Cooking For Crowds For Dummies [Paperback]

Over 100 recipes, plus time-saving planning tips and sanity-saving suggestions

Serve terrific food confidently and calmly, and wow your crowd!

Panicky about cooking for a casual church dinner, a posh graduation party, or a holiday feast for 50? With terrific recipes plus tips for everything from planning menus to preparation and presentation, you can serve a hungry crowd without getting all steamed up about it. You'll quickly grasp the basics you need to know to cook like an experienced pro.

Discover how to

• Serve great dishes, from appetizers through desserts
• Determine food quantities when cooking for groups
• Handle food safely
• Add ambience with easy decorations

Introduction 1

Part I: So, You Need to Cook for a Crowd . . . 7

Chapter 1: A Crowd by Any Other Name 9

Chapter 2: Planning Your Menu 17

Chapter 3: Estimating Food Quantities, Serving Dishes, and More 39

Part II: Tried-and-True Recipes for Crowds 51

Chapter 4: Creating Tasty Appetizers 53

Chapter 5: Main Dishes Everyone Will Love 69

Chapter 6: Delicious Side Dishes 95

Chapter 7: Satisfying Slurps: Soups and Stews 109

Chapter 8: Stirring It Up: Punches and Drinks 125

Chapter 9: Decadent Desserts 137

Part III: Special Events and Holidays 163

Chapter 10: Special Dishes for Summer Get-Togethers 165

Chapter 11: Special Dishes for Holidays 183

Chapter 12: Special Dishes for Weddings 201

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