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There are some amazing suggestions here and I can't thank you all enough. I'm still concerned about the room temp part so I guess I'm just going to have to experiment a bit. I appreciate the thoughts, too, re: vegan, egg/dairy, etc.

Dinner @ 6:30ish.

This is a favorite of mine and a small piece goes a long way. I use the fresh pasta sheets, rather than the no-bake called for in the recipe. It cooks in ~30-35 minutes. I had something similar at a farmhouse restaurant in Italy, sitting outside on a moonlit night. Can't guarantee this will transport you there, but it works for me!

http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/White-Lasagne-with-Parmigiano-Besciamella-em-Lasagne-in-Bianco-Em-242032

I just made some last night. I sauteed shallots in olive oil first, then added curry powder. Toast the couscous next, then added chicken or veggie stock. Tasted great with some grilled ham steaks.

Search "pomegranate molasses" in the recipe section and you'll see a number of good ideas from cookies to BBQ sauce.

This is delicious, too, with or without the pita:
http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Turkish-Lamb-Pitas-with-Tomato-Sauce-107650

Two favorites: I'm with tabuca-style enchilada crowd as well. Have made it at least 5 times, including last night with shredded turkey from a rotisserie breast. It's my 16-year-old's latest favorite (doesn't know he's eating spinach either) and I often kick it up a notch, too, with a little jalapeno. My other favorite is curried red lentils with coconut: http://www.seriouseats.com/recipes/2008/11/dinner-tonight-curried-red-lentils-with-cocon.html
Yum!

Ok. Thanks all. I'll come up with Plan B. (Can't use it as a charger -- it's large and rectangular; I need something pretty big.)

OK. I think the buffet will be: grilled salmon (maple/mustard glaze), warm lentils with thyme, whole baked pumpkins filled with vegetable/red wine stew (substituting barley for the seitan: http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Pumpkin-Stuffed-with-Vegetable-Stew-240601), a smoked duck salad (http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Smoked-Duck-and-Walnuts-with-Winter-Greens-105974), assorted breads/rolls.

Still working on apps: I know I'll do my favorite home-made ricotta on bruschetta with oven dried tomatoes and will let one of my colleagues bring a tray of cocktail shrimp. Maybe the bacon-wrapped jalapenos on this site and/or golden beet/goat cheese stacks w/ pistachio oil. One other super creative hors d'oeuvre (I'll have help with the passing) might be in order too.

For dessert: either a ginseng/ginger apple crisp with whipped cream or I'll buy something with lots of chocolate in it. Maybe both!

Thank you all so much for the comments. I'm definitely going to try the vitello tonnato for another gathering later this fall with a crowd that I know will eat veal (I just don't know this crowd well enough) and loved lots and lots of the suggestions here. This is a great community -- thanks for your help.

Roulades could work. I do have a recipe along the lines of what you suggested that I've done a few times. I was just starting to think about maybe duck breasts that I could sear and slice in advance, then rewarm with some kind of red wine sauce and maybe serve with roasted fall veggies and/or lentils and/or au gratin potatoes or on sauteed swiss chard. Still thinking.....

Pumpkin turkey chili (thanks Kristen!) is on the stove as we speak. Can't wait.

Thanks. It may well have been the cut. Maybe, too, the Gourmet Today recipe called for 2" pieces of rib (mine were a bit bigger) and just 2.5 hours of cooking time. Perhaps it needed longer to hit the "melt" stage. Maybe I'll try again later this week as the temp plummets in Boston.

Made this for dinner last night and it was excellent. Thanks! It was well received by a group from age 16 to 81. Served with a simple rice pilaf and grilled zucchini.

I wish someone would answer this as I'm feeling totally uninspired. Sister coming for the weekend with hubby and two kids, plus three of us. Need to move beyond steak and corn.