As we emerge out of various lockdowns, many of us are planning gatherings with our friends and families, and what better way to gather than in the name of food? In fact, food is a huge factor of many cultures, from Ramadan appeals when the sun sets to Good Friday. After seemingly never-ending weeks, Sunday lunch presents a great opportunity for families to connect and enjoy each other’s company. Despite this, planning a family meal can be a really stressful experience, especially if you’re not prepared. Although, it’s fair to say that it’s worth all the effort in the end. With the right organization techniques, your family meal is sure to be a breeze.
Make a List and Plan Ahead
Lists are massively helpful when it comes to catering, so you should make a list of all the dishes you plan to prepare, as well as the beverages that you’re going to offer. Then, you can rummage through your refrigerator and cupboards to see what ingredients you already have for your intended dishes. You should make a list of these, in addition to a list of the things that you’re missing so you know what to pick up from the grocery store.
Since you’re likely cooking for a bigger than usual group, don’t be afraid of overbuying. Anything that you don’t use can go in the freezer and be used at a later date; this is much more convenient than going back and forth to get your hands on the right ingredients.
Preparation is key when it comes to cooking for a larger group and you should prepare as much as you can the day before. This way, you can dedicate the actual day to cooking alone, meaning that you won’t be trapped in the kitchen all day, and you’ll be able to mingle with your guests.
Know What to Use
Another handy measure to implement is to note which utensils you need to use and making sure that they’re accessible on the day. These utensils will likely include serving dishes, pots, and pans. When it comes to catering for a larger party, serving dishes are an essential so that your guests are able to control their own portions. It’s impossible to select a meal that will please everyone, so it’s a good idea to offer a selection of dishes that everyone can pick and choose between.
On top of this, you should make an effort to ensure that the kitchen is as clear as possible to allow for movement. A cluttered atmosphere will only contribute to your stress and make the entire process a lot more difficult.
Family Reunion Meal Ideas
When it comes to appetizers, there’s nothing wrong with keeping things simple with a salad. Salad is healthy, fresh, and your guests won’t fill themselves up with it before getting to the mains. Speaking of mains, chicken is a popular go-to, since it’s an affordable meat and its quality isn’t typically affected by the price. Despite this, if you have vegetarians or vegans in the family, you’ll need to offer an alternative. The most popular alternatives include jackfruit, chickpeas, and tofu if you’re stuck for ideas. For dessert, you can find a quick and easy recipe for a pound cake that will feed the entire party effortlessly.
Limit Dishes
Once all the cooking and eating is out of the way, you’ll be left with the dreaded cleaning. In anticipation for this, you should limit the amount of crockery and utensils that you use, otherwise you’ll be left with a mound of dishes to scrub.
