Comments on: What to cook for a large group on family vacation?

By: Lemony Snicket Fan

Lemony Snicket Fan — Tue, 26 Jun 2007 23:11:21 +0000

Well, I'd try pasta puttanesca. Here's how:

INGREDIENTS

1 (12 ounce) package dried penne pasta
3 tablespoons olive oil
1 1/2 pounds skinless, boneless chicken breast halves - cubed
1 cup all-purpose flour
salt and pepper to taste
2 lemons
1/2 cup capers
40 kalamata olives, pitted and chopped
1/2 teaspoon anchovy paste
5 roma (plum) tomatoes, diced
1/2 cup Parmesan cheese

DIRECTIONS

1. Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add pasta, and cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until al dente; drain.

2. Heat oil in a skillet over medium heat. Dredge chicken cubes in flour seasoned with salt and pepper, and brown in the hot oil. Once the chicken is browned on all sides, squeeze the juice from one lemon over the cubes. Stir in the capers, olives and anchovy paste, and cook for at least 5 minutes to mingle the flavors, and cook the chicken.

3. When chicken is no longer pink, add the diced tomatoes, juice from the remaining lemon, salt, and pepper. Add pasta and cheese to the pan, and cook, stirring just until heated through.

PS: The word, "puttanesca" is Italian for very few ingredients.
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A Series of Unfortunate Events

By: debhas5

debhas5 — Mon, 25 Jun 2007 05:32:59 +0000

We do this with our family every year. We'll have close to 40 people to cook for. I'm doing ribs, but other meals are: Chicken Won-Ton Salad, Carnnitas (meat made at home, then warmed up there) Chicken Enchiladas, Spaghetti, Tri-Tips, Hamburgers, Taco Salad, Sloppy Joes, Shrimp Linguine, Burritos, Chicken Fettuccine, Ham and Bar-B-Que chickens, Chili, Lasagna you made at home, or Polish Sausage. Hope this helps. Have fun.
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By: ShouldBeWorking

ShouldBeWorking — Fri, 22 Jun 2007 11:40:05 +0000

Well, why not make your own lasagna ahead of time, and freeze it to bring with you? That way you know it's delicious, but you don't have to spend time on vacation cooking. You can just throw it in the oven, and serve it. . . .If you want to cook something that day, I would try to think of a similar one dish meal, like casseroles or just get a bunch of hamburgers and BBQ items, and grill things up. You can either make, or store buy, coleslaw, pasta salad, etc. and then have some corn on the cob, fruit salad and meat. Everyone loves a good BBQ!
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By: julie m

julie m — Fri, 22 Jun 2007 11:39:24 +0000

Make your own lasagna and freeze it ahead of time.
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By: harrismithclara

harrismithclara — Fri, 22 Jun 2007 10:16:43 +0000

BBQ grill some nice sausage outdoors and serve on bread rolls with ketchup.
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By: Gem

Gem — Thu, 21 Jun 2007 23:43:16 +0000

Super simple summer pasta dish that doesn't need to be served hot:

Fresh vine-ripened tomatoes, cut into chunks
Several cloves of finely minced garlic (to taste)
Chopped basil (also to taste)
Extra virgin (or just virgin) olive oil to coat
Grated pecorino romano or parmesian cheese

Mix all of those ingredients with warm pasta (I use whole wheat bow-tie pasta) the longer this sits, the better it tastes and it lasts for a few days. You can eat it cold, at room temp or warm!

Good luck!!
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By: Sugar PIe

Sugar PIe — Thu, 21 Jun 2007 21:04:46 +0000

–Big pot of chili w/ lots of toppings (skip the beans w/ that many people around! LOL)
–Sloppy Joes, whole kernel corn
–Spaghetti w/ meatsauce and green beans, garlic bread.
–Big Chicken & Rice (or Noodle) Casseroles
–Breakfast for Supper! (pancakes, bacon, sausage, eggs cooked to order [put the men on this job], fresh fruit salad
–Make your own Tacos night! (ground beef, chopped chicken, lettuce/tomato, sour cream, shredded cheese, guac, chips, taco shells, soft flour tortillas, rice/beans)
–Salad Supper (pasta salad, chicken salad, potato salad, fruit salad, a jello salad)
–Foot Long Hot Dogs– call around and see ifyou can find them, if not, regular (but good, meaty) hot dogs w/ all conceivable toppings and french fries (oven baked)
–Loaded Baked Potatoes — w/ chili, broccoli/cheese, butter, sour cream, shredded cheese, etc. Green salad on the side.
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By: brandon p

brandon p — Thu, 21 Jun 2007 21:03:03 +0000

You can make hamburgers, and hot dogs,…..homemade baked french fries………..and some fruit salad or strawberries with ice cream….easy and everyone will love them.
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By: Lisa N

Lisa N — Thu, 21 Jun 2007 20:53:31 +0000

My family's favorite when camping - ESPECIALLY the kids is the following -

I take chicken pieces - thighs/legs/breasts(but those take longer. I spice them up and wrap them in foil seperately.
I then slice up potatoes - green pepper and onion then top it with butter and wrap individual servings of that in foil. THENNN I take a loaf of french bread slice it down the middle butter it and add the garlic powder and wrap it in foil.

Throw the meat and potatoes INTO the hot coals of the fire and let cook. The bread will cook on the grate above the fire. Don't forget to turn the bread over every now and again. The meal basically cooks itself.

Then - open the foil and eat! VERY little clean up and VERY tasty food. The boys want to camping just for that meal! You can do the chicken before you leave it'll sit in the spices for that much longer yum! The green pepper and onion can be sliced and taken in ziplocks prior to leaving as well. All you would have to do is slice the potatoes and the bread and poof you have a fabulous meal!

Nothing really to spoil - not knowing how hot it'll be - or your cooler accomodations. The potatoes can also be put into a baking pan to bake if you have an oven available in the camper (if you have that)
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Don't forget too that a crockpot is GREAT for camping if you have electricity available!! Then we can add in sloppy joes!

If you go to http://www.recipezaar.com there are breakfast recipes for the crockpot.

By: Emilyota

Emilyota — Thu, 21 Jun 2007 20:53:28 +0000

Spaghetti with meat sauce, tuna noodle casserole, ham and scalloped potatoes (from the box of course), bay shrimp or chicken caesar salad with garlic bread, Homemade chili with cornbread. Is there going to be a BBQ grill? If so get some beef patties and hotdogs. E-mail me if you need some of these recipies.
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