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It takes A LOT of food to feed 55 people 3 meals a day for 5 days! Here is how we planned and prepared all of the family reunion food.
We filled 3 flat beds and 3 carts at Costco one evening and that was only HALF the food!!
We were the only family that lived locally so a lot of the planning and executing for the reunion fell on us which we were very happy to do.
Our group was divided between three houses. We stocked each house with breakfast and lunch food so they could eat when they wanted.
Family Reunion Food Ideas for Breakfast
Breakfast foods included lots of cold cereal for all those kids, eggs, sausage, pancakes, bacon and bread for french toast.
- Family Reunion Food Ideas for Lunch
Lunch foods included lunch meat, cheese and condiments, top ramen, mac & cheese and hotdogs.
There was lots of snack food too – chips, fruit, Goldfish crackers, licorice, fruit snacks, granola bars, trail mix, animal crackers, juice boxes, etc. No one went hungry!
Meals Ideas for Large Family Gatherings
Dinner menus were pre-selected and then assigned to various family members. We all ate dinner together each night. The house that was cooking that night hosted dinner at their house.
Friday night was our arrival day. Since we couldn’t check into the houses until 4 p.m. we needed to make sure dinner was quick and easy. We made a stop at Costco on our way out of town and picked up lasagna, salad and garlic bread for dinner. Brownie bites and pineapple upside down cake was for dessert – all bought at Costco. We love Costco!!
Saturday night was our cookout. We had hoped to do it on the beach but it was a little windy so we opted for the backyard. The kids had a great time roasting their hot dogs over the fire pit and we put the burgers on the grill. Thanks to my niece Brendy for making the great JDawg sauce for the hot dogs. It was yummy and I even ate a hot dog! I’ll be sharing the recipe soon.
My two handsome boys were home!
For dessert of course there were s’mores. What would a cookout be without s’mores.
On Sunday we had a special celebration for my in law’s 60th wedding anniversary. We rented the Community Hall in Manzanita and had a lovely program and dinner of roast, potatoes and carrots, salad, watermelon and rolls. Dessert was brownie sundaes with fresh berries.
Look at all these handsome boys lined up waiting so patiently to eat! Letting the girl cousins go first.
Monday’s menu was Hawaiian Haystack. One of the great things about this meal is people can personalize it to their own taste. We had a table full of lots of fun different toppings.
Cheese, celery, pineapple, peanuts, chow mein noodles, sunflower seeds, bananas, peas, tomatoes, cucumbers, olives and I’m sure I have forgotten something!
Tuesday was our final day and that was Cafe Rio night! Yum!!
We had sweet pork, lime cilantro rice and black beans. There was also a yummy cilantro dressing for the salad.  I think there was watermelon at every meal! Dessert was banana pudding.
On Tuesday morning we headed down to Tillamook to hike Cape Lookout. No trip to Tillamook is complete without a stop at the cheese factory for lunch! Cheeseburgers!!
and of course ice cream!!
Pre-planning the meals really worked out great and people appreciated not having to decide what they were going to make. Between Emily and I we did all the shopping and then just divided all the food up between the three houses.
Most of the dinners could be made ahead of time and just kept warm in the oven or crock pot. I took my two crock pots and rice cooker from home which helped a lot as well as a couple of additional bigger roasting pans.
The great thing about Hawaiian Haystack and Cafe Rio is that people can tailor it to their own taste. Adding on or leaving off whatever they want.
We ate well and no one had to spend every day slaving away in the kitchen.
Would love to hear what you have done for food at your family gatherings or reunions! Leave a comment and let me know.
Traci says
We are hoping to plan a similar family renunion on the coast for next year. Can I ask how you found the 3 houses to rent? Were they all near each other? We have about 35 people and will need more than one house, too, and I am in charge of finding the location and would appreciate any tips! Thanks!
Leigh Anne says
Traci,
One of the houses belonged to us (www.manzanitavacationretreat.com) and we also rented another house from a friend and then the third house was just around the corner from my friend’s house and we got it through a rental agency. So two of the houses were very close and our house was about 1/2 mile away from the others. A nice walk or bike ride.
Becky says
Your food ideas for the reunion were fabulous! Would you be willing to share the recipe for the J-Dawgs’ Sauce?
Thanks for such a great website!
Ally @ Sweet & Savory says
Wow! So much planning for this and it looks like it paid off! When we gather as a family, it’s the same, everyone pitches in and no one EVER goes hungry!
Barbie says
I am amazed as I read your blog every day at how much you are able to do. Do you have more than 24 hours in your day? Our family reunions are usually mexican food. My sister-in-law makes her famous nacho cheese sauce with velveeta, cream cheese and green chilis. It’s the only time I ever eat velveeta. I love your reunion picture, too. What an amazing family. We love families!
Tamara says
THANKS again and agan for all your work on the reunion. The food was fantastic! Now just wish all of you were here to help us load boxes. With all those strong, Wilkes muscles it wouldn’t take long at all. We love you!