Since you need something that is relatively easy to prepare for a large group, would stew or a home made soup work? You could get potatoes and carrots relatively cheap, add a bit of hamburger/stew meat/chicken to the pot, and spice it up with some home grown parsley, etc. Maybe make some pies/cakes/brownies too, for dessert? If we were closer, I'd come and help you- cooking for large crowds does not intimidate me- I married into a very large family, and I can cook for a lot of people fairly inexpensively and without breaking much of a sweat!
