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Respected Contributor
Posts: 4,350
Registered: ‎03-09-2010

Re: Commitment overload. Does anyone else do this to themselves? I need to stop volunteering.

Miss house cat, Make it easy on.yourself. Buy the carrot cake, the cupcakes, and the fruit platter. That leaves you with just the cheese and crackers, zucchini quiches, spinach feta quiches, and finishing the devil's food cake. Cheese and crackers: buy a couple of good cheeses, like brie, place on a platter surrounded by crackers. That's done. Quiches: buy readymade crusts. Just add fillings. Finish up the devil's food cake. Next time: delegate more to others. Smiley Happy Or, just don't make as much.
If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need.--Marcus Tullius Cicero
Honored Contributor
Posts: 20,106
Registered: ‎04-28-2010

Re: Commitment overload. Does anyone else do this to themselves? I need to stop volunteering.

The cakes and cupcakes.... They will keep in the fridge until Sunday. Happy Birthday to your DH.

'More or less', 'Right or wrong', 'In general', and 'Just thinking out loud ' (as usual).
Super Contributor
Posts: 431
Registered: ‎07-19-2013

Re: Commitment overload. Does anyone else do this to themselves? I need to stop volunteering.

Sometimes it's hard being a good cook. You love to cook, and everyone loves your food, and asks for your help with a dish or event. They don't realize that LOTS of people are asking at the same time.

If you don't feel you can tell them no, maybe you can give yourself a one item limit when people ask for things. Past that, say no, you're already overextended and simply don't have the time.

As far as your current list goes, I think you can do it all without having to freeze anything. I don't know what your quiche recipe calls for, I'd probably wait to make that one fresh when needed. But you can make the carrot cake and cupcakes, and cut up the cheese and fruit so the trays will go together in a snap.

Don't forget to take deep breaths and enjoy the wonderful aromas while you're baking!{#emotions_dlg.biggrin}

Honored Contributor
Posts: 36,947
Registered: ‎03-10-2010

Re: Commitment overload. Does anyone else do this to themselves? I need to stop volunteering.

On 9/19/2014 house_cat said:

Why oh why oh why oh why do I continue to open myself up to the wrath of some of you meanies? Why do some of you, like Gracie and Sooner, have to turn every thread into a battle scene? If you don't have something constructive to say can't you just sit on your hands? Some of us are here to learn from each other and support each other and some of you are here just to antagonize and find fault.

I'd love to say this is my last post, but there are so many wonderful people on the boards. It's too bad that a few of you have to be Negative Nellies.

I'm going to sit on my own hands now. If you want to turn this into an ugly, judgmental thread, then go ahead.

A battle ground really? I just asked you HOW and WHY you do all this. So please, don't bother to reply and I will certainly leave your posts ALONE from now on. I don't see any point in this either.

Respected Contributor
Posts: 4,147
Registered: ‎03-10-2010

Re: Commitment overload. Does anyone else do this to themselves? I need to stop volunteering.

You just need to say No. Making all of that for one week much less a weekend is crazy. Two cakes, four quiches, 2 doz cupcakes, deviled eggs, fruit plate, crackers/ cheese???? Makes me tired just thinking about it. Even if you bought it all, that is too much IMHO for one individual to agree to bring over a two day period. But I expect you enjoy it. Everyone knows NO.
Honored Contributor
Posts: 13,510
Registered: ‎05-23-2010

Re: Commitment overload. Does anyone else do this to themselves? I need to stop volunteering.

DO THE QUICHES. PREBAKE THE SHELLS PARTWAY, MAKE THE FILLING AND PUT ASIDE TO FILL LATER, OR JUST DO THE FILLINGS, PUT IN PLASTIC BAGS, PUT IN FRIDGE AND BAKE SHELLS AND FILLING,LATER. AT LEAST THEY WILL BE ALMOST DONE.

Honored Contributor
Posts: 13,510
Registered: ‎05-23-2010

Re: Commitment overload. Does anyone else do this to themselves? I need to stop volunteering.

BUY THE FRUIT PLATTER. IT WILL TAKE UP SO MUCH ROOM AND SO MUCH TIME, AND YOU ARE NOT REALLY COOKING IT; SO IT WON'T FEEL LIKE YOU LET ANYONE DOWN. IT WILL PROBABLY COST THE SAME AMOUNT OF MONEY, TOO.

Honored Contributor
Posts: 13,510
Registered: ‎05-23-2010

Re: Commitment overload. Does anyone else do this to themselves? I need to stop volunteering.

BUY THE FRUIT PLATTER. IT WILL TAKE UP SO MUCH ROOM AND SO MUCH TIME, AND YOU ARE NOT REALLY COOKING IT; SO IT WON'T FEEL LIKE YOU LET ANYONE DOWN. IT WILL PROBABLY COST THE SAME AMOUNT OF MONEY, TOO. MAKE THE CARROT CAKE, WITHOUT ICING. ASK YOUR NEXT DOOR NEIGHBOR IF YOU CAN USE FREEZER SPACE OVERNIGHT. YOU COULD DO THE FROSTING, TOO, AND SAVE YOURSELF A HEADACHE LATER. IF YOU ARE GOING TO COOK LIKE THIS, YOU NEED AN EXTRA REFRIGERATOR IN YOUR GARAGE.

Super Contributor
Posts: 940
Registered: ‎03-10-2010

Re: Commitment overload. Does anyone else do this to themselves? I need to stop volunteering.

Go to Costco.

Buy their quiches. They are delicious--they might not be zucchini, though. Who cares.

Buy a store bought cake instead of the carrot cake. Put it on your own plate, and no one will know unless you tell.

You've got the chocolate cake made--use it first.

Buy the cupcakes.

Buy the cheese and crackers. Everyone does that.

Buy the fruit platter.

Probably not quite as good as home made--but you've saved a lot of time.

Valued Contributor
Posts: 1,097
Registered: ‎04-22-2010

Re: Commitment overload. Does anyone else do this to themselves? I need to stop volunteering.

On 9/19/2014 house_cat said:

Why oh why oh why oh why do I continue to open myself up to the wrath of some of you meanies? Why do some of you, like Gracie and Sooner, have to turn every thread into a battle scene? If you don't have something constructive to say can't you just sit on your hands? Some of us are here to learn from each other and support each other and some of you are here just to antagonize and find fault.

I'd love to say this is my last post, but there are so many wonderful people on the boards. It's too bad that a few of you have to be Negative Nellies.

I'm going to sit on my own hands now. If you want to turn this into an ugly, judgmental thread, then go ahead.

house_cat, I have found that there are a few posters that here on the Q that I think "enjoy" being "meanies"! Always being negative and yes, posting only to argue or to try to tear someone down.?? Have found lately that there are a few posters being disrespectful of other posters here on the Q. A few go onto a thread & try to disrupt the OP and talk about an entirely different subject or one not pertaining to the OP. So sad!

You keep doing what you do but it sounds like you have over extended yourself on this one. I would take some of the advise given here and but what you can at Costco's, maybe like the fruit & cheese platters and even the cup cakes. I understand about not having enough freezer space! During certain weekends & especially during the holiday season, I have to use a second fridge/freezer! Sometimes it is hard to say "no" and/or to just not volunteer but someone usually will take up the slack if you don't do it.