The busload arrived on New Year’s Day for our 1st Family Brunch rather than doing a traditional New Year’s Eve party.  We managed to round up 18 of our family members and a few friends.

The grill menu started out pretty optimistic without much regard to budget.  After we determined that we would have about 18 people, a lot of things moved back into the kitchen, plus, we took some of the seafood off the menu.  Here was our final menu with only the first two cooked on the grill:

• 1 Full Prime Rib Roast (cut in two to fit on one grill for indirect cooking) – this took about 3.5 hours.  Nothing like waking up at 6am New Year’s day to start preparation.  Albertsons had a great $3.99/lb. sale that we caught.  See Grilled Prime Rib Roast posting.
• 3 packages Bacon on the grill
• 3 packages sausage
• 2 Egg Casseroles with ham, hash browns, green chilis
• Artichoke Green Chile Cheese Dip with tortilla chips
• Veggie Tray
• Black-eyed Peas
• Collard Greens
• Cole Slaw
• Deviled Eggs
• Shrimp Coctail
• Granola and yogurt
• Assorted mini cheese cakes for deserts
• Plate of Chocolates
• Bottomless Mimosas

We had a ton of left-overs, so I would have to say that the above could have fed about 5-7 more people.

Oh, and the entertainment…Wii, Man!  So Chase’s new Christmas Wii was a hit.  Luckily, we bought 2 more controllers after Christmas just for the part so that we could get 4 Bowlers and 4 Tennis Players at one time.  Not only did this entertain the kids, but we had Granpa Doc and Grandpa Bruce in a Boxing Match!  And the Smiths sure know how to play Tennis!

I think we may have to make this a New Year’s tradition.

-GrillDude