Food for Fifty Part 1

First I have to say that one of my most prized cookbooks (and I have MANY) is Food for Fifty, by Mary Molt. Which is now in it's 12th edition (must mean I am not the only one to swears by it) with a list price of $104 (Amazon.com sale price $72.07) I obtained a used copy of it years ago (not the most recent edition) I know it still wasn't cheap, but I didn't pay that much.

So why this obsession with being able to feed so many?

Well my husband and I run a group that LARPs, for those who don't know what that means. We basically have full weekend murder mystery parties, in the woods, in medieval garb, and hit each other with padded plumbing supplies. Still interested, send me a message and I am happy to share more.

Among my many duties for this group is food. This is also my first event after my obsession with 'extreme couponing' (I just recently heard this term and it is growing on me). So now the event has taken on a whole new level of preparation.

Parameters for the event

50-60 attendees

"Kitchen" is somewhat roughing it, there is no oven. However there is a fridge, freezer, microwave, we have a propane camp stove, and they promise me enough power to run my crock pots and electric griddle, as well as the coffee pots.

Food restrictions - we have attendees with allergies or religious restrictions to the eating of - poultry, beef, pork, garlic, ritz crackers and blue food dye

Food will be served Tavern style, plan is a rotating menu (as all of one food is gone, put another on the menu)

Meals that need to be provided. Two Breakfasts, Two Lunches, One Dinner, Deserts and Snacks

So if I do my math right that is 5 meals, average of 55 people, or 275 meals in 2 days, plus snacks and desert

Here is the menu (at this time, though pretty close to finalized)

Pasta with Red Sauce
Hot Sausage in Red Sauce
Turkey Noodle Soup
BBQ Chicken
Breaded Chicken
Rice
Buttered Noodles
Potatoes
Corn
Green Beans
Salad
Fruit Cocktail
Fresh Fruits
Assorted Breads / Rolls
Assorted Deserts
Assorted Beverages
Pancakes
Cereals
Oatmeal

Preliminary cost breakdown

Pasta with Red Sauce
7 jars sauces from stockpile @ $.10 =$.70
free pasta from stockpile
Hot Sausage in Red Sauce
3 jars sauce, from stockpile @$.10 = $.30
Sausage 2 packs sale, plus managers discount cost $9.98
Turkey Noodle Soup Turkey
18 lbs @ $.99 / pound= $17.82
6 cans soup broth = $4.00
Noodles, free from stockpile
Veggies - to be purchased
BBQ Chicken
Chicken 10 lbs @ $1 / pound $10.00
BBQ sauce, from stockpile 3 @ $.25 = $.75
Breaded Chicken
Chicken 10 lbs @ $1 / pound $10.00
Breading, from stockpile $.75
Eggs to be purchased
Rice
Free
Buttered Noodles
Stockpile from free coupons
Potatoes
to be purchased
Corn
to be purchased
Green Beans
to be purchased
Salad
will be purchasing 7 bags at Giant this week $.85 per bag $5.95
Salad Dressing
5 @ $.30 (Kraft free coupons) $1.50
Fruit Cocktail
to be purchased
Fresh Fruits
to be purchased
Assorted Breads / Rolls
to be purchased (discount bread outlet - crossing my fingers!)
Assorted Deserts
I am actually not responsible for those, people who love to bake bring them
Assorted Beverages
Assorted deals, total cost $15
Pancakes
need to purchase
Cereals
9 boxes out of my stockpile, approx $.50 a box = $4.50
Oatmeal
3 boxes out of my stockpile, approx $.75 a box = $2.25
Milk
need to purchase


Current costs $83.50
Anticipated budget for additional costs $80.00

Total anticipated $163.50
Average cost per serving $.59

Watch next week for an update of how we really went with the budget!