Favorite Meal to Entertain With?
Who: Three Couples
What: Dinner Party
When: Thursday Night
Where: My House
Why: Celebrating my Best Friend's Recent Engagement
What should I make? Nothing too involved as I would like to relax and chat and drink wine... but something special nonetheless.
No Shellfish, please, Bride-to-Be has allergies.
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18 Comments:
I love roast chicken and fall veggie (squash, root vegetables, potatoes) dishes. Just chop up everything you love, season liberally, and roast in the oven. So yummy, not too expensive or time consuming. If you don't put potaotes in the dish you can serve it with a couscous or quinoa salad with dried cranberries and nuts. And of course a small salad is always nice.
For dessert? Something you enjoy making, and something light. (Apples are in season!)
veggieout at 10:06PM on 10/14/08
You're smart - something that doesn't consume you with last minute kitchen prep. Instead, visit with and enjoy your guests - that's what entertaining is really all about. How about something you can make the day before or earlier in the day then just reheat? This is a great time of year for chicken chili - everyone loves it . Serve with rice & salad and you're done. I agree with previous post - go for an apple crisp - (no crust - lower in calories than a pie, so then you can splurge on a scoop of ice cream). Also can be made ahead and warmed up. The best hostesses make it all look like it was no work at all - and guests are more comfortable than thinking you 'killed yourself' to make the meal. It usually takes decades to understand this, but you seem to know already.
Aunty at 10:38PM on 10/14/08
For whatever reason, fall makes me crave Mexican food. Black bean and sweet potato burritos (with diced onion and cumin) are delicious and easy if you make the filling ahead, char some tortillas, and fill the tortillas, wrap 'em up, and put them in a casserole dish in the oven to warm for when your guests come. Serve them on a plate with some sour cream and maybe a side of sauteed kale or a lime-y/cilantro-y salad.
For dessert, you could make flan. It's easy, casual, and very delicious. :)
Christina at 11:59PM on 10/14/08
At times like you've discribed, I like to do pasta-based mediteranean dishes that are either fast to assemble or can be done ahead and reheated while you bring your pasta to al dente. Dishes like lasagna, chicken or eggplant parmagana or spaghetti carbonara. Pair any of those with a fresh salad, good bread and spumoni ice cream at the end and really, all you need do prior to service is to open the wine and let it breathe (even that can be done in advance).
czken at 2:19AM on 10/15/08
How about fondue? Everone could cook their meat in hot peanut oil, with a variety of dipping sauces. I like to have a big salad, baked potato with toppings, and other blanched veggies & breads to dunk in the cheese fondue, and chocolate fondue for dessert with fruits and pound cake. It promotes lots of conversation and is fun. We used to do it nearly every weekend and became pretty creative. 6 people is a perfect number, too! I imagine you can find lots of recipes and ideas online if this piques your interest. Everything can be prepared ahead of time, so you can enjoy your guests. We used to play a game in-between dinner and dessert.
These days, I'm more likely to make a Beef Wellington or grilled lamb, but it's truly not as much fun as fondue. I have 4 fondue pots and tons of long forks - time to bring them out again.
PerkyMac at 2:31AM on 10/15/08
I I would do buffet style. Have all the veggies laid out to make a steak and chicken salad, along with a hardy soup and rolls. Plus a nice dessert.
pjracz10 at 6:04AM on 10/15/08
What veggieout said! If you dont like chicken then maybe a rost pork loin marinated in MOJO. Very easy and very tasty.
nhfoodie at 11:07AM on 10/15/08
This is my favorite and the most requested .. lasagna (make the day before), salad and Italian bread. And dessert.
NanaJoie at 11:37AM on 10/15/08
Chicken Marbella from the Silver Palate cookbook is a wonderful, festive dish and easy to make.
LadyMarmalade at 2:36PM on 10/15/08
If its still warm, its not too late to grill. Meat eaters can do filet mignons or pork tenderloin. An easy side of baked sweet potatoes sauteed spinach w/ garlic and EVOO and a green salad with some fancy mix ins like avocado, goat cheese, dried cranberries, mandarin oranges, pine nuts...
KtMc24 at 4:04PM on 10/15/08
I LOOOOOOOOVE to make this oven baked pink pasta. It's inspired by the Al Forno restaurant in Rhode Island and I've seen interpretations of it from Martha Stewart and Ina Garten. It's simple to make and will not take you a long time in the kitchen and the kicker... it tastes like a restaurant meal. It always impresses when I make it for guests...
Madelyn
KarmaFreeCooking
MadelynRodriguez at 5:30PM on 10/15/08
Ohhhh - and for dessert, you can try these roasted pears with blue cheese and almond or hazelnut praline. To me it also tastes like a restaurant dessert and It's soooooo simple to make. the only watch out is not to let the maple syrup burn. It has happened to me and then you won;t have the nice syrup to drizzle over the pears...
You can make this the afternoon of your party and have them room temperature when you're ready for dessert... super good.
Madelyn
KarmaFreeCooking
MadelynRodriguez at 5:37PM on 10/15/08
Thank you so much for all of the suggestions! I'm leaning towards a baked pasta dish, as many of you suggested this... though I've always wanted to try Chicken Marbella from Silver Palate, I actually won that book during a contest on this site last year! I'm torn - it's gonna be a game time decision. Thanks again - great ideas!!
MML at 10:20PM on 10/15/08
I make the dish MadelynRodriguez suggested a lot, it works really well! Another one of my favorites is pasta w/broccoli and a garlic cheese sauce, it's fairly simple, the sauce literally takes 5 minutes to make:
Serves 4-6
1 lb whole wheat shells or rotini
1 bag frozen broccoli (trust me it works with this)
1 cup milk
3 T flour
2 T butter
1/2-1 t pepper
pinch of salt
1 t dried thyme
2 t dried basil
2-3 cloves garlic, minced
1 T finely minced onion
1 cup grated mozzarella
1 cup grated fontina
Cook the pasta according to direction, 2-3 minutes before it's done, add the broccoli. Drain, and toss mixture with a little olive oil, and set aside.
Have the pepper, salt, garlic, thyme, basil and onion ready to go before you make the sauce - I put them in one prep bowl so I can add them all at once. For the sauce, make a simple cream sauce by melting the butter over moderately low heat and constantly stirring in flour and milk alternating in 3 parts, until mixture is creamy. Add the stuff in the prep bowl, stir for 30 seconds-1 minute. Put heat to low and add the cheeses, stirring constantly until a thick sauce. Pour on top of pasta and toss to combine, serve with grated pecorino romano.
Or how about a pot roast that can be popped in the oven at the last hour? Or pork loin? You can marinate it over night and then just stick it in the oven. I'm a big fan of quick or make-ahead recipes for dinner guests.
Oh, and fondue's always a crowd-pleaser!
embolini9 at 1:17PM on 10/16/08
@MadelynRodriguez -- that pink pasta looks amazing!
megannesta at 3:13PM on 10/16/08
we like to have rib roast, green beans with garilc and butter. and some version of potatoe. we always start with scallops wrapped in bacon and deep fried.
dearrie at 7:32PM on 10/16/08
Prime rib (we actually buy pre-marinated ones and just rub olive oil, cover with foil, and roast in the oven...no peeking until it's done), garlic rosemary mashed potatoes, and a salad...or asparagus baked with olive oil and parmesan cheese.
barbara_flay at 10:37PM on 10/16/08
i've never had asparagus. what does it taste like?
dearrie at 5:55PM on 10/17/08