Can I cook?

Question

I cook for myself, but when people talk about cooking for 12 it
terrifies me. Can I cook for twelve? Is it just like adding more of everything, and doing the same, or are there some special secrets?

Answer 1

If you cook for yourself and the food is good, than you can cook good food for 12 people. Get organized and you won't feel out of control. Start out by making a menu. Serve a main dish that you can assemble the day before and pop in the oven that will serve 12- like a big pan of lasagna.Make it in a dispoable aluminum pan. Have a cold vegetable dish like salad or anti pasta platter that you can have ready in the fridge. Have a hot veggies like a couple of bags of frozen green beans you can put in the microwave. A couple of loaves of Italian bread. Dessert. Beverages. Make sure you have enough dishes and utensils for 12. Get disposables if you need to. Then make out a shopping list for all the ingredients. I usually make out a time line leading up to dinner-when to put things in the oven, what dishes I can make a day ahead. Have enough ice and don't forget to put condiments and things like butter, items in your pantry you might run out of,or other cooking things like plastic wrap or paper towels on the shopping list. I'm guessing you're planning a dinner at home, so be sure to include personal prep time in the dinner time-line.By that I mean time when you can change your clothes, brush your teeth or whatever before guests arrive. You can also set the table the night before-if you have naughty cats living at your house-cover the whole set table(don't put glasses on) with newspaper. Hope this help some-I know it's long, but I know how you feel and if I could do it-you can too.

Answer 2

The main thing to keep in mind when cooking a larger volume is the time factor. It will sometimes take longer to cook items because you have to cook more. Example it might take 30 minutes to cook a 1/2 pound meatloaf, but if you are cooking a 2 pound meatloaf, it will take about 1 1/2 hours instead.
So the only tricking is getting your timing down. Good Luck.

Answer 3

If you are seriously contemplating cooking for a big group, I would suggest you try easy recipes you've made before, as these are the sort that will normally double or triple well and be easy for you to make. Probably your friends will enjoy eating the things you enjoy eating!

Some suggested foods: Chili, a pot of veggie or beef soup, fajitas (everything but the meat easily made ahead), a casserole

Answer 4

No special secrets, really, other than to have pots, pans, and serving dishes big enough to hold the food.

You also need to have freezer/fridge space to hold a big salad and enough ice for that many people.

You dont' need to make double the number of dishes. Just make a meat, starch, and veggie, maybe a dessert, and make more of the meat, veg, and starch. A typical layer cake will feed 12 as-is.

Answer 5

NO secrets to it, but it takes time to master, it just means more of everything, more pots and pans, more money spent on the food (lol) and after awhile you learn to like it. Sometimes I cook for many so I can make and freeze it.

Cook once, eat many.

Answer 6

Don't know :)