Expert: BBQ Woman - 7/29/2008

Question
We are having a barbeque dinner fund raiser at my church.  The menu will be:  barbeque with roll or hushpuppies, coleslaw, baked beans, corn-on-cob, assorted desserts, drinks.  We have 300 tickets printed up and hope to sell out.  Can you help me decide how much cabbage for slaw, baked beans, we will need to prepare.  We are planning on 400 lbs (bone in Pork ) we know we will have some left but plan on selling portions of barbeque after the dinner.  Thank you for your help.  June

Answer
Hi June,
I really like your idea of selling the leftover portions I may have to suggest that at the next fundraiser. Its really a good idea that I wish I had thought of!
As far as portions go I usually try to remember some will like beans and cole slaw allot and others just wont touch it. It will depend on the size of the cabbages for cole slaw but usually a medium sized cabbage will make about 6 cups of shredded cabbage which in turn will be 6 servings. So basically you will need 300 cups of shredded cabbage or 50 medium heads. For beans I calculate the same of one cup of finished product will equal one serving. On paper it seems like allot of food but if you just do bare minimum amounts you will have people who will take more than what was counted as a portion and people at the end of the line without. So usually just calculate the same for the beans one cup cooked product will be the portion guide some will take more others less and some none but at least you wont run out. So for beans it would be 300 cups.
We cut the corn ears in half at our last gathering and put them on heavy duty bamboo skewers and they were easier to serve and eat and then if people wanted more they could just come back. It really made a difference and I didn't see half wasted corn ears like at other gatherings. It might just be some food for thought for you too.
The menu sounds fantastic. Lots of nice dishes the compliment the meat and hushpuppies I haven't had those in ages and miss them!
I hope you have a great fundraiser and I hope you sell all of your tickets! I am pretty sure you will church bbq's are great.
Regards and Happy Fundraising!
Misty