What about fruit salad with kid-friendly fruits instead of the pasta salad? Maybe a dressing on the side for adults. And yeah, mini marshmallows. For the children!

I've lived with a nut allergy brother--we never attended a pot luck without a trip to the ER. Don't just ask people to tell you what they-re bringing. Also point out clearly the peanut issue. I bet you know that, though!

Hi, fori. Thanks for the fruit salad idea. I knew there was something obvious I was missing!
And, yes, I've already told everyone "No peanut products, please!" and I religiously check the ingredients of anything that makes its way into my house. Halloween is tough! DS is only 4 so he didn't entirely notice that half his treat bag disappeared this year.

What about another sandwich other than meatball? SHould it be a hot sandwich or a cold cut tray?

Thanks again!
- mando

Southern Living's Best Ever Carrot Cake...goes a long way and can be made ahead and frozen...pound cake also serves a lot and freezes beautifully....love apple pie but it's a lot of work and only serves eight. Pumpkin pie (not my favorite) and pecan pie each only take about 15 minutes to prepare. Once again they don't serve a lot. How about an ambrosia salad easy and kids will love.

How nice of you!

What about adding a soup? Good for cold weather and for those who have indulged too much over the holidays.

Great idea about the pound cake, dottieq! thanks! Gotta dig out my big bundt pan!

Oh, I sure wish I could do a soup. But people are going to be standing around eating, walking around, etc. Kids and bowls of soup in a crowd also won't make for a good combo, I don't think. But thanks for your thoughts, denise!

I'm assuming you will serve nibblies to a certain time and then put out the main fare as opposed to keeping the food going the whole time. Is that right?

Off the top of my head you need lots more lasagna, basically you have 40 adults to serve, assuming they are all there at food time. Assuming some coming and going and some who won't want the lasagna you need to be able to serve 3/4 of the adult crowd your main offering even if it's a small serving.

The meatball sammies will go over best with the younger crowd and some of the men. So count on serving at least 20-25 people those.

I'm inclined to think another sammie would be in order because the lasagna and meatball sandwiches are similar in ingredients (you need to be sure to have some provolone slices and red pepper flakes for those meatball sandwiches!

You have a bit of an Italian theme going so sliced grilled sausages , fried onions and roasted peppers on a roll could be a good choice. They can be made ahead and use the same rolls as the meatballs....sorta an Italian build your one sandwich bar. Actually the onions and peppers work for both the meatballs and the sausage so you really could do a build your own Italian sandwich bar...I think that would be fun

So for the main event I can see Lasagna along with meatballs, sausage fried onions and roasted/fried peppers on buns with a grated parm, provolone and red pepper flakes as toppers.

Sides only need be a choice of two salads, leafy and Caesar would be great. Forget the pasta salad , as you mention not needed with the amount of carbs you have.

For that, many people I would stay with all cold and room temp nibblies. Linda C has a great recipe for what she calls Bologna Snackers they could be good. If you really want to do a hot dip then I would go with a con queso/chile to serve with taco chips dip (have a recipe if you want it) . Also those mini meatballs in the chile sauce/grape jelly stuff could work. They always go over good and I don't think will conflict too much with the meatball sandwiches, if you think so use those mini hot dog things.

Don;t do pie for dessert...that's a lot of people for pie and they are real work....!

Go with the pound cake and a selection of macerated fruits and whipping cream to top of the slices. English Trifles are easy, make a huge statement and go along way. The other choice is a selection of cookies and bars. You could start now and freeze them all.

You have quite a bit of time. Plan a list and let it evolve until it's just what you want. Make sure there are lots of things on the list that you can delegate to anyone who asks "what can I bring".....especially the cookies and bars.

Wow, Chase. Thanks. Great idea about the sausages and peppers. In fact I know the place I'll get the meatballs from does sausages and peppers, too, so I might just cheat and go the catered route there as well. Good point about needing more lasagnas.

And those littls pigs in blankets are great. My family loves them, too.

I'm starting to feel less overwhelmed...thanks! ;-)

If you're going to have all of the snacks and nibbles before hand, you'll probaby have a lots of different things for people to pick from there. In that case, I'd streamline the "main" dishes down to a bare minimum and just do a really good job on a few things.

Lasagnas (with a bowl of fresh parmesan next to the pans), a big crockpot full of meatballs with sauce for young ones that might not eat lasagna, a beautiful big green salad, a fruit salad for kids, and some crusty garlic bread or focaccia. Then some chocolate sheet cakes for dessert plus whatever everyone else brings.
You could do the lasagnas and the meatballs ahead of time. Whatever you do, make sure that you have enough oven and refrigerator space for everything!

You can do soup! Have a cream soup or a broth-type soup, nothing with big lumps or noodles, and serve it in mugs, easy to carry by the handle, no need for spoons and can eat one-handed :-)

Don't do two green salads. And make only half as much as you think you'll need: most people will fill up on other things and take the green salad last. So veggie crudites are a good way to add a healthy touch instead of nothing but chips.

Keep it as simple as possible for yourself. Have a separate table and wastebasket for glasses, bar stuff, and all drinks.

Have an emergency clean-up basket with everything you'll need when someone inevitably drops a plate or spills red wine.

Don't stress, and enjoy yourself. Nothing kills a party faster than a hostess who isn't enjoying herself.

Wow, what a great party!

Soup in a crock pot with toss away cups work well. What about some Italian beef or french dip? They both hold well over the day in a crock pot too. And both can be made ahead too. Or pulled BBQ pork.

I agree about no pie, too much work. Do a big cobbler or crisp if you want a fruit dessert. And a big sheet cake is good too and/or bar cookies or brownies--less work than drop cookies. Keep it simple. And I agree, big green salad and veggie crudites for the green stuff, no pasta salad. If I had all that meat and cheese I'd want something white meat or fish unless everyone hates it, for the other sandwich. Or maybe even baked chicken with an italian type seasoning barbecue sauce. Could even make ahead and serve cold.

