We’ve Got Your Communion Food Covered

Communion season is upon us, and with it, the pressure of feeding a million people while making sure your child is having the day of their lives. When it comes to cooking for a crowd, a few tips and tricks can come in handy. Here are our top ten tips for cooking for a crowd, along with some amazingly delicious food to keep the hordes happy. Whatever the plan, we’ve got your Communion food covered.

Stick to recipes you know. If you are cooking for a large crowd stick to recipes you know and have tried before. If you do decide to try something new experiment before the big day and make sure you are happy with it.

Opt for a buffet style format– it’s easier, more social and allows people to mix more.

When deciding on the dishes to cook keep it simple and make sure it appeals to a wide range of tastes. Make sure to include a vegetarian dish to cater for everyone. One-pot dishes always go down well. Not only will they allow for extra room in the oven but this will save on the washing up.

Choose dishes you can cook in advance to save time and ease stress on the day.

Cook for approximately 5 extra people than you are catering for. So if you are cooking for 10 then prepare for 15.

Once you have selected the dishes, write your shopping list. This is really important because the more time you spend time preparing your list you can be confident that you will not leave anything out. This will save on money, time and food waste.

Clear our your fridge and freezer a few days beforehand to allow for extra storage space and prepare your ice (if not buy two large bags from your supermarket the day before).

Plan your serving area – place tables tucked close to wall areas. Have you enough table-space? If not dress up a portable table and have on standby.

When displaying your final dishes try to create different levels on your table i.e. desserts place on a higher level to the salads with hot dishes in containers placed at the end of the table – salads at the opposite end.

Don’t forget the music. Play a mix of tracks to suit the ages of the guests and include new releases for balance. Music is a great mood lifter.

For more recipe ideas, check out our cooking for a crowd recipe section, and for menu ideas, click to our guide to the ultimate buffet feast.