| It is often hard to find just the right large quantity recipe | | | | added a little at a time as you continually check for |
| for the theme of your party or for the "culinary | | | | taste.What if you want to serve 25 people with a |
| experience" you are aspiring to offer your guests. | | | | not-so-simple, 4-serving recipe with numerous |
| Here are a few tips and suggestions on how to | | | | ingredients? Doubling or tripling more complex recipes |
| modify your favorite 4-6 serving recipes when you | | | | could get complicated. One trick is to batch cook. |
| find yourself cooking for a crowd of 20 or more.What | | | | Batch cooking requires planning ahead and cooking in |
| constitutes a crowd? Of course it's all relative (your | | | | advance. It may also mean freezing prepared dishes. It |
| relatives, not mine). Seriously, if you are accustomed to | | | | is also a matter of "doing the math".To serve 25 with a |
| cooking for one to three, cooking for 20-50 people | | | | 4-serving recipe, you can cook 5-6 individual batches |
| may seem overwhelming. When cooking for a crowd, | | | | of that recipe or, you can expand the recipe (no more |
| there are three important considerations; adequate | | | | then 2-4 times) and cook in batches accordingly. For |
| cookware, sufficient refrigerator space and recipe | | | | example, to serve 25 from a 4-serving recipe, double |
| selection.Obviously you should seek out recipes | | | | the recipe to 8 and cook three batches or, triple it and |
| geared towards feeding a crowd. It is often easy to | | | | cook two batches. To serve 18 with a 6-serving |
| find large quantity recipes for basic dishes such as | | | | recipe, cook it three times or cook one 6-serving batch |
| lasagna and mashed potatoes. But what do you do if | | | | and one batch that has been doubled to serve 12. You |
| you have your heart set on using your favorite | | | | get the idea.It is almost impossible to double or triple |
| 4-serving recipe for Corn and Black Bean Polenta for | | | | recipe ingredients for cakes, cookies, pie dough, or |
| a party of 25?Even for expert cooks, modifying a | | | | breads, without meeting with utter disaster. It's a |
| recipe for large quantity cooking is not just a matter of | | | | chemistry thing. Instead, prepare a single batch |
| endless multiplications. If you expand a recipe too | | | | repeatedly until you have enough food to feed your |
| much--you are bound to run into trouble and end up | | | | guests. Again, cooking in advance is the key.Chances |
| with an off tasting or a poorly flavored dish.For a basic | | | | are you can successfully double or triple the |
| dish like mashed potatoes, it would be acceptable to | | | | ingredients of recipes for individual appetizers, such as |
| multiply all of the ingredients in a 4-serving recipe by | | | | stuffed mushrooms or crostini; and for snack mixes, |
| two, thus doubling the recipe to serve 8. However, | | | | dips, salsas, punches, one serving-size pieces of meat, |
| recipes are not indefinitely expandable (or shrinkable | | | | poultry or fish, tossed salads, pasta salads and |
| for that matter) and enlarging a recipe any more then | | | | vegetables dishes.If you are cooking for a crowd of |
| 2-4 times is not | | | | 25 or more you will most likely serve buffet style. It is |
| recommended.You may also use recipe converters | | | | the best way to serve larger crowds. On a buffet of |
| which are easily found online. The converters | | | | numerous dishes, people will take smaller portions of |
| however, simply "do the math", multiplying each | | | | each in order to sample everything. Also, not everyone |
| ingredient amount by the increased number of servings | | | | will sample every dish. This means that every dish |
| you enter into the converter. It does not take into | | | | you prepare need not serve 25. You need only |
| account, for example, the pungency or texture of the | | | | prepare a few large quantity dishes. Look for recipes |
| ingredients. If a 4-serving recipe calls for 1 tablespoon | | | | that serve 8-12 and double them (or not).With a |
| of finely chopped rosemary and you want to triple the | | | | calculator and a little ingredient know-how you can |
| recipe to serve 12; 3 tablespoons of rosemary will | | | | comfortably convert most of your party food recipes |
| probably overwhelm all the other flavors and | | | | and present a tantalizing menu to your |
| seasonings in the dish.It is a good idea to be cautious | | | | guests.Have fun!Debra HaydelDebra Haydel is the |
| when multiplying ingredients like salt, flour, cornstarch, | | | | publisher of This site is packed with information and |
| eggs, seafood, meats, robust herbs, oils, onions, garlic, | | | | tips on party menu planning. Not just recipes but |
| celery and peppers. Some ingredients will impart | | | | coordinated, seasonal menus for all special occasions. |
| enough flavor, texture or body when only increased a | | | | Learn more about cooking for a crowd and creating |
| fraction. In addition some of these ingredients can be | | | | party food with flavor and flare. |