How about adding some bread...garlic bread/breadsticks - I know you have sandwiches, but if I was only eating lasagna I would like a piece of bread with it. For dessert a big batch of bread pudding (make it ahead cook/warm while everyone is eating dinner).

Aas someonew ho has done parties of that size lots and lots of times, I say dont' do the one dish of veggie lasagna and one dish of spinach lasagna and a fruit salad and a green salad etc.
Pick a menu and make lots of it. I would fix a giant ham or a huge brisket made into Italian beef or a whole pork loin, grilled and sliced...very likely I would have 2 such things.
And lots of rolls, small dinner rolls that could double for sandwiches and for a dinner roll.
I would have a huge tossed salad, make my own dressing, about a quart or more and have bags of greens and the "add ons in the refrig and add to the bowl when needed....and a bowl of fruit...I would buy that high end(??) frozen fruit from Wal Mart and just dump it into a bowl with perhaps some bananas if your gang likes bananas ( mine doesnt'!)
Add about 4 packages of those little smokies in a sweet BBQ sauce for the kids and some cut up carrots celery and dip...piles of brownies lemon bars, blondies and call it good.
Linda c

As someone who starts every newyears with a resolution to eat healthy!!!! How about making sure lots of fresh fruits and vegies. I know the selection of fruit is slim right now and if I was a guest at your party ???are we invited and would you noticed an extra person???? I would bring the healthy foods. Although messy, I think the super nacho bar with all the toppings is always so yummy. A giant rice krispie bar is always a hit with the kids also.
Have fun!! Any games that you play or do you just mingle and watch football? Deanna

OK, I'll weigh in here, I've had Christmas Eve dinner for 40 for about 25 years in a row now, LOL.

I agree with Chase, you'll need more lasagna. And, unless your family is much different than mine, you won't need two green salads, I always have salad left over no matter what kind I make, plus it's messy to try to eat leafy greens while standing. I'd go with the caesar, a fruit salad, cut out the pasta salad and have more lasagna. It's easier to make a lot of one thing, instead of a bunch of smaller things.

The cookies can be made ahead and frozen, so can most cakes, just don't frost them. Breads can also be made and frozen, I've even frozen bread dough for up to 3 months and then thawed it and baked it, ditto cookie dough.

The kids will go for the mac and cheese, the lasagna and those "pigs in a blanket" or chicken fingers type of dish. You could do an assortment of chicken wings or strips if you want to add chicken.

The best advice I can give you is to make everything ahead that you can, even lasagna can be made ahead and frozen.

Good luck, relax and have fun. And make sure everyone knows about that peanut allergy if they are providing food and that includes the catered portion.

Annie

Wow! I log off for 24 hours, and you all keep giving me great ideas! Thank you so much!
I love the rice krispie idea and I must say the idea of a big ol' sliced ham is very tempting. Those room-temp hams are great because guests can eat slices in a sandwich or not. With or without mustard. That's starting to sound very do-able.

I agree about 2 green salads being too much. I'll forget the pasta salad.

I'm stuck with the lasagnas because my mom and aunt are excited to make & bring them. But I think those with my huge thing of mac and cheese should satisfy anyone's pasta craving.

Yes on the veggie tray and fruit salad, too! Great ideas!

Deanna, sure...come 'on over to Philly! We don't play games...it's more like mingling and chasing the many little kids around and keeping the beer flowing. Yes, a gaggle of guys will cluster around the TV to watch whatever game is on. Fortunately my hubbs is not a sports fan, so he'll be willing and able to help me! ;-)

Thanks again, guys! I'll keep you posted as to the preparations and outcome.
- mando

I think the lasagna dishes, mac and cheese are fine and then go with the ham idea for another sandwich. Chicken salad has always been a favorite in my family as well.
We've made a hot one and a cold one and both are hits. The fruit and veggies would round it all out.
You could do soup but if it stresses you, skip it.
Simple for the desserts like they say. Cookie, bars, sheet cake, crisps will never go uneaten. Pies are a lot of work for little turn out I think.
Great ideas about clean up kits etc. It will make you feel better if it's easy to grab should you need it.

You'll do fine I'm sure. Especially with those willing to help out. Enjoy yourself.

I just hosted a large family dinner for out of town guests and locals and everything turned out well. Didn't think I could carry it out as DH had to be out of town. One guest, legally blind, went outdoors to the patio with her husband and misunderstood that she had one more step to go and fell, abraiding her arm and lip. I had to scramble to find antiseptic and bandages and finally, thankfully, remembered DD had put together a first aid kit in a box in a closet. I had given my handy cabinet supplies to DH a few weeks ago when he had a knee injury to treat when he was out of town. Next time I have people wandering around all over the place, I need to check my first aid kit to make sure antiseptics are handy and not outdated

I agree with the others, you need large amounts of few things...lasagas are great, but 8 portions of each is not enough. Ask your family members who are making them to make a big pan each. You need lasagna to feed 40 people. Sounds like a fun event.

Hey Mando!

It sounds like you are getting very organized with terrific ideas! I know you will pull it off with flying colors!

I think the best advice you have been given is to simplify where ever possible. Rather than make a ton of little stuff, make a few huge containers of a few things and life will be much easier.

Good luck, stay clam and you will have a great time!

Alexa

I'd double the amounts of lasagna, you've got to figure most adults are going to want some. Maybe 3 meat lasagnas to the one gorgonzola lasagna? I'm sure the vegie one is delicious and I'd eat it in a heartbeat but there's a lot of people out there who a) prefer meat and b) don't care for gorgonzola.