Well this has really been a learning experience. I have only had two and a half flops.
One was the cheddar cheese crackers (will post recipe later so somone can help me figure out why).
The second flop is the one that I hate being a flop since I spent hours and hours cutting, dipping and then cooking....the chicken nuggets. The test recipe for the chicken nuggets that I made weeks ago turned out great. They were crunchy, had a great flavor and looked good. After freezing the unbaked chicken (recipe said you could do so if frozen in single layer and then packed after frozen) ebded yo being a flop. They were greasy, soggy, only crunchy on the bottom. I kept trying different things to get them where they would look good EXCEPT defrosting them before cooking. I don't have the time to do that. After sitting in the frig, the test batch still tasted good cold......this batch was so unappealing that I couldn't force one of those greasy bites into my mouth. After the reception and I have a desire to cook again, I will try defrosting some of the nuggets left (still have about 25 pounds sitting in freezer) and baking them for family. If they are like the test recipe then we will have several meals of nuggets.....if not the dump rats get another feast.
The half flop was the deviled eggs. It was totally my fault, but it was a learning experience. Don't get me wrong, the egg filling tastes great, it just doesn't have that beautiful yellow color to them. Each batch I made, I would open one egg to make sure they were done before taking the eggs out of the water and they were a beautiful yellow color. I then dumped them in the ice bath, but I don't think I left them in there long enough. I noticed when I was putting them in the refrigerator that some had some residual heat but ignored it. THAT was my mistake I think. I wanted to get 15 dozen eggs done fast and in the frig. I think if it was just one layer of eggs sitting in frig they may not have turned, BUT I had 15 dozen stacked on top of each other and so maybe the heat spread? But anyways they flavor is great, they are just not the pretty yellow color. I am still taking those because the filling is very good if I do say so myself. I like the simple no frills added deviled egg of egg, mayo, mustard, sweet relish, white pepper and salt.
Even though I am not planning on making this much food again, I have learned some good recipes and will probably still try out some of the recipes that I found after surfing forever and also to use up the ingredients I can freeze. I have a ton of jalepino monterey jack cheese which I didn't make the Jalepino Balls because I ran out of time. I have about 25 lbs of sirloin in freezer that I didn't make into bites with a margaritta sauce. 6 lbs of crumbled up bacon and lots of roma tomatoes that I was going to make BLT appetizers out of and 16 boxes of phillo shells. Sigh, I think I still have some cooking to do.
I wanted to thank everybody for their opinions, ideas and help. I really appreciate it and don't think I would have had as many successes if I hadn't had help from you guys.
By the way the menu (my part) ended up being
Deviled Eggs
Cold Veggie Pizza
Taco Cups
Pigs in a Blanket
Surprise Bundles (cheddar, diced ham, onion, cream cheese) stuffed in biscuits and baked
veggie tray with ranch dressing
Flops Not Going
Chicken Nuggets....(sob)
Cheddar Cheese Crackers
One was the cheddar cheese crackers (will post recipe later so somone can help me figure out why).
The second flop is the one that I hate being a flop since I spent hours and hours cutting, dipping and then cooking....the chicken nuggets. The test recipe for the chicken nuggets that I made weeks ago turned out great. They were crunchy, had a great flavor and looked good. After freezing the unbaked chicken (recipe said you could do so if frozen in single layer and then packed after frozen) ebded yo being a flop. They were greasy, soggy, only crunchy on the bottom. I kept trying different things to get them where they would look good EXCEPT defrosting them before cooking. I don't have the time to do that. After sitting in the frig, the test batch still tasted good cold......this batch was so unappealing that I couldn't force one of those greasy bites into my mouth. After the reception and I have a desire to cook again, I will try defrosting some of the nuggets left (still have about 25 pounds sitting in freezer) and baking them for family. If they are like the test recipe then we will have several meals of nuggets.....if not the dump rats get another feast.
The half flop was the deviled eggs. It was totally my fault, but it was a learning experience. Don't get me wrong, the egg filling tastes great, it just doesn't have that beautiful yellow color to them. Each batch I made, I would open one egg to make sure they were done before taking the eggs out of the water and they were a beautiful yellow color. I then dumped them in the ice bath, but I don't think I left them in there long enough. I noticed when I was putting them in the refrigerator that some had some residual heat but ignored it. THAT was my mistake I think. I wanted to get 15 dozen eggs done fast and in the frig. I think if it was just one layer of eggs sitting in frig they may not have turned, BUT I had 15 dozen stacked on top of each other and so maybe the heat spread? But anyways they flavor is great, they are just not the pretty yellow color. I am still taking those because the filling is very good if I do say so myself. I like the simple no frills added deviled egg of egg, mayo, mustard, sweet relish, white pepper and salt.
Even though I am not planning on making this much food again, I have learned some good recipes and will probably still try out some of the recipes that I found after surfing forever and also to use up the ingredients I can freeze. I have a ton of jalepino monterey jack cheese which I didn't make the Jalepino Balls because I ran out of time. I have about 25 lbs of sirloin in freezer that I didn't make into bites with a margaritta sauce. 6 lbs of crumbled up bacon and lots of roma tomatoes that I was going to make BLT appetizers out of and 16 boxes of phillo shells. Sigh, I think I still have some cooking to do.
I wanted to thank everybody for their opinions, ideas and help. I really appreciate it and don't think I would have had as many successes if I hadn't had help from you guys.
By the way the menu (my part) ended up being
Deviled Eggs
Cold Veggie Pizza
Taco Cups
Pigs in a Blanket
Surprise Bundles (cheddar, diced ham, onion, cream cheese) stuffed in biscuits and baked
veggie tray with ranch dressing
Flops Not Going
Chicken Nuggets....(sob)
Cheddar Cheese Crackers