Hosting dinner for six

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, I host a lot of dinner parties. Here are some easy go- tos when I have a busy day and don’t want to go all out:

Always:
Charcuterie plate with 2 types of meat (I usually do a spicy sopressata and a black peppercorn salami), 3 nice cheeses (goat or other soft, blue, simple cheddar for less adventurous cheese folks), olives, grapes and/or berries). I also slice a baguette thin, or offer some nice crackers, a couple varieties.

For dinner, some easy options are chicken parm—light coating of flour and shredded parm, sauté/brown the chicken, put in casserole and cover with Rao’s marinara, top with shredded cheddar and Mozzarella. Bake for 45 minutes or so. Serve with pasta cooked in well salted water, a green salad. This is always a hit, carb haters skip the pasta. Have lots of salad and definitely a good homemade salad dressing. Mine is that I mince 3 garlic cloves, put in a small jar with 2/3 cup good olive oil, 1/3 cup lemon juice, generous fresh ground salt and pepper. Shake and rest for at least an hour. For dessert, berries with whipped cream are always fine (I put just a teaspoon of brown sugar and a dash of cardamom in my whipped cream).

For vegetarians, red beans and rice is an excellent option. Easy to put together and it is hands off. Mildly spicy but generally acceptable.

Ina Garten’s Asian Grilled Salmon is great, with rice and the salad above.

Asparagus is so easy to sauté if you want an additional veggie. Use butter, salt and pepper, go underdone rather than over. Bonus points for adding the asparagus to softened shallots and garlic.

Good luck!

I would be polite and eat your berries with whipped cream, but I’d be disappointed by this dessert. I can’t speak for anyone other than myself but I hate fruit as dessert. Toss a slice of lemon pound cake in there!

FFS. You can buy your own cake to wolf down. A healthy and delicious dessert for one meal is not going to kill you.

PP here -- agree. Many of my friends don't want a heavy dessert and prefer something lighter, which is why I do that. I'll occasionally do something like a pavlova with lemon curd and berries, or a fruit pie. But heavy apps, main, and dessert is a lot. Most people want fresh and lighter fare to some extent.

Agree, but I think both is best. I always have one heavier dessert like a homemade pie or cake and some cut fruit set out at all with dessert. People can have both or pick. But it gives those that over ate at dinner or just small eaters a lighter option will still participating in the eating and socializing that is so enjoyable with dessert

[Anonymous]

While I will not judge anyone serving berries with whipped cream (unless the whipped cream came out of a can), I do appreciate it if there are more dessert options. I'm a picky eater, don't eat a lot of vegetables and eat no red meat. However, I also don't make a big deal out of it, because my parents raised me better. So, at the end of the meal, if there is something a little indulgent there, I definitely appreciate that, because chances are good I am still actually hungry, and because I have a sweet tooth, dessert is something I really enjoy.

[Anonymous]

Roast chicken

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is such a WASP thread. OMG. I weep for you all. Who raised you that this is an issue? How do you live in the real world?

+1. And they can’t cook. We don’t eat at a lot of households like this but when we do we always leave hungry

It's not a true WASP thing, it's a raised with limited palate and exposure thing. I'm a NE WASP and I'd choke down an appetizer of various fish eyeballs covered in bull semen, followed by a main of elk penis with a sea urchin and wolf saliva sauce, and a desert of balut with durian emulsion and I'd do it with a smile and joyous conversation the whole time and thank you for the delicious meal even if I was completely revolted. I don't know who these whiners are, but "STFU and don't complain or embarrass anyone under any circumstance" is like the WASP ethos and this is not that...

I posted the fish BTW that seemed very non-controversial and is getting roasted.

Haha! And several of us posted in support of fish en papilotte so as we’ve told op, ignore all of the 5 year old eaters on this thread. I can’t help wonder what many of these posters do when at a wedding or work event when one meal is served.

Get the vegetarian meal. You really can't see that fish, veal, lamb can be very controversial? Not just a picky eater thing?

