Easy Large Quantity Recipes: Feed an Army, Help a Neighbor

So many people around my state are hurting after the tornadoes that demolished homes and whole communities last week. Those who were more fortunate have really stepped up and are pitching in to help anywhere they can. They are clearing trees and debris, collecting donations, and cooking for shelters and neighbors. I've been asked if I had large quantity recipes to share for those cooking for a big crowd. Here are a couple that are easy and comforting:

TRACI'S MAC N CHEESE FOR 20

(recipe from our Louisville friend Traci Badenhausen)

This recipe can easily be doubled.

Ingredients:

1 quart milk
1 cup (2 sticks) margarine
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 pound macaroni
1 pound of grated extra sharp cheddar cheese
½ teaspoon to 1 teaspoon of cayenne pepper (depending on your taste preference)

Directions:
In a saucepan, heat milk over medium heat. Stir until milk is scalded — just coming to a boil and forming small bubbles around the edges. Remove from heat, and set aside. In separate pan, melt margarine. Add the flour. Stir until blended, then turn off. Mixture should be pourable, yet thick enough to spoon out of pan.

In separate pot, cook macaroni in salted boiling water. Cook until tender, but not mushy. Drain, and set aside.

Combine flour and margarine mixture with scalded milk. Keep on low heat, and whisk until blended. Add 1 pound of grated cheddar cheese. Stir until blended, adding cayenne pepper to taste. Remove from heat, and fold into macaroni.

Place cheese and macaroni mixture in lightly greased dish/pan. Bake uncovered at 325 degrees for 30 minutes or until golden brown. May need to place under broiler for about 5 minutes to get it nicely browned on top.

MAUREEN'S EASY CHEESY SPAGHETTI BAKE FOR 50 

(from our Facebook friend Maureen Santos-Lussier)

Ingredients:

Ten boxes angel hair pasta

8 pounds ground beef

12 jars spaghetti sauce

12 packages shredded cheese.(we like the cheddar)

Brown the hamburger. (You can omit it for the vegetarians) In a seperate pot, boil the pasta. It does not take long. You'll want it to be al dente (slightly firm). Mix EVERYTHING together and put in 13x9 pans. Cover with foil and cook for 20 minutes at 350. Take cover off and bake another 15 minutes or so, until the pasta is browned on the top. You can always add some grated Parmesan cheese to the top if you like. To serve, slice it into squares or spoon it out. It tastes just as good if you use the less expensive pasta and sauce. It is filling and a little goes a VERY long way.For 100, this recipe doubles easily.

MISSISSIPPI MUD CAKE FOR 200 

5 pounds margarine

10 cups sugar

1/2 cup vanilla

40 eggs

15 cups flour

2 1/2 cups cocoa

10 cups chopped nuts (I like toasted pecans)

In the bowl of a mixer, cream the sugar and margarine until fluffy. Add the eggs, one cup at a time. Add vanilla. Mix well. Gradually add the flour, one cup at a time. Add nuts. Pour into greased and floured sheet pans. Bake at 350 for one hour. Add the marshmallows for the frosting immediately after removing the cake from the oven so they melt on top.

Frosting:

10 sticks margarine

5  boxes Confectioners sugar

2 1/2 cups cocoa

1/4 cup milk

4 bags miniature marshmallows

Cream the margarine and the sugar until it is light and fluffy. Add vanilla and milk. While the cake is still hot, sprinkle the marshmallows on top and let them melt. Then spread the frosting over the marshmallows.

More large quantity recipes to come!

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