Preparing Dinner For Bea Gaddy Family Center: A Guide

Chevrei Tzedek has committed to providing a monthly meal for the Bea Gaddy Family Center (http://www.bea-gaddy-family-center.org/aboutus.shtml). The Center operates a shelter for women and children, as well as a daily soup kitchen open to all.

What Does Preparing Dinner For The Family Center Entail?

You don't have to be available on Monday to perform this mitzvah! Instead, you may take the food to the Family Center on Sunday afternoon. The Family Center staff will heat and serve the food on Monday. Here is what preparing dinner entails:

  1. Tell the chair of the Chevrei Tzedek Social Action Committee that you would like to volunteer for a particular month. (See the Chevrei Tzedek calendar for dates.)
  2. Buy dinner items and/or prepare items at your home.
  3. Take the food to the Family Center on Sunday in the early afternoon (or on Monday). (Please call the Family Center one week in advance at 410-563-2749 to schedule a drop-off time. They are generally easiest to reach in the early afternoon.)

Where Is the Bea Gaddy Family Center?

The Bea Gaddy Family Center is located just off I-83, near the Johns Hopkins Hospital, at 425 N. Chester St.

Directions to the Family Center from I-83:


* Take I-83 south until it ends.
* Make a left at the first stoplight onto Fayette St.
* After about a mile, pass North Chester St. You can't turn onto it yet, because it runs one-way in the "wrong" direction.
* Make the very next left onto N. Duncan St.
* One block later, turn left onto Jefferson St.
* Immediately turn left onto North Chester St. Bea Gaddy's Family Place is 2/3 the way down the block on the left (425 N. Chester).

What Foods Should I Prepare?

Bring enough food for about 100 people. Label each item Mon. Meal if you are dropping off the food on Sunday. A typical dinner might include the following:

  • Main Dish
    • See the section below for sample recipes. You can also purchase ready-made frozen main courses from a wholesale club (Sam’s Club, BJ’s, etc.), many of which offer temporary or trial memberships. Frozen main courses available in bulk include lasagna and corn dogs.
  • Canned Vegetables
    • Check the nutritional information on the side of the can for how many servings each can contains. Aim for about 100 servings altogether.
    • Very large cans are available at regular grocery stores (such as Giant Foods) or at membership wholesale clubs (such as Sam's Club or BJ's).
    • Bring the unopened cans to the Family Center. They will open them and heat them up just before the meal.
  • Bread
    • Most grocery stores sell extra-large bags of sliced bread.
  • Juice
    • For example, you might take several very large containers of apple juice. Again, check the nutritional label for an idea of how many servings each container will provide, and aim for about 100.
  • Dessert
    • This could be store-bought cookies (again, available in bulk) or large cans of fruit salad. Alternatively, consider buying whatever fruit is in season.

What Suggestions Do You Have For Main Dishes?


You can always scale up your favorite recipe to make enough food for 100 people. This should come out to four large roasting pans of food. It's helpful to buy disposable aluminum pans for this purpose. Cover food with foil labeled Mon. Meal . Here are some ideas for meals:

MACARONI AND CHEESE (really easy)

ten pounds of macaroni

small container of seasoned breadcrumbs

two large cans of prepared cheddar cheese sauce (available at Sam's Club)

four large disposable aluminum pans

Cook the macaroni in boiling water. You may need to do this in several batches, depending on the size of your pot. Drain the macaroni and divide it between the four pans. Divide the cheddar cheese sauce between the four pans. Mix well. Coat with a thin layer of breadcrumbs. Cook in at 375 degrees F oven for 30 minutes to brown the breadcrumbs. Cover with aluminum foil.


RICE AND BEANS (taken from http://www.foodnotbombs.net/bookrecipes.html) Rice and Beans (taken from
Makes: 100 servings
Need: 40 qt pot with tight fitting lid
Prep time: 30 minutes
Cooking time: 50 minutes

8 gals water

1/4 cup sea salt

4 cups cumin

1/4 cup black pepper

10 lbs pinto beans

15 lbs long grain white or brown rice

10 onions, chopped

Bring water and salt to a boil in a 40 qt pot with tight fitting lid. Add beans and boil for 45 minutes. Add rice and spices. Bring to a rapid boil again, stir once, being sure to stir the beans up from the bottom, cover, reduce to very low heat, and let simmer for another 45 minutes. Do not stir or open cover until it is done!! Remove form heat and serve hot, plain, or with cooked vegetables or tomato sauce.


