The holidays are upon us and, for many, that means cooking for a crowd. If you’re not a frequent entertainer, figuring out how to cook for 20 people, or maybe even just 8, can be daunting. This week, we spend time going over the nitty gritty of how to think about serving a crowd, what to serve, and how much to make. Stress no more: We’ve got you covered, from ideas to how many ounces of pie you should buy.

THIS WEEK’S EPISODE IS MADE POSSIBLE BY OUR NEW FAVE BAKING SHORTCUT:

OREGON FRUIT

You’ve Got This!

We know: it’s hard. But we also know that you’re probably overthinking how to serve a crowd, especially during the holiday season. So we’re here to help make it easier.

In this episode, we’re sharing ideas, guidelines, and even super specific details like how many ounces of dessert to buy per person to help you feed a crowd with relative ease. (Even during other times of the year!)

From how to utilize unconventional spaces in your home (serve dessert outside and then everyone’s ready to leave when they’re done!) to planning with a guest mindset instead of getting lost in a host mentality (so much pressure!), we’ve got you covered.

Seriously. You’ve got this.

Links mentioned in this week’s episode:

• Goldbelly

• Make-your-own Cannoli kit

• Or! Check out these Mini Cheese Cake Cones at Trader Joe’s

• What’s New at Trader Joe’s

• Milk Bar

• Zingerman’s

• By the way: Dean and Deluca closed its doors this past summer! BUT… you can find similar, equally great (and expensive – ha!) prepared foods via Williams-Sonoma. You can even buy a whole Thanksgiving dinner from them!

• The All Recipes guide to calculating how much to feed a crowd

• Cooking for a Crowd Calculator

• A Step-by-Step Guide to Cooking Thanksgiving for 30 People

• Stacie’s Hearts of Palm Dip

• Stacie’s Sheet Pan Roasted Tomatoes, Stone Fruit and Burrata

• Meghan’s Yogurt and Crispy Chili Oil Dip

• Slow Roasted Beef Tenderloin by J. Kenji-Lopez Alt

• Catch Meghan on the Kitchn Cooking School series!

• ThermoWorks meat thermometers

• Other digital met thermometers on Amazon (not an affiliate link; just lots of options at various price points)

• Meghan’s instructions on how to roast a turkey in an oven bag

• How to make Stacie’s Best Mulled Wine

• How to hack store-bought hummus to look gorgeous (and homemade!)

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Holiday Baking Made Easy

Oregon Fruit is not your ordinary canned fruit. The family-owned company has been processing local cherries, berries and other fruit in Salem, Oregon for 84 years! And their Red Tart Cherries are made with just cherries and water. THAT’S IT! They are also:

• non-GMO project verified

• contain no high-fructose corn syrup

• are packed in BPA-free cans

If ever there was a holiday shortcut that can save you time without sacrificing taste, it’s Oregon Fruit. In fact, they make even make your holiday baked goods taste BETTER! (Just saying!)

Look for the iconic black Oregon Fruit label in the baking aisle of your local supermarket or check out Amazon and Walmart.com for even more fruit varieties.

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PSST… ALSO!

Don’t forget that, even though Banza is no longer a sponsor you can get an exclusive discount code for 20% off your next order of Banza pasta. Visit eatbanza.com/didntijustfeedyou for the details

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Get Social With Us!

Be sure to join our Listeners’ Group, which you can access via the Didn’t I Just Feed You Facebook page. You can also follow us on Instagram as well: we’re @didntijustfeedyou together, @staciebillis and @meghan_splawn.

How many people are you feeding this holiday season?!

If you liked this episode, here are some other Didn’t I Just Feed You episodes you’ll also love:

• How to Master One-Pot Meals (with that AMAZING Thanksgiving turkey hack!)

• Aggressively Helpful Tips for Holiday Cooking

• Easy Food Gifts (with great ideas to bring any holiday host)

• When Feeding Yourself First Is Easier Said Than Done

• Getting Messy In the Kitchen With Kids