What's the happy medium menu here?

[Anonymous]

I'm going to start by saying that I love to cook. It's really my only hobby. And I have been accused of "doing too much" and making things "too fancy" in the past.

I invited another mom and her tween over for a weekday dinner. Our kids have an activity together, and I'll take them, bring them home, and the other mom will meet us at our house. So, not really a dinner party, but a fast casual meal. Of course, I still want it to be healthy and tasty, but maybe not so fancy? No food allergies or restrictions. Otherwise, I don't know anything about what they like. These aren't people I really know.

What would you serve? Assume I can do things in advance, but that whatever I serve either has to be ready to go in the crockpot, or go from fridge to table in 20 minutes or less. Kids are all tweens.

I have ideas, but I'm curious to hear other people's ideas first.

[Anonymous]

You could do some calzone type things using store bought pizza dough. If you assemble/fill in advance, and don't use watery sauce, they will stay well in the fridge. They cook for about 20 minutes, and you can serve with marinara for dipping. You could do a few different kinds... ham/cheese, pepperoni and sausage, veggie, chicken and pesto. Just bake and wait a minute before slicing into strips. Serve with salad.

This is the general recipe, but omit sauce if you're making ahead.
https://www.pillsbury.com/recipes/supreme-pizza-bread/5c5a6e8f-dce2-4280-bf9c-8dc83ab6f101

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You could do some calzone type things using store bought pizza dough. If you assemble/fill in advance, and don't use watery sauce, they will stay well in the fridge. They cook for about 20 minutes, and you can serve with marinara for dipping. You could do a few different kinds... ham/cheese, pepperoni and sausage, veggie, chicken and pesto. Just bake and wait a minute before slicing into strips. Serve with salad.

This is the general recipe, but omit sauce if you're making ahead.
https://www.pillsbury.com/recipes/supreme-pizza-bread/5c5a6e8f-dce2-4280-bf9c-8dc83ab6f101

Oooh, that sounds good!

-- OP

[Anonymous]

Hard to go wrong with chicken tacos - you can get everything ready in advance - sauté peppers and onions, grate cheese, chop lettuce and tomatoes, grill or sauté the chicken, even make the guacamole. Then it’s just reheating and assembly and people can put what the want on their taco.

[Anonymous]

I'd prepare a tray of baked ziti and garlic bread ahead of time, then pop them in the oven as soon as you get home. You can prep a salad in advance too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Hard to go wrong with chicken tacos - you can get everything ready in advance - sauté peppers and onions, grate cheese, chop lettuce and tomatoes, grill or sauté the chicken, even make the guacamole. Then it’s just reheating and assembly and people can put what the want on their taco.

This with already grilled chicken or rotisserie

[Anonymous]

Gosh, I think there are a million directions you could go in. Chili bar or fajitas, spaghetti with meatballs, lasagna, crock pot pork bbq with coleslaw, roast chicken, etc. What have you been thinking about, OP?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Gosh, I think there are a million directions you could go in. Chili bar or fajitas, spaghetti with meatballs, lasagna, crock pot pork bbq with coleslaw, roast chicken, etc. What have you been thinking about, OP?

Some things that crossed my mind:

Marinated grilled or broiled chicken breast with a side of fresh pasta with pesto or romesco and a salad or broccoli.

Enchiladas

Swedish meatballs over egg noodles

Homemade pizza

Pasta bolognese

[Anonymous]

I also wanted to add that all the options above sound good.

I

[Anonymous]

I would do chicken curry (you could do this in the crockpot I suppose), rice, some naan, some cut up raw vegetables.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would do chicken curry (you could do this in the crockpot I suppose), rice, some naan, some cut up raw vegetables.

I feel like serving curry with a kid I don't know is a risk. I have no idea if this kid is picky or not, and curry seems like something that kids either like or don't.

[Anonymous]

I would do homemade pizzas and let the teens top their own. Pizza dough is simple to prepare in advance, I like the NYT Roberta’s and the super simple tomato sauce that goes with. Have the cheese pre-grated or sliced (buffalo mozzarella — so good… goat cheese too). Prosciutto, kale/spinach, caramelized onions, pepperoni… a light salad on the side.

Have some nibbles and drinks out. They bake very quickly but it could be nice to have “appetizers” out if folks are hungry (like veggies and hummus, olives and nuts, chips and guacamole).

Brownies and ice cream or store bought dessert.

[Anonymous]

^^easy to accommodate vegan or vegetarian if the mom or teen don’t eat meet. Just get vegan cheese and make sure you have some options for a veg pizza like zucchini, mushrooms, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:^^easy to accommodate vegan or vegetarian if the mom or teen don’t eat meet. Just get vegan cheese and make sure you have some options for a veg pizza like zucchini, mushrooms, etc.

I think that veganism would have come up when I asked about allergies or dietary restrictions? Probably?

I can ask my kids what the other kid (tween, not teen, if that makes a difference) eats at lunch.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Hard to go wrong with chicken tacos - you can get everything ready in advance - sauté peppers and onions, grate cheese, chop lettuce and tomatoes, grill or sauté the chicken, even make the guacamole. Then it’s just reheating and assembly and people can put what the want on their taco.

This with already grilled chicken or rotisserie

Taco bar hater chiming in here. This forum is the worst about suggesting taco bars for every conceivable occasion. Please stop beating the dead horse.