. if you have access to a wholesale club, or a warehouse like Sam's club.

A salad bar can be sophisticated and easy too; have your greens (which you could prepare ahead of time), and different kinds of toppings (would have to include ham/turkey/etc... if a salad bar is all you were going to have), and then some form of bread on the side. Soups would work too, perhaps having at least two pots of different soup on, and bread (some soups you could make ahead).

[Heartstorm]

WOW that is alot of work ! and Money..... What we did at our small group was decide on what kind of food it would be the following week .... ie Mexican, then we passed around a tablet and and everyone there would write down what they would contribute. It was fun and much easier ! Then ofcourse we discover who made the best **** and that always ended up as thier specialty! And we would beg that person to make their dish. It was also good for those who had a tight budget, since they could also contribute with something smaller, Or pass all together. We had alot of fun sampling others food and the benefit was HUGE wonderfull meals that we looked forword to! As the Host you have your hands full and since you give of your time and home and cleaning etc, we always made sure our Host had the lesser item. and helped with clean up. 24 mouths are alot to feed !! Bless you !! I think I would go for like turkey tetrazzini. Lots of pasta I use chicken though lol since turkey is not as available all year. I think I have a recipe here somewhere for this in a huge amount if you need it PM me and I will send it to you, It is from church and it is yummy and inexpensive.

[antsinmypants]

How about stir fry?

Two heads of cabbage go a looooooooooooong way with that many people if you have other stir fry veggies in there, and as far as meat goes, you can slice chicken really small, pan fry and throw in the mix, as well as pan fry eggs and just take them down in size.

It takes about an hour or two to get together, and you can keep it warm or 'rewarm' in the microwave without it going all icky.

[mom211]

Can it be a potluck dinner so you don't have all the work and cost?

[antsinmypants]

That's a good idea too.

I'd also suggest finding out who all has food allergies (and to what) and who has food aversions (As in Cheri is a Vegetarian (lacto ovo - eggs and milk are ok) while Cheriann is a Vegan and for her she has no animal by products except fish and Mike is allergic to milk and citrus...).

In the long run, it's good to know, even if folks are doing pot luck. (and so you know who has to bring their own every time)

One of the reasons I hated to do small groups is because with my food issues, no one can cook for me, so it became really frustrating and I got where I hated being around food whatsoever in a large fuctional capacity (more than 4 people), because that meant I had to cook for me and at least one other should someone want to try, and I had to guard it religiously so no one put their spoon or fork or knife in it or otherwise contaminated it with outside sources. (I keep Kosher and also have Celiac Disease)

In family functions now, I have to do the same should someone choose to go to a restaurant - not to mention if we are going to visit the family south of us... or I am visiting family in SC back stateside...

Then, I have to remember my MIL can't have citrus and most fruits or cheeses (only mozzerella or cream cheese for her) and no nuts... so that limits what I can make and with what items should I offer to share. (example: I can make sugar cookies to share which is fine, but not PB cookies or I can make cheesecake, but I have to have sugar cookies as the pie base only..)

My dad on the other hand can't have most anything, so I have to ask my mom or she has to cook for him, because I will surely mess it up somehow and he'll be really sick..

It makes you wanna smack your head.


Hopefully that can give you a few more ideas just in case :)