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Post by papercrafteradvocate on Feb 18, 2018 13:29:02 GMT
And on your final printed ballot, have a “write in” option for any stragglers. Or just list them by last name!
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Post by mikklynn on Feb 18, 2018 13:37:49 GMT
I don’t think I’ve ever had chili without beans. At home or anywhere else. Me, either. There is a really funny episode of The Big Bang Theory where Sheldon explains real chili doesn't have beans. That was the first I ever heard that.
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Post by AN on Feb 18, 2018 13:43:03 GMT
Chili without beans is just beef stew.
There are at least two things I will never understand about Texas. Chili without beans, and how people park both directions on the street (instead of parking with the direction of traffic depending on which side of the street you're parking on). WTF? People, you know cars have specific reflectors designed to be visible when a car is coming up from the rear, right? I was at one of those outdoor/city center type malls the other night, which has parallel street parking. People just parked every which way. It was chaos.
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Post by AN on Feb 18, 2018 13:44:52 GMT
Also, I like the idea of assigning numbers, having numbers on the pots/voting ballot, and then having a board with the numbers and a marker where people can add their names if they already have one or want to come up with one on the spot. That way it doesn't stress you out if people add names in the next week, you still can have voting for best name, and you can get the ballots done now.
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Post by hop2 on Feb 18, 2018 15:45:25 GMT
I would get some extra dessert but not order an entire 48-person extra dessert. I would print out numbered ballots and then have a poster (maybe?) where the entrants can write the name of their dish next to the number themselves to help people ID/remember them. I wouldn't want to have to deal with that the day of either. See - this is where I overdo things - LOL. We're having a whole "diner" theme and I planned to have a menu board, which is just another thing that I can't do if I don't have names. And the ballots were going to look like menus. Sigh. Why can't I just throw some crap out with some paper plates and call it good? I need to find a balance between DH's "just invite people and put out some cold cuts and paper plates" and my "OMG, I have to throw a Tori Spelling quality party." Lol I am both of those things. If there’s enough time ahead of time and the gathering wasn’t ‘sprung’ on me, I plan and google and create and menu plan so everything will be perfect. But as the day approaches I suddenly turn into ‘just get this and put it out with paper plates’ because itwant it done. And by get this I mean way more food than I need with paper plates. More than I need of those too. In your case I’d go with 1 can and maybe something else as cakes can be cut smaller if needed, someone won’t want and I don’t want an entire cake left over. But I have been known, because of lack of rsvp’s, to get a half sheet cake when a 1/4 would do. ( or for the B’nai Mitzvahs a full sheet and have more than half left over, thankfully the soup kitchen was still accepting those kinds of things then ) Enjoy your party it sounds like a blast!
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SabrinaP
Pearl Clutcher
Busy Teacher Pea
Posts: 4,371
Location: Dallas Texas
Jun 26, 2014 12:16:22 GMT
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Post by SabrinaP on Feb 18, 2018 17:30:47 GMT
I would not get a second cake. Some will not eat cake and others will only take a tiny piece. I would probably get some cookies or ice cream to serve with it though.
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Post by pierkiss on Feb 18, 2018 17:41:25 GMT
With the desserts I would plan on having a few extra of something else. Do not order a whole 2nd order for less than 10 people. Is it possible to order a quarter of the same original thing?
For the best name ballot, only print those who sent in their names ahead of time. The competition will only be between those people. If the other people cannot reply to an email request in a timely manner they don’t deserve to win.
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Post by crazy4scraps on Feb 18, 2018 17:56:23 GMT
And 3. What is this dessert? Honestly I'm just going with a Costco cake. Our friends really like them and they are inexpensive. I can get an amazing tasting cake for 48 people for less than $20. (the party happens to be on my birthday, which is ONLY because I was trying to coordinate with National Chili Day and make it so that 2 of my best friends could come since they were out of town this weekend, but people are insisting on a damn cake, so cake it is.) I think I'll add cookies - their cookies are really good too and that will keep me from having an entire sheet cake left over. It became a bit bigger of an undertaking than I anticipated because of the number of people coming. Apparently, our infamous People of Walmart party was such a success that pretty much everyone invited is coming to this party. This is what I was going to suggest. Their cookies are good and you won’t be stuck with a lot of leftovers.
