Ask the Party Expert...

Dear Party Expert,

I have volunteered to organize a Potluck Christmas Dinner for my garden club this year.  There will be anywhere from 50 - 60 guests.  My question is, what ratio should I obtain in dishes to ensure that the meal is evenly distributed among the members contributing.  For example, desserts to hot dishes to punches or beverages? Thanks for any help you can give.  I am also open
to any simple and cost effective center pieces you may have in mind.
Thanks in advance,
Karen

Hi Karen-

What a wonderful gesture to donate your time for the Potluck dinner.  While
this might sound like a big job, if you break it down into small portions, it
will be easier to manage. 

Since there is a total of 50-60 guests, I'm assuming 25-30 will be Garden Club members who will be bringing a dish for the meal.  With this in mind, here's how I would divide the members to help keep the dinner balanced. 

First, here are a few tips to keep the work and costs to a minimum.
·   Pasta or casserole entrees are easier to serve for a buffet.
·   Punch is easier to make, serve and keep cold (slip an ice ring inside the
punch bowl) than worrying about several different kinds of soda.   
·   Decaffeinated coffee or a hot mulled cider could be the only hot drink
offered.  (A number of restaurants have turned to serving only decaffeinated
coffee.)
·   A pitcher of water on each table will satisfy those folks watching their
diet and limits the number of returns to the punch bowl.
·   Borrow solid red, green, white, ivory tablecloths from the members rather
than purchasing plastic covering.


Now, here are a few suggestions for dividing the members and food categories.

Entrée:
    Ask eight members to bring an entrée dish that serves at least ten. 

Side dishes:
    Ask five members to bring two side dishes that serve at eight.  Or a
guest could bring one double batch that serves 16.

Bread:
    Ask one member to bring six-dozen of rolls or five loaves of Italian or
French bread.  Don't forget the butter.

Beverage:
    Ask two members to bring enough punch ingredients that will yield 40
servings.  (See recipe below.  With the hot beverage, this should be plenty.)
 Ask another member to provide the coffee (including cream & a container of
sugar) or the hot mulled cider.

Dessert:
    Ask four members to bring dessert.  Each dessert should yield 20 servings.

Paper Products:
    Ask another member to provide the plates (specify a heavy duty plate) and
napkins.  One more member should be the plastic silverware and cups (both hot
and cold beverage ones).

Now, this will leave you with two members (going with 25 members) without a
specific item to bring.  You could add to any of the above if you feel it is
necessary (You'll have a better idea of what the club likes).  Or you could
ask each to bring a big bag of salad (Sam's Club sells a 3# bag), makings and
dressing.

FRUIT PUNCH

1 32-ounce bottle of cranberry juice
1 12-ounce can frozen lemonade
1 12-ounce can frozen orange juice
6 12-ounce cans of water
1 32-ounce bottle of pineapple juice
1 2-liter bottle of ginger ale 

Mix all ingredients except ginger ale.  Allow ingredients to blend.  Just
before serving, add ginger ale and ice cubes and/or ice ring made with
cranberry juice.  Makes about 40 servings.  


CENTERPIECES
Moving onto the centerpieces, here are a few ideas.

·   Cut small branches from a Blue Spruce or Evergreen tree.  Place two
branches in the center of the table with the cut ends together in the middle.
 Cut a hole in the middle of several apples and oranges.  Push a votive
candle in the opening.  Put three or four of the candled fruits in the middle
of the greens (where the cut ends meet).  Small bows or pinecones placed
within the greens will add a festive touch.
·   Wrap fabric around a terra cotta pot.  Place a piece of florist block
inside.  Spray paint bare branches gold.  Add small bows in the same color.
·   Borrow one strand of white Christmas lights per table.  (You will need
extension cords, too.)  Zig zag the lights down the table's middle.  Take a
length of plastic wrap (two to three times the table's measurements) and
wrinkle/bunch it up over the lights (do not place directly on the lights).
·   Fill a beer glass with water, squirt in a few drops of red or green food
dye to color, add a floating candle on top.        

This step-by-step plan will alleviate some of the party worries that
sometimes occur when hosting a large number of folk.

Enjoy!
Mary Jo
Every Day Should Be A Party Day!

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