He served 37 people three soups and three different kinds of chicken wings, plus vegetables and dessert, for less than $2 each.
How'd he do it? You'll have to go here to find out.
Here are the recipes.
Three types of chicken wings: Barbecue
Buffalo wings
Lemon and garlic
Three soups: Split pea and ham
Colorado chili
Loaded baked potato
WINGS, THREE WAYS
You'll need approx. 1/3-1/2 pound of wings per person. (Maybe more, if the price is right.)
Baste wings with flavorings, then bake at 350 degrees for 30-40 min. Serve hot.
Barbecue: For every 30-40 servings, baste with 1 bottle barbecue sauce.
Buffalo-style: 1 large bottle Frank's hot sauce. Sprinkle heavily with garlic afterwards.
(serve wings with celery sticks and ranch dressing)
Lemon and garlic: 1 bottle garlic vinaigrette dressing, mixed with lemon juice. Sprinkle with garlic after.
Can't find chicken wings at a good price? Substitute boneless chicken breast, cut in thin strips -- look for boneless breast or chicken tenders on sale.
(These will take less time to cook - about 20 min.)
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| How dare you!! |
SOUPS, THREE WAYS
(Each serves between 10-15; combined, they'll easily cover 35-50)
SPLIT PEA & HAM SOUP
1 pound diced ham, leftover hambone (from a spiral-cut or regular ham)
1-2 pounds split peas (the more, the merrier)
2 chicken bouillon cubes
1 chopped onion
2 diced carrots
(add any minced celery leaves, or a handful of celery too, if you're not making potato soup)
2 large diced potatoes
This is especially good, made by crockpot. Start the night before by combining everything but the potatoes. (Adding them now only results in mushy spuds.) Add enough water to comfortably cover everything, then cook on low til next morning (or 8 hours). Take out the hambone, dice the meat and add it back in. (Give the fat and gristle to the chickens, and the bone to Charley the dog.)
Soup can be cooked on low for another 3-5 hours -- add potatoes 2 hours before you serve. Salt and fresh-ground pepper are essential.
Also good served with a sprinkle of croutons or a swirl of sour cream.
COLORADO CHILI
2 pounds ground beef
2 pounds pinto or Anasazi beans (about 4 cups uncooked)
2 beef bouillon cubes (optional, but make the chili taste meatier)
1 #10 can crushed or diced tomatoes
2 chopped onions
2 tablespoons garlic salt
4 tablespoons chili powder
(Also add a can or two of diced green chilies too, if you've got them, and your people like spicy foods. Here in Colorado, they do.)
Another good crockpot starter. Cook the beef, onions, spices and beans together, adding water to cover, for 7-8 hours on low. Add tomatoes and cook 3-4 more hours. (Tomatoes can be added from the start, but the chili will not have as bright a color or fresh aroma.)
Good served with a splash of sour cream, or a sprinkle of Cheddar cheese and corn chips.
LOADED BAKED POTATO SOUP
The surprise hit of the luncheon -- not a drop was left over.
5 pounds baking potatoes (approx. 10-12), chopped
2 chopped onions
handful minced celery tops (if you've got them)
1 teaspoon garlic salt
4 chicken bouillon cubes
1 box or can of mushroom soup
2 teaspoons basil or marjoram (not crucial, but add to flavor)
3 pounds sour cream
This one cooks on the stovetop just as easily as the crockpot. Mix everything together except the sour cream, then add water to cover. Cook for 2 hours (stovetop) or 4 hours (crockpot on high); stir in sour cream just before serving. Adjust taste by adding salt and fresh-ground pepper. (A few extra tablespoons of butter, or a few cups of milk - fresh or dried - add to the flavor.)
To serve, sprinkle each with a tablespoon each of chopped cooked bacon and grated Cheddar. Other good additions: parsley, chopped green onions or sprinkled Parmesan cheese. (The first two are especially important -- they add to the traditional 'loaded' flavor.)
Serving a group: Set up a station with three crockpots or kettles of soup -- ask people what they want, or let them serve themselves, buffet-style. (Note: You'll need more soup if done buffet; people tend to serve themselves more than they actually eat.)
Pile chicken wings on platters, and serve alongside the soup. Or if you have enough helpers, have three circulate with platters of chicken wings, replenishing as needed from the kitchen.
Other good additions that don't cost much, to round out the meal: hot rolls, crusty bread and butter, crackers, veggie platter (red or green peppers, carrots, celery, black and green olives, sugar peas, pickles and such), fresh-sliced oranges.
For dessert: cookies or squares of cake, served with a squirt of whipped cream or a small scoop of ice cream (the latter from the largest container you can buy)
Serve with friendliness and a smile. They'll love it.
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