CAULIFLOWER CURRY (also from http://www.foodnotbombs.net/bookrecipes.html)
Makes: 100 servings
Pre-heat oven: 150 degrees
Prep time: 1 hour, 15 minutes
Cooking time: 1 hour, 20 minutes

4 cups safflower oil

2 heads garlic, diced

20 onions, chopped

24 heads cauliflower (1 case), chopped

4 cups curry powder

1 cup cumin

1 cup tamari (soy sauce)

4 TBSP white pepper

Over high heat, saute about 1 kitchen spoons (3 TBSP) of diced garlic for 30 seconds in enough oil to thickly coat the bottom of a large skillet. Add about 2 cups of onions and saute until clear, about 3-5 minutes. Stir often. Add enough cauliflower to fill the skillet and fry until they start to brown. Keep stirring and scrape the bottom of the skillet occasionally. While stirring, sprinkle in some of the curry, cumin, pepper, and tamari. (Hint: mix tamari with equal part water for more even distribution when sprinkling.) Mix well. Empty skillet into large metal serving bowl. Place in oven to keep warm. Repeat the 15 minute process until all the cauliflower is cooked. Serve hot over rice (below).


RICE (also from http://www.foodnotbombs.net/bookrecipes.html)
Makes: 100 servings
Need: 20 qt pot with tight fitting lid
Prep time: 30 minutes
Cooking time: 50 minutes

3 gals water

3 TBSP sea salt

215 lbs long grain brown or white rice

Bring water and salt to a boil in a 20 qt pot with tight fitting lid. Add rice. Bring to a rapid second boil, stir once, cover, reduce heat to very low, and let simmer for exactly 40 minutes. Do not open cover or stir until done!!


CRUNCHY VEGETABLE BURRITOS (taken from: http://members.tripod.com/~lotsofinfo/)
Serves 50+

3 quarts Shredded Raw Sweet potatoes

3 quarts Chopped Broccoli

2 quart Kidney Beans, drained

6 cups Chopped Tomatoes

3 cups Sliced Green Onions or Chopped Purple Onion

2 cup Canned Chopped Green Chilies

4 quarts Low-Fat Plain Yogurt

4 cups Low Fat Ranch Dressing

2 tbsp. Chili Powder

2 tbsp. Garlic Powder

4 tsp. Ground Cumin

100 10-inch Flour Tortillas

12 cups Shredded Monterey Jack or Cheddar Cheese or mixture

In large bowl, combine first six ingredints. In second bowl, combine yogurt, dressing, chili powder, garlic powder and cumin. Blend well. Pour over vegetables; toss to blend. Lay tortillas flat on counter. Using #8 (1/2 c.) scoop vegetable mixture in center, top with 2 tbsp. cheese; spread evenly in center of tortilla, leaving 1 1/2 inches at bottom. Fold up bottom of tortilla to cover filling. Fold sides over filling. Arrange in shallow pan and bake at 350 degrees F. for 15 minutes. 100 servings (using 1/2 cup vegetable mixture an 2 Tbsp. Cheese).


VEGETABLE LASAGNA (taken from http://www.umext.maine.edu/emergency/9007.htm#vegetable)
100 servings

5 pounds, 10 ounces Lasagna noodles

½ cup Vegetable oil

2 pounds Fresh zucchini, sliced

2 quarts, 2 cups Fresh mushrooms, sliced OR 2 cups Canned sliced mushrooms, drained

3 cups Onions, chopped

1 cup All-purpose flour

5 pounds Frozen broccoli, pieces

16 pounds & 2 ounces Tomato sauce

4 pounds Tomato paste

¾ cup Dried oregano leaves

1 tablespoon & ½ teaspoon Garlic powder

16 pounds Lowfat cottage or ricotta cheese

½ cup Dried parsley

2 teaspoons & 1 teaspoon Garlic salt

1 pound Dry bread crumbs

1 cup Parmesan cheese

3 pounds & 12 ounces Lowfat mozzarella cheese

2 cups Parmesan cheese

Cook lasagna noodles in a stockpot or steam-jacketed kettle for 10 to 12 minutes, until tender. Drain. Hold in cold water. In a pan, heat the vegetable oil. Add the zucchini, mushrooms and onions. Sauté for 3 minutes, until tender. Stir in flour and cook for 3 minutes. Remove from heat and set aside. Place broccoli in a 12- x 20- x 2 ½-inch steam table pan and steam for 6 minutes, or until tender. Drain well and set aside. In a steam kettle, heat the tomato sauce and tomato paste. Add the oregano and garlic powder. Simmer, uncovered, for 30 minutes. Add the sautéed vegetables and steamed broccoli to the tomato sauce. Stir to combine. Simmer for 10 minutes. In a large bowl, combine the lowfat cottage cheese, dried parsley, garlic salt and bread crumbs. Mix well. Combine first quantity of Parmesan cheese and mozzarella cheese. Spread 1 cup of vegetable sauce on the bottom of each 12- x 20- x 2 ½-inch steam table pan to prevent sticking. Use 4 pans for 100 servings.

To assemble first layer, use the following: 7 lasagna noodles, 1 quart cottage cheese mixture, 1 quart, 1 cup vegetable sauce, 2 ¼ cups Parmesan-mozzarella cheese mixture. Repeat these ingredients for second layer. To assembly third layer, use 7 lasagna noodles and top with 2 ½ cups vegetable sauce. Sprinkle remaining Parmesan cheese over each pan of lasagna. Cover with foil. Bake at 375 degrees F for 50 minutes (conventional oven) or 350 degrees F for 40 minutes (convection oven). Bake until bubbling.