Crowd-pleasing food can be difficult to get right.

In most cultures and social groups, eating together is a pretty central part of spending time together. Nothing has the ability to unite people like the prospect of a tasty meal. However, organizing food for a large group can also prove to be somewhat of a minefield: the likelihood is that everyone is going to have different preferences and dietary needs, and it may be impossible to satisfy everybody with a single choice of dish.

On top of that, cooking for a lot of people is a time-consuming endeavor. Anyone who has ever had to chop ingredients for a meal that serves more than six people can tell you that. There are times when it is simply not viable to commit to making something elaborate for a family get-together or a group of friends, simply because it is too much responsibility in the given circumstances. 

That being said, it is important to make an effort now and again—especially if you have already agreed to make a contribution to a meal. Communicating clearly the expectations and how much time you have to spend on something is a vital part of making food for an event.