So Many Houseguests, So Many Tummies to Feed!
My sister and her kids are visiting from New York, which always prompts my youngest to stay at the house for maximum cousin fun. Of course seven people at the house requires forethought for hungry tummies.
Their first night was an unphotographed burrito/tostada buffet centered on home cooked rice and pinto beans, with an array of side options including grape tomatoes, romaine, salsas, avocado, sour cream, pepper jack and cilantro. This is always a hit as it works for everyone's food preferences.
Frugal, filling and yummy.
For breakfast we repeated the oatmeal buffet breakfast, but added shredded coconut. I cooked a huge pot of oatmeal on the stove and then transferred it to my 1990s-era slow cooker and set it to "keep warm."
Dinner last night was last minute takeout pizza, as we added my mother and step father to the mix. However I kept it as frugal as possible(ish) by using an ecoupon for a gluten-free Domino's pizza, and also ordered half & half single toppings on a pair of large pies from Original Dream pizza. That way there were four choices, (pepperoni, mushroom, artichoke hearts and herb chicken) which kept the cost under control(ish).
We also put together a big ol' green salad.
I assembled a frittata for today's brunch, which utilized the variety of random vegetables from the fridge and freezer. It included diced potatoes, a massive amount of spinach, red peppers, roasted green chilis, pepper jack and a nice sprinkle of steak seasoning, which has dried onion, garlic, salt and pepper. I also tucked in a few blobs of cream cheese for extra richness. I had cilantro, sour cream and avocado available for toppings. Nice and filling.
Again, a big hit and only frugal because eggs prices have come down.
Click HERE to read my "Hakuna Frittata" blog post from 2009!
Yesterday was the first Saturday of the month, so I popped into the Franz Bakery Outlet to grab $1 loaves of bread. I picked up two packages of brioche bread for possible French toast, as well as loaves of blueberry and cinnamon bread for afternoon tea time. The bag on the left is filled with long thin multi-grain bread, which inspired me to plan a "sandwich buffet" dinner. It's packaged for the restaurant trade and probably holds a eight or so loaves.
I have still gluten-free bread in the freezer from previous visits.
I spent five dollars.
I think tonight will be red curry sauce with tofu and mixed frozen veggies, served over rice or rice noodles. This is both vegetarian and gluten free, which will serve everybody's dietaries needs. Plus, you know . . . be delicious and frugal.
I also think I'll slip a "breakfast for dinner" into the mix, which'll probably include French toast, cornmeal pancakes and a yogurt parfait bar. Probably even hit a food cart pod at some point.
Lunches have been been "grab what you want" and will start to include leftovers. Plus the young adult cousins like to explore and eat on their own. My neighborhood is walking distance from a couple of different fun shopping districts with almost endless locally owned shops and cafes. The full Portland experience!
I enjoy the creative challenge of figuring out meals that check the boxes of delicious and frugal; and also serve each person's specific dietary needs.
Do you have go-to meals you serve when feeding large groups of people? Please share in the comments section below!
Katy Wolk-Stanley
"Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without."
Click HERE to follow The Non-Consumer Advocate on Instagram.
Click HERE to join The Non-Consumer Advocate Facebook group.
That bakery outlet is awesome.
1. I used my discounted Texas Roadhouse gift cards last night to buy dinner for me and my kids. I brought home leftovers which I ate for breakfast.
2. My youngest is visiting for the weekend (she's homesick). I spoiled her with some Boba tea and cans of cold brew lattes I bought at the discount grocery outlet. She's all about the beverages. Her apartment laundry facilities are shut down at the moment so doing laundry at mom's house works.
3. I made chicken enchiladas for dinner which used up a red pepper and a couple of sweet potatoes that have seen better days. I also used up some elderly tortillas and instapot beans from the freezer. I'm sending leftovers home with her so she has something easy for dinners after work. There's enough chicken leftover for another batch which I think I'll make and take to my mom's this week.
4. I've donated $50 for my daughter to take two feral cats to be spade. The vet charges $50 each. She has a feral mama cat who's had three litters in two years. Only two more of her litter need to be fixed and hopefully it helps with the feral cat population in her small town or at least in my daughters area. Less mouths to feed. She's adopted three and found homes for two kittens but there are five counting mama who are living outside her home.
5. I finished reading two library Kindle books. Women of a Promiscuous Nature by Donna Everhart which was chilling since it's based on real events. It was excellent. I also read Home Again by Kristin Hannah. I've just started The Let Them Theory by Mel Robbins.
It's been a while since I've fed large groups. In the past, I've relied on dinners featuring chili, lasagna casserole, taco bar, soup bar, rotisserie chicken with sides, mac and cheese and stir fry. I've had brunches featuring quiche, breakfast casserole, pineapple upside down cake, biscuits and sausage gravy, fruit pizza, and pig-in-blankets. But I rarely make big meals anymore. My family is scattered, and when we get together we usually pool for takeout, so the burden doesn't fall on any one person.
Today I went out to Uncle Julio's with my son's family. I got a combination platter and brought half of it home. We all admired the chocolate pinata but agreed it would be too much. I noticed that all the adults drank water and only my grandson opted for a fountain drink.
I hitched a ride with them, so no gas expenditure.
Someone here, or on Frugal Girl, suggested making muffins from cheap cake mix and a can of fruit. Today I mixed yellow cake mix with pineapple, and I have to say it was delicious! And so easy. I'm looking forward to trying other combinations.
I go to consult with the orthopedic surgeon tomorrow, but it's also my designated laundry day. So I have already sorted out the two loads I will do, and I'll carry them down to the basement on my way out. I'll start them on my way back in. I'm saving wear and tear on my hip, as I have 30 stairsteps to navigate with each trip.
I made a run to the bread outlet, too. I bought brioche hamburger buns, naked loaves for the freezer, outdoor rolls for French dips.
I make large meals (feed 20+) every Sunday. We also participate in community meals that coincide with volunteer emergency services meetings every Wednesday.
Bean and rice enchiladas with salsa, green salad, street corn is a great meal.
Chili bar with baked potatoes, grated cheese, onions, jalapenos.
Cabbage roll casserole. Easy
French dips using soup bones, always popular. Made in the crock pot.
Taco salad bar. Asian cabbage salad bar using rotisserie chicken. Texas sheet cake for dessert or pudding cakes are easy, delicious and penny pinching. I make many slab pies in 1/2 sheet pans. I put up apple pie filling and pie cherries.
I make gluten free shortbread crust for 9x13 pan pies.
For large groups I really like the “make your own bowl” meals - Mexican, Greek, Asian - it makes it so much easier to not have to worry about each person’s specific tastes and dietary restrictions. For really large groups I like to have 2-3 varieties of soup plus bread.
Katy, your meals sound so delicious.
It's not often that we feed a crew but two recent-ish gatherings come to mind. For a brunch, we served egg bake, top your own pancakes, and fresh fruit. My husband was happy to man the griddle while others ate. For a dinner, we served southwest bowls (dish up your own rice, sauteed peppers and onions, sauces, and round tortilla chips for scoops). Both of these vegetarian meals were a hit with our non-vegetarian family members.