The Conservative Cave
Current Events => The DUmpster => Topic started by: franksolich on September 13, 2009, 03:08:48 PM
-
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=236x68792
Oh my.
Mind_your_head (1000+ posts) Sat Sep-12-09 10:24 PM
Original message
Need ideas please - 18 hungry teenagers and it's my turn to bring the food
It's tennis tourney time at the high school. All of us parents take a turn bringing food for one of the tournaments that start right after school and can last for 3-4++ hours. The girls are ravenous after school and really chow down. Last year it ran me about $100 to supply the food.
I'm on a pretty tight budget right now and am looking for suggestions on what to supply without it breaking my wallet. I will mention that most of the girls are REALLY healthy eaters. About 25% of them are vegetarians.
I was planning on baking 4 loaves of zucchini bread, 2 loaves of banana bread (I've got LOTS of zucchini from my garden and enough over-ripe bananas in my frezzer to do the breads). Beyond that I'm not sure what else to bring that's 'good' and won't cost me an arm & a leg. I've got Sunday and 1/2 of Monday to do this. The tourney is on Monday afternoon.
Thanks in advance for any good ideas!
Uh, tennis isn't exactly a proletariat sport.
One wonders what gives with that, a primitive being an elitist snob.
eridani (1000+ posts) Sat Sep-12-09 11:07 PM
Response to Original message
1. Lasagna is always good for potlucks, IMO
Add a nice big salad. Both will go great with the bread.
elleng (1000+ posts) Sun Sep-13-09 12:52 AM
Response to Original message
2. The breads, and sliced/cut up fruit and veges should do it, and any dips that you could think of.
The Gloria Swanson primitive:
Tangerine LaBamba (1000+ posts) Sun Sep-13-09 01:28 AM
Response to Reply #2
3. For 18 hungry teenage girls?
You're kidding, right? After a tennis tournament?
You've forgotten how those jocks can eat, my friend. They put it away like boys, bless them all.
Eighteen for a hundred bucks?
Start with black beans and rice, with vegetable garnishes. Filling and cheap.
Baked chicken, legs and thighs are cheap enough, and girls who aren't vegetarian will chow down on them, marinated and baked and served at room temperature.
Those breads are nothing but dessert, but maybe a big bowl of egg salad might make them handy for sandwiches.
Fruit could be expensive, and with the threat of swine flu among school-age kids, dips aren't really a good idea. They always double-dip, without thinking, because they're all ten feet tall and bulletproof at that age.
Me, I'd order as many pizzas as possible, supply the soft drinks, and make sure the delivery guy was on call in case we ran out.
Or a supersized sub, a six-footer, and salads for the vegetarians.
Aren't you glad we don't have to do this stuff any more, kiddo?
elleng (1000+ posts) Sun Sep-13-09 01:42 AM
Response to Reply #3
5. Sure am!
I provided 'platters' from SubWay for dress-rehearsal at daughter Julie's school, but suggested fruit and veges here due to possibility of controlling costs. (Cut-up oranges go a long way, and we used them frequently after soccer games.)
Hmmmm. The elleng primitive didn't use "v*****s".
Tangerine LaBamba (1000+ posts) Sun Sep-13-09 01:48 AM
Response to Reply #5
8. That's more like it!
Cut-up oranges are nice for hydration between soccer games, but as far as feeding hungry girls after a tennis tournament, I don't think they're nearly enough.
Those Subway platters are the thing. I used to get the six-foot subs from whatever deli was closest to wherever the event was taking place - we lived in different cities as the kids were growing up - and there was never a crumb left.
I've often thought about having one delivered here, and just nibbling on it for a few weeks, when cooking or ordering in don't appeal to me. I haven't given up on the idea.
In case one didn't know, the Gloria Swanson primitive probably used to organize and set up the cookouts and picnics at Hyde Park, back when a young Eleanor Roosevelt and "the girls" had that woodworking shop there.
elleng (1000+ posts) Sun Sep-13-09 01:52 AM
Response to Reply #8
10. There was a great old Jewish deli near our house in DC, and on weekends they made SUPER-BAGELs, especially for brunches. They'd put whatever we wanted ON them, like lox, whitefish salad, etc etc., and we really enjoyed them. Closed years ago, tho.