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Post by Skellinton on Feb 18, 2018 18:24:39 GMT
Another BF party thread! Woot woot! There are always people who don't want desert so fill in with something completely different. For example, if your main star is a cake, have some beautiful fruit and/or cheese also available and cut the slices of cake a tiny bit smaller. Face it. You'll either be loading your guests with a ton of leftover desert or just throwing it out all together if you get two of them. If you want clever names, you could send out one more general text warning people that if they don't supply a name, you'll make one up for them. ![:smirk:](//storage.proboards.com/5645536/images/0He9ygTSG_Y046kwp8Y_.jpg) I can totally see you two turning that into something pretty fun for everyone there. Control freak or not, people do enjoy your parties and appreciate how nicely you lay things out beforehand. Sweat the details now and just have a great time then. <waving Hi to Mr. BF> I agree about telling people you will make up names for them, but make sure you give them some ideas of what you might come up with and make sure the ideas are so bad they will respond! When I work with a group of kids who can’t agree on a group name I always tell them that if they can’t figure it out they will be the “Sparkling Snow Fairies of Doom” or “Glittering Unicorn Princess Ballerina Lighbulbs” or something that I know they will hate. Works like a charm. And if that doesn’t spur them on then I know you can come up with the worst names possible for them as “punishment “.
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Post by burningfeather on Feb 18, 2018 19:15:23 GMT
I should definitely come up with an assortment of flatulence humor names for the otherwise unnamed chilis (funny enough, two of the names that already have been submitted are Backdraft chili and Intestinal Fartitude. And the one cornbread was Corn-al Knowledge. So I doubt my friends would be insulted at all)
Fairy Fart Chili The Tooting Unicorn Ass flapping Chili Fire in the Hole Chili
Cutting cheese cornbread Air biscuit cornbread muffins
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Post by anniefb on Feb 18, 2018 19:36:45 GMT
I would number the chili dishes instead of name them. Names CAN influence the taste experience. For the dessert, I'd pick up a smaller something different in case there are people who don't like what your picked in the first place or can't eat it for some reason.
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eleezybeth
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,784
Jun 28, 2014 20:42:01 GMT
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Post by eleezybeth on Feb 18, 2018 19:45:02 GMT
Control freaks unite! I'm an excellent party planner because every last damn detail stresses me out so much that it is pure perfection. It is a blessing and a curse. So... applying my own control freakiness, I'd give them until Tuesday to come up with a name, no name, one will be assigned. When they arrive, they are told their name. Don't like it? Who cares, go get a piece of cake. Or have them draw their name from a bowl and don't let anybody name their own chili. That way the lists are all printed, you can have a few extra names for stragglers and you can control the madness.
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Post by burningfeather on Feb 18, 2018 19:53:47 GMT
Control freaks unite! I'm an excellent party planner because every last damn detail stresses me out so much that it is pure perfection. It is a blessing and a curse. So... applying my own control freakiness, I'd give them until Tuesday to come up with a name, no name, one will be assigned. When they arrive, they are told their name. Don't like it? Who cares, go get a piece of cake. Or have them draw their name from a bowl and don't let anybody name their own chili. That way the lists are all printed, you can have a few extra names for stragglers and you can control the madness. This also isn't boding well for my request for people to drop off their chili before noon. We were planning for it to be open house style so that people could come and go if needed so I wanted to have everything set up instead of having a rush at party starting time (almost everyone lives within walking distance so dropping off early isn't a big deal). The one person who responded about dropping off early said she'll bring it at 8:30. That's not exactly what I had in mind. Also, we have a nice finished garage so we're setting that up with a photo backdrop, etc. and that's where the food and some tables will be (in addition to the house), but we live in Texas so we were hoping that a daytime party - even in February - would be warm enough to having on our patio (which has an outdoor kitchen and is covered and large). We have a fireplace outside as well as a fire pit and heater, so I wasn't worried about the temp. In fact, we don't get to use the outside fireplace often because most of the parties are in April through November, so it's too warm. However, now they are calling for a week of monsoon rain so the patio plan might be off the table. Where the hell am I going to put 50+ people. I'm an idiot. This is either going to be an amazing party or a spectacular cluster.
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Post by nysparkle on Feb 18, 2018 20:00:35 GMT
DH wanted ice cream, so maybe that would work too. ![:yeahthat:](//storage.proboards.com/5645536/images/yrGoHMAelQz8f2Qt0sjb.jpg) It would be very cooling for the palate especially if you tasted an extra spicy chili.
