Hellobee Boards

Baked potato bar?

http://joannagoddard.blogspot.com/2012/01/baked-potato-bar.html?m=1

I personally would stick with the taco bar because you can prep everything the night before.

I would try and borrow a crock pot so you can have two crock pots going at the same time and that will take care of the meat/beans. Maybe you can do 1 meat instead of 2?

What veggies are you prepping? I'd try and keep it simple to tomatoes, slaw, and corn.

@Rainbow Sprinkles: I would just call them tomorrow and ask if they have any special pricing for larger orders or party sized orders. And I bet it's not too late to order. I think most Chinese places are pretty flexible. The place I ordered from said they needed only a 30 min heads up when I asked.

I just remembered that my friend had Vietnamese catered at her party and she said it was also very affordable.

Good luck and happy birthday to your cutie pie!

@Rainbow Sprinkles: Honestly, if i had 2 kiddos and was stressing out i would totally cater!!

If you still want to cook i would keep it simple. Crock-pot will definitely save on the cooking stress. Dump and go!

Cater from a BBQ place can also be cheap. To really cut costs order the BBQ meat by the pound and make your own sides (green/baked beans from a can, a nice salad, rolls, drinks).

You also could look at doing chili for the group? No burgers and dogs?

I did a nacho bar not too long ago. I made a cheese dip and put it in the crockpot to keep warm. I cooked 3 pounds of grous beef, 1 pound at a time and then put it into a crock pot to keep warm. Heated up re fried beans in the microwave and put it in a crockpot to warm. I have One of those 3 part crock pots.

We had store bought guacamole, chopped tomatoes, onions and peppers. Cans of black beans and black olives. A bowl of taco sauce and chips! Oh and regular sauce.

All of that for around $100. We had 30 people.

I think tacos sound like a fun idea!! Like others suggested, do the prep work the day before. We keep our tacos pretty simple: shredded cheese, sour cream, shredded lettuce, and chopped tomatoes. Add a container or two of salsa (mild and medium), give choice of hard/soft shells, and you're good to go!

I like the suggestion of keeping the meat warm in a crock pot...i'd cook it in 1-lb batches the night before, then reheat it all in the crock pot the next day.

If you want a chicken option, you can just throw chicken breast in a crock pot with a can of salsa and a little taco seasoning...then just shred it up and it's ready to serve.

Chili is my go-to when I'm having a lot of people over. I brown ground beef, throw in some chili beans (hot or mild, depending on taste), and tomato sauce. A single recipe will feed at least 10, and I use 1 lb ground beef (or ground turkey), 3 15-oz cans of beans, and 3 15-oz cans of sauce. Add cumin and/or chili powder or a packet of chili seasoning to taste. Mix it all up and keep it warm in a crock pot. I serve mine with corn chips or crackers, shredded cheese, sour cream, onions, and usually jalapeños and tomatoes. It's also good over a baked potato, and if you bake your potatoes in aluminum foil, you can throw them down in a cooler (no ice, obviously), and it will keep them warm for hours. Have fun at the party!