Tangerine LaBamba (1000+ posts) Sun Sep-13-09 01:56 AM
Response to Reply #10
12. Ah, that sounds so wonderful!
There were so many fine delis in NW years ago. All gone now. Did you see that article in yesterday's Post about the way upper Connecticut Avenue is being deserted by businesses?
Yenching Palace was such a trip. We'd go there for dinner, then to a movie at - was it the Avalon?
All gone now.
Have you ever gone out to Pikesville? That place has the most amazing collection of delis and really good Jewish fare. We used to route ourselves through Pikesville on our way back to VA from PA.
Whitefish salad. I could just weep. Damn you, kiddo!
elleng (1000+ posts) Sun Sep-13-09 02:07 AM
Response to Reply #12
13. Kiddo, the Avalon is NOT GONE!
My fave Chevy Chase, DC, neighborhood SAVED IT!
And yes, BELOW ChCh has lost some; yenching gone some time ago. Didn't see article; will look for it.
Haven't been to Pikesville; MAY try it! Yea, whitefish salad a real favorite of mine!
Tangerine LaBamba (1000+ posts) Sun Sep-13-09 02:29 AM
Response to Reply #13
15. I knew the Avalon is still there, but who goes to movies anymore? It's too much trouble, too expensive, and you can't go back to hear that one line you missed.
elleng (1000+ posts) Sun Sep-13-09 02:31 AM
Response to Reply #15
16. I've been there a number of times! Old fashioned me!
'Cause it was in my neighborhood, and my only social life was at nearby Starbucks!
Tangerine LaBamba (1000+ posts) Sun Sep-13-09 02:34 AM
Response to Reply #16
17. That's where you lived?
That's a lovely neighborhood. The Avalon's a gorgeous theater, the old-fashioned kind, really nice.
I loved Yenching Palace, though - we had some wonderful times there. It closed long ago, though.
I just couldn't believe all that empty space on upper Connecticut Avenue, though. That, in years past, was unthinkable. Oh, kiddo, how things have changed! And not for the better.
One wonders if constantly increasing taxes and promiscuous political graft and corruption are why things haven't changed for the better there.
The Gloria Swanson primitive and the elleng primitive reminesce more, and finally the wired gassy primitive, from the farmette up there in Wisconsin, gets the bonfire back on topic:
grasswire (1000+ posts) Sun Sep-13-09 01:37 AM
Response to Original message
4. hmmmm...
...I love a challenge like this.
I'm assuming that you are talking about food to be eaten out of hand, after school but before the tournament or during? High carbs, no forks?
What about some homemade caramel corn with peanuts and raisins in it? I have a recipe for caramel corn that is really easy -- it's baked in the oven. The corn, nuts and raisins are healthful. And the caramel is brown sugar based. You could shape it into balls, and it sounds really fall-ish. I'll be happy to copy it here.
How about hard-boiled eggs? Too smelly? You could make a *special* salt the girls could use to sprinkle on them. Like a dilly salt with some onion powder and lemon zest. Can't ask for a better protein jolt.
Or what about a whole tub of blanched and marinated sliced carrots? Some vinegar, some dill and a bit of salt and sugar would make them zippy and good.
How about some "sandwiches" made of zucchini rounds stuffed thinly with cream cheese and salsa for seasoning with a little kick to it? A sprig of cilantro could go inside each one.
Or you could go for PBJ kicked up a notch. Whole grain bread, peanut butter, banana slices, a few M&Ms tucked inside. Cut them in half, stack in a tupperware.
Pretzels are always cheap at the store, especially the house brands.
Do you have to do beverages, too?
grasswire (1000+ posts) Sun Sep-13-09 01:45 AM
Response to Original message
6. well, there's another idea
Wraps with an inexpensive filler, or small burritos that have something inside that tastes good at room temp. Flour tortillas are cheap and filling.
elleng (1000+ posts) Sun Sep-13-09 01:47 AM
Response to Reply #6
7. Refried beans.
But I think we're getting too fancy here!
