"Chef for a Day" at Ronald McDonald House

A couple of Sundays ago, three of my colleagues met me at the Tucson Ronald McDonald house to prepare the Sunday evening meal for the people staying there.  There were eight families, averaging four people per family (which I understand is the norm.)  The kitchen is huge - it has two identical sides, each side with a dishwasher, two sinks, two stoves, a multitude of refrigerators, and cupboards filled with every tool and spice that we might ever need.

The facility is beautiful, warm, and friendly.  The volunteers who were staffing the area were extremely kind...and so thankful to us.  And we had fun.  We did a good did and had a good time doing so.

What did we prepare?  We were told that many of the meals provided are spaghetti and/or tacos.  We decided to have two different casseroles - one being vegetarian; two desserts; homemade rolls; and a big tossed salad.  Everything has to be prepared on site. It took the four of us about two hours to unload, get our bearings, and prepare the meal for 30.

We served:

Chicken-Rice Casserole
Chicken Enchalada Casserole
Rolls
Tossed Salad
Brownies
Millionaire's Pie

I can't wait to do it again.