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Post by patin on Feb 18, 2018 20:12:05 GMT
I am laughing at all the names. Puts all my chiles to shame. I am definitely upping my game next time. Do you have prizes? My favorite is A bottle of Bean-o. I love all the thought you have put into this, Burning Feather. I want to move to your neighborhood.
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Post by alexa11 on Feb 18, 2018 20:38:17 GMT
You could do another dessert as variety, but you will have plenty of cake- leftover cake. I always have way too much food. I'm good at giving advice, but not following it.
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Post by burningfeather on Feb 18, 2018 20:51:04 GMT
I am laughing at all the names. Puts all my chiles to shame. I am definitely upping my game next time. Do you have prizes? My favorite is A bottle of Bean-o. I love all the thought you have put into this, Burning Feather. I want to move to your neighborhood. I have some small trophies, but I'm trying to find some sample size Pepto Bismol bottles or perhaps Tums. Beano is a good idea too!
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Post by auntkelly on Feb 18, 2018 21:06:42 GMT
I think you will have plenty of cake. Every time I have a party, there is always left over dessert because so many adults don’t eat sweets anymore. Also, you might have a few guests who normally love dessert tell you they’ve given up sweets for Lent.
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Peamac
Pearl Clutcher
Refupea # 418
Posts: 4,221
Jun 26, 2014 0:09:18 GMT
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Post by Peamac on Feb 18, 2018 21:54:06 GMT
DH brought chili to a get together once and we brought a little card with the name on it. You could just hand everyone a 3x5 card as they walk in with their crockpot, and the voters just write the names of their favorites on the ballots.
I don't blame you for wanting to be organized- 53 people is a lot!
And for the dessert, I'd probably have a second smaller dessert even though there will likely be some people who don't want any at all.
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Post by leftturnonly on Feb 19, 2018 0:02:33 GMT
I should definitely come up with an assortment of flatulence humor names for the otherwise unnamed chilis (funny enough, two of the names that already have been submitted are Backdraft chili and Intestinal Fartitude. And the one cornbread was Corn-al Knowledge. So I doubt my friends would be insulted at all) Fairy Fart Chili The Tooting Unicorn Ass flapping Chili Fire in the Hole Chili Cutting cheese cornbread Air biscuit cornbread muffins It's going to be a fun night! “Sparkling Snow Fairies of Doom” or “Glittering Unicorn Princess Ballerina Lighbulbs” Those names are awesome!
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Post by leftturnonly on Feb 19, 2018 0:05:00 GMT
Control freaks unite! I'm an excellent party planner because every last damn detail stresses me out so much that it is pure perfection. It is a blessing and a curse. So... applying my own control freakiness, I'd give them until Tuesday to come up with a name, no name, one will be assigned. When they arrive, they are told their name. Don't like it? Who cares, go get a piece of cake. Or have them draw their name from a bowl and don't let anybody name their own chili. That way the lists are all printed, you can have a few extra names for stragglers and you can control the madness. "Don't like it? Who cares, go get a piece of cake."
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Post by leftturnonly on Feb 19, 2018 0:37:29 GMT
Also, we have a nice finished garage so we're setting that up with a photo backdrop, etc. and that's where the food and some tables will be (in addition to the house), but we live in Texas so we were hoping that a daytime party - even in February - would be warm enough to having on our patio (which has an outdoor kitchen and is covered and large). We have a fireplace outside as well as a fire pit and heater, so I wasn't worried about the temp. In fact, we don't get to use the outside fireplace often because most of the parties are in April through November, so it's too warm. However, now they are calling for a week of monsoon rain so the patio plan might be off the table. Where the hell am I going to put 50+ people. I'm an idiot. This is either going to be an amazing party or a spectacular cluster. The weather should definitely be cool enough, especially if it's been raining, so your outdoor patio was an obvious plan. It might still work. If the forecast is for rain beforehand, there's a chance that it will have stopped by then and the air could feel spectacular. (If it's been warm, consider getting mosquito repelling candles or coils. SE Texas is never without mosquitoes, even in Feb. Your area is luckier!) People will be outside if it's not raining sideways if the patio is covered just because it's fun to be out in the rain - something they don't get to do all that often there. Inside or in/out, the weather-mood will be chili-friendly and will add that little extra touch of excitement. Your floorplan is open enough to set up a few folding tables if you move out some of your furniture if you really get in a jam and can't use the back at all. Expect the unexpected with this one. Just strap in and enjoy the ride! The party will be amazing.
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