SPAGHETTI DINNER INFORMATION FOR HOSTS

Spaghetti dinners are a great way to promote team bonding!   You can expect up to 60 kids (coaches may come but not necessarily - this is primarily for the kids).

You, THE HOST, are responsible for providing the chaperones. Many families have been able to handle it with just one parent available, but feel free to call a friend! The kids will happily serve themselves if you set it up like a buffet, and they are great about cleaning up, etc.

It is up to THE HOST to submit address and directions to the Booster Club. Please include a phone number, time and date, and email it to xcrservice@gmail.com by the Monday evening before your spaghetti feed, and I will post it on the web and Facebook. If you want to make fliers, send them to practice with your runner on Thursday; about 30 is good.

THE BOOSTER CLUB will provide you with the following ingredients.

List of ingredients/supplies the team will provide for you: A SHOPPER WILL REACH OUT TO YOU ON THE MONDAY BEFORE TO ARRANGE PICK UP/DELIVERY ON WEDNESDAY or THURSDAY.
Lemonade (powder)
2 - 5 Gal. Water Coolers
1-2 large packages of frozen meat balls from Costco
8 jars of Classico Spaghetti Sauce
8 regular packages of spaghetti noodles.
Jar garlic/spice spread and Parmesan cheese.
Salad Dressings and croutons.
8 loaves of garlic or French bread.
1 package of romaine lettuce – about 4 heads from Costco
Paper plates, forks, napkins and cups.
Sign for the road near your driveway.
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List of ingredients/supplies you will need to supply:
Water for the drink coolers
Salad add-ons – such as sliced carrots, shredded purple cabbage, sliced cucumbers, or mixed greens to toss with the romaine.
Butter for bread
Salt and pepper

MENU SAMPLE:
Plain noodles
Sauce without meat added
Meatballs
Salad
Garlic bread
Cooler of plain water
Cooler of lemonade
Dessert - you can ask a grade to provide, or you can provide yourself. All the grades have had a turn, so pick one. :-)

NOTE: Usually there are leftover plates, cups, and utensils, as well as salad dressing, Parmesan cheese, and lemonade. A parent volunteer will come pick them, the coolers, and the sign up to pass to the next host. Or, you can send/bring to practice with your athlete.

IDEAS ON HOW TO COOK SPAGHETTI FOR SIXTY:
Bring the water up to a boil before they arrive. Cook up all the noodles in a large pot, OR

You can cook up half at a time - cook half the noodles, drain (you can save this hot water and it will speed up the boiling time for the next batch), toss with olive oil and put in large pan in the oven then cook up the remainder of noodles, OR

You can cook the pasta the night before - two packages at a time, and put it in those disposable aluminum pans from Costco. Cover with foil and refrigerate them overnight, then reheat in a large stock pot of boiling water, one aluminum pan’s worth at a time - as needed. Put the pasta in a colander inside the pot of water, so you don’t have to reheat the water for each batch, just be careful getting it out without getting burned!

Brown the meatballs in a large skillet, or heat them in the oven. Dress them up as much as you want with onion, garlic, and such; just remember some kids are picky eaters and we want this dinner to be as inclusive as possible. There are a couple of kids on the team with dietary restrictions and they will most likely bring their own noodles/foods all ready cooked. Having ingredient lists nearby is very helpful to them, though, so hang on to the packaging for each item you cook so they can check the ingredient lists. They will appreciate you all night.

Put the sauce in a large crock pot. You can heat it ahead of time and put in the crockpot to keep it warm over the duration of the eating, OR heat it in the crock pot – just give it enough time to get hot – four hours or so on high, or whatever setting on your crock pot works. Often you’ll have kids arriving over a spread out time frame, much like an open house.

You can choose to toast garlic bread, or just warm the bread and let them apply a garlic butter – it's up to you.

QUESTIONS? Email xcrservice@gmail.com

Read, set, serve!
THANK YOU, and HAVE FUN!

Service Cross Country Running Booster Club