Whatever it is, include cut up watermelon!
grasswire (1000+ posts) Sun Sep-13-09 01:51 AM
Response to Reply #7
9. yeah I also was thinking of those Zatarain's boxed mixes for dirty rice, black beans and rice, etc. Two boxes of that stuff and a couple of cans of black beans drained would fill several dozen flour tortillas nicely. And it tastes good. The whole shebang wouldn't be much more than ten bucks, and very filling.
elleng (1000+ posts) Sun Sep-13-09 01:54 AM
Response to Reply #9
11. Good one!
Would have to provide plates and forks, because the innards would NOT stay in the tortillas, guaranteed.
The defrocked warped primitive:
Warpy (1000+ posts) Sun Sep-13-09 08:42 AM
Response to Original message
21. I'm guessing this will be between 7 and 8 PM and will have to be a late supper for the kids.
My own guess would be hot dogs (both tofu for the veg heads and beef for the non veg heads), a pot of vegetarian baked beans, all the condiments, and your wonderful breads. You can get fancy and also bring coleslaw and potato salad, but the kids will be happy without them.
I just heard that inward groan at tofu hot dogs. Relax, they perfected those 20 years ago and they're quite good.
Teenagers don't have the most refined palates in the world and I'd keep it simple and go for quantity.
And gallons of milk and other dairy products would be nice, too.
grasswire (1000+ posts) Sun Sep-13-09 12:35 PM
Response to Reply #21
22. I don't know about the timing.
She said the kids are ravenous after school. So I'm thinking it's an after-school snack that sustains them through the tourney. That's what we had to provide for our cross country team. The runners liked to have bagels and fruit, but that's not inexpensive.
You're right about simple and plenty.
Mind_your_head (1000+ posts) Sun Sep-13-09 01:16 PM
Response to Reply #22
23. That's it exactly. It's right after school before the tourney starts
it sustains them through the match, then they go home and have dinner afterwards.
I like the idea of the refried beans. I was thinking along those lines myself - homemade hummus (with store bought pita) - maybe pita pockets (hummus, lettuce, feta, and ???) OR refried beans served somehow.
I was also thinking maybe some cubes of cheese ($4.00/lb. could cube it myself) and then maybe like a bowl of apples. The loaves of bread already mentioned above, of course.
Oh, I already have paper plates & plastic utensils if I need that. I do have to bring beverages, but I'm only gonna bring a case of water. Gaterade is too expensive, imho, and lots of the moms only bring water.
Thanks for all of your thoughts....gotta run now. Will check back later this afternoon.
Okay, wearily franksolich has to ask the usual question: why do primitives make life more difficult than it has to be? Just take the kids to McDonald's. Cheaper, faster, cleaner, and no mess to clean up.
-
Coach, this is a tennis tournament. Mickey D's is too . . . "pedestrian."
I'd do a pot of chili, myself. Big effin' pot, with ground venison.
-
Agreed. Chili. And tell the vegetarians that their meal is the grass field down the block.
-
Agreed. Chili. And tell the vegetarians that their meal is the grass field down the block.
Make sure that grub killer has been put down first!
-
Well if the DUmmie comes over here and checks out out forum and won't scream to loud about going to a "Corporate Whore" website :-), go to the Safeway link (http://www.safeway.com/IFL/Grocery/Recipes-and-Meals) and they have some awsome fast and cheap foods to prepare.
-
Coach, this is a tennis tournament. Mickey D's is too . . . "pedestrian."
I'd do a pot of chili, myself. Big effin' pot, with ground venison.
Those Subway platters are, I think, full of 4" sandwiches. They make vegetable sandwiches too.
-
I would do pizza. Call Dominos or Pizza Hut, tell them what you want, when you need it and how much you can spend. In this economy companies are bending over backwards for business. Haggle and tell thim if they can have the pizzas for pick up or delivery at X time you'll be back again. Get a couple of vegetarian pizzas for the grass eaters. Every kid loves pizza. And throw in a few gallons of Gatorade. Buy it powdered (it's cheaper) and make it yourself. They also do pans of lasagna, regular and veggie too.
-
If she tries the black beans, rice, and chicken, they'll probably kill and eat her cat. 18 hungry teenage athletes, girls or not, can put down the better part of a dozen large Domino's pizzas before they run out of steam.