Getting together with far-flung relatives for the annual family reunion can be fun and frenetic if you happen to be the designated cook.

“You fear your dish may not stand up to Aunt Mabel's time tested family favorite, or that someone will forget to bring the plates,” said Belinda Ellis of The White Lily Foods Company. “Whether your reunion is large or small, the important thing is for all to have fun and long remember the experience,” she added.

Planning is crucial to a successful reunion celebration. “First, you've got to decide whom to invite. Then based on how many people you believe will attend, you'll need to decide where to have your get-together. Easy if you have a homeplace, but if not, a few phone calls or an internet search will help. There are hundreds of hotels, meeting places and parks that will have helpful reunion ideas,” Ellis explained.

But the paramount question is how to feed a crowd. “Most of us have trouble getting our own family's dinner on the table, not to mention thinking of ways to feed a crowd. No one wants to be frantically cooking for days. YOU want to have fun too,” Ellis said. She suggests making the food preparation a fun activity and part of the gathering.

One suggestion is to share the family's food traditions by having each family member bring a traditional dish, complete with recipe. Compile all the recipes in a scrapbook that can be copied and distributed to family members attending.

Some reunions may take place over several days and require a number of planned meals. White Lily's kitchen experts recommend making as many dishes ahead of time as possible. Additional suggestions include:

Plan the menu well in advance

Make cooking together part of the fun by asking the barbecue experts to demonstrate their skills; have a chili cook-off; bring a pot luck meal.

Delegate. Don't try to do everything yourself.

Set a price for the food agreeable to all and budget the meals accordingly.

Plan some activities for the kids.

“You can get creative when you bake a cake for the reunion. Get all the children involved in this project,” Ellis suggested.

Using the recipe that follows, make one layer for every six people you are serving, using different fillings to make each cake unique. “Everyone will find their favorite when you make a variety of these delicious filled cakes,” she added. “And don't forget to bake a batch of everyone's favorite — sugar cookies.”

The culinary experts suggest using gingerbread boys and girls for shapes. Supply plenty of decorating tools, such as frosting tubes, colored sugar and other decorating aids, like colored candies and chocolate bits. Allow each child to decorate and sign his or her name on a special cookie.

Finally, stand the cookies up around the perimeter of your family reunion cake. This also makes a great centerpiece. “This makes a great icebreaker for children who may not know the other children well,” Ellis said.

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