Serious Eats - seriouseats.com

my mom and dad died in a car wreck when i was 16, i remember lots of meals but for some reason the sweets, the homeade pies and homeade ice cream seemed to comfort me the most.

A bit costly, but maybe two co-workers can go in on this:

Roast a whole beef filet (or half if the family's kind of smallish). Deliver with a big bag of assorted hard rolls, a potato or pasta salad, and fresh fruit or really interesting bottled juices. Add a sumptuous homemade apple cake or pie and/or some good coffee. Also think of breakfast and visiting relatives- assorted muffins or coffeecakes are also practical.

Roast can be sliced for sandwiches or whatever. The suggestions to bring paper products are also good.

@CJ McD, do you do this for a living? If not, you should.

Make it a North African meal with a chicken and/or a lamb tagine, couscous, some vegetables (I always do green beans), or perhaps roasted vegetables, and the appropriate sides. It's easy to make in a large quantity and you get some sort of thematic coherence.

hungrychristel-
How do you "favorite" a topic. I know I should know because I'm on here all the time...but I don't. Please tell me. And thanks.

memt77-
"Still thinking..."
Yes. Thank goodness you've got time to work out the logistics of getting all the food prepped and done. Are you setting out large chafing dishes to keep the food warm? If so, it's makes things much easier for "holding" some of the dishes while others are finishing up.

Good luck. Have a wonderful dinner and let us know what you decided to make. I'm sure that whatever it is, your guests will consider themselves VERY lucky. :o)

Turkey scallopini with Red Pepper Cream Sauce (recipe from Bon Apetit)

Veal or beef Daube

Osso Buco with gremolata, served on polenta, safron or mushroom risotto

Rotollo de Vitello (veal roll)

Beef tenderloin with cognac-peppercorn sauce or cabernet reduction

Seared duck breast with Gran Marnier fig sauce, or in brandied truffle sauce

French crepes with morels and asparagus

Montrachet (goat cheese) and tomato tart

Risotto primavera, shaved parmesan

Mushroom ravioli with brandied morel cream sauce

Seared halibut on ratatouille in a pool of saffron garlic broth

Spinach, roasted butternut squash, blue cheese and pecan salad with maple viniagrette and red onion marmalade toasts

seared chicken or duck breasts with apple brandy cream sauce, steamed baby vegtables, mushroom risotto

lamb medallions with buerre blanc, rice pilaf, seasonal veg.

chicken saltimboca

Would you consider a chicken rollade? (stuffed with boursin or herbed goat cheese, spinach and roasted red pepper strips) served with a red pepper cream sauce

I'm big on Spanish tapa offerings, which can be both satisfying and beautiful. Cod-stuffed piquillo peppers in bechamel sauce. Bacon-wrapped dates, breaded and fried. I've also had almond-stuffed dates, wrapped in jamon serrano and sprinkled with blue cheese (om nom nom). Ceviche-style seafood, maybe served in martini glasses. Shrimp or mushrooms in garlic-sherry sauce. Chorizo al jerez. Grilled octopus on toast points, drizzled with olive oil and capers. Tortilla espanola. Manchego cheese, olives, jamon serrano. You could do asparagus spears wrapped in jamon serrano. I recently had lovely cod croquettes served with a honey aioli dipping sauce that were out of this world. Maybe scallops wrapped in jamon? (I think everything tastes better wrapped in jamon!). Serve alongside some cava and nice, robust riojas. Lots and lots of crusty bread to soak up all the deliciousness ...

Right now I am munching on Trader Joe's Teriyaki Turkey Jerky -- It is so good!! Unfortunately it is really expensive. I wish I could find a lower cost alternative that even came close to this.

Just got home from going out to dinner - we ended up going out for Vietnamese after shopping for a doggie bed (a cushion she won't tear up in 20 min).

I had bun thit nuong (vermicelli with chargrilled pork, cucumbers, daikon, carrots, Thai basil, bean sprouts, lettuce), husband had pho. We split 2 goi cuon thit nuong (chargrilled pork summer rolls) and banh xeo (crepe).

i made a huge pot of chicken paprikash. with sour cream gravy..... my 86 year old aunt and my mom (84) -- loved it as it is the food of their childhood and culture. i served it with rice (my OH has to have his latin style white rice) ... i would have made it with noodles of dumplings.... we had some fresh, local stringbeans which were delicious. the last of the season .... a bittersweet moment.

brunch- slice of death by chocolate cake @ work
dinner- leftover chili over a baked potato (coated in oiled & kosher salt before baking) and salad..

it's sad to say my undergraduate days were so much healthier..i hope that if i get into grad school i'll return to my 3 squares and regular exercising! wish me luck!

breakfast -- homemade frappuccino {instant coffee, ice, milk, sugar in the blender}

lunch -- gefilte fish and a roll from zabar's

snack -- raspberries and an apple at the farmer's market

dinner -- stir fried tatsoi, roasted cauliflower, yogurt with freeze dried blueberries for dessert.