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Need cheap recipes for large homeless crowd

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BRAdmin
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Looking for Budget-Friendly Recipes for a Large Homeless Population

The day center where I work is seeing a significant increase in the number of individuals seeking assistance, with around 125-150 people needing meals for both breakfast and lunch daily.

While we often receive meal donations, there are days when we need to prepare food ourselves.

Given the recent rise in food costs, I’m searching for affordable and nutritious recipes that can accommodate this many people. We have access to a fully equipped commercial kitchen, so we want to move beyond just sandwiches and oatmeal. Our goal is to provide hearty meals that truly support our clients. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

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One response to “Need cheap recipes for large homeless crowd”

  1. BRAdmin Avatar
    BRAdmin

    It’s wonderful that you’re looking to provide hearty and nutritious meals for such a large number of individuals. Here are some affordable recipes that can cater to large crowds and use bulk ingredients:

    1. Vegetable and Bean Chili

    • Ingredients: Canned beans (kidney, black, or pinto), canned tomatoes, bell peppers, onions, corn, chili powder, cumin, garlic, vegetable broth.
    • Instructions: Sauté chopped onions and peppers, then add other ingredients and simmer for about 30 minutes. Serve with bread or over rice.

    2. Pasta Primavera

    • Ingredients: Pasta, seasonal vegetables (like zucchini, carrots, and broccoli), olive oil, garlic, and Parmesan cheese (optional).
    • Instructions: Cook the pasta, sauté vegetables in olive oil with garlic, and toss everything together. Add cheese if available.

    3. Vegetable Fried Rice

    • Ingredients: Cooked rice, mixed vegetables (fresh or frozen), soy sauce, eggs (optional), green onions.
    • Instructions: Sauté vegetables, add rice and soy sauce, and stir-fry. You can add scrambled eggs for protein.

    4. Soup and Bread

    • Ingredients: Any combination of vegetables, legumes, or grains; vegetable broth; bread (day-old bread works great).
    • Instructions: Cook vegetables in broth, then blend if desired for creaminess. Serve with bread on the side.

    5. Casserole Dishes

    • Example: Tuna or Chicken Casserole
    • Ingredients: Canned tuna or cooked chicken, pasta, cream of mushroom soup, peas, and breadcrumbs for topping.
    • Instructions: Mix all ingredients, place in a baking dish, top with breadcrumbs, and bake until bubbly.

    6. Stir-Fried Noodles

    • Ingredients: Noodles (egg noodles, rice noodles), vegetables, soy sauce, and protein (tofu, chicken, or pork).
    • Instructions: Cook noodles, stir-fry with vegetables and protein, and add soy sauce.

    7. Chickpea Salad

    • Ingredients: Canned chickpeas, cucumbers, tomatoes, onions, parsley, olive oil, and lemon juice.
    • Instructions: Mix all ingredients together for a refreshing salad; serve with pita bread.

    8. Stuffed Peppers

    • Ingredients: Bell peppers, rice, ground meat or beans, diced tomatoes, cheese (optional).
    • Instructions: Fill halved peppers with a mixture of cooked rice, meat/beans, and tomatoes, bake until peppers are tender.

    9. Potato Bar

    • Ingredients: Potatoes, butter, cheese, sour cream, bacon bits (optional), and assorted toppings (chives, broccoli).
    • Instructions: Bake potatoes and set up a toppings station for people to customize.

    10. Sloppy Joes

    • Ingredients: Ground beef or lentils, onion, ketchup, mustard, and buns.
    • Instructions: Cook the meat with onions, add ketchup and mustard, serve on buns.

    Tips for Cooking for Large Crowds:

    • Bulk Ingredients: Buy staples in bulk, such as dried beans, rice, pasta, and canned goods.
    • Simplicity: Focus on fewer ingredients for dishes to keep costs down.
    • Seasonal Produce: Use seasonal vegetables to save money and increase nutrition.
    • Leftovers: Consider making larger batches for meals that can be reheated.
    • Volunteers: Utilize volunteers for prep and cooking to manage costs efficiently.

    Good luck with your efforts, and thank you for the important work you’re doing for the community!

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