No. These are all bog-standard proteins and I'm not catering to you snivelers.

+1. If you find these, "very controversial" you are by default a picky eater.

[Anonymous]

Wow. This thread.

I am an excellent cook and would be thrilled by this opportunity to host, but OP hates to cook and isn’t cook at it, but needs to impress partners?

THIS IS WHAT CATERING IS MADE FOR. And I promise no partner is going to judge.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:People who know they cannot choke down a bit of whatever they’re served should probably decline dinner invitations, rather than try to control the menu.

Ding ding ding!! key point

of course no longer true, which is why I no longer have people to dinner. Such a loss. I am a great cook.

[Anonymous]

I agree that it's polite not to criticize anything you've been served, and if you can't choke down a few bites, then be creative with pushing food around your plate.

FWIW, I'd avoid fish as the main protein. I think the best proteins are chicken and beef, which are both popular. Chicken is the healthier option of the two.

Boring as it might be, I'm going to vote for Chicken Marbella. It's always outstandingly delicious, and it's easy to make ahead.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I agree that it's polite not to criticize anything you've been served, and if you can't choke down a few bites, then be creative with pushing food around your plate.

FWIW, I'd avoid fish as the main protein. I think the best proteins are chicken and beef, which are both popular. Chicken is the healthier option of the two.

Boring as it might be, I'm going to vote for Chicken Marbella. It's always outstandingly delicious, and it's easy to make ahead.

If I served fish I might have a chicken option because that is easy, but it depends on your circle. I have a LOT of friends who are "plant based" but will make occasional exceptions for fish and who would never touch beef.

[Anonymous]

I'm the ziti poster. This is literally the first time I've ever typed the word "ziti" on DCUM and I've been here for 15 years. For dinner this week I made chipotle chicken enchiladas with homemade pico and guac, a cajun blackened chicken fettuccini with red, green, and jalapeño peppers, onions, and lots of garlic with a side salad with citrus vinaigrette, homemade black beans burgers and homemade fries, and we ordered Indian and pizza because I work my ass off.

But do keep telling me how I don't know how to cook and don't like flavor. I am experienced with people and hosting enough to know that you don't make coconut curry fish stew or strongly flavored chicken with fruits and nuts and olives for a group whose tastes you don't know well. And a veggie-filled pasta plus a meat pasta (white or red sauces) with a lovely salad and fresh bread are crowd pleasers that are no heavier than whatever fancy steak and polenta you snobs are suggesting. I bet if I called it whole wheat cascatelli in a smoked gouda and fontina sauce with caramelized onions, roasted balsamic tomatoes, and garlic spinach and spicy chorizo manicotti with ricotta and basil pesto you'd feel differently.

Food snobs are the worst: if someone invited me over and wanted to serve lasagna made with Prego and Lucerne Ricotta. and bagged salad I'd eat it happily, because ain't nothing wrong with that. But anyway, you're not invited.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm the ziti poster. This is literally the first time I've ever typed the word "ziti" on DCUM and I've been here for 15 years. For dinner this week I made chipotle chicken enchiladas with homemade pico and guac, a cajun blackened chicken fettuccini with red, green, and jalapeño peppers, onions, and lots of garlic with a side salad with citrus vinaigrette, homemade black beans burgers and homemade fries, and we ordered Indian and pizza because I work my ass off.

But do keep telling me how I don't know how to cook and don't like flavor. I am experienced with people and hosting enough to know that you don't make coconut curry fish stew or strongly flavored chicken with fruits and nuts and olives for a group whose tastes you don't know well. And a veggie-filled pasta plus a meat pasta (white or red sauces) with a lovely salad and fresh bread are crowd pleasers that are no heavier than whatever fancy steak and polenta you snobs are suggesting. I bet if I called it whole wheat cascatelli in a smoked gouda and fontina sauce with caramelized onions, roasted balsamic tomatoes, and garlic spinach and spicy chorizo manicotti with ricotta and basil pesto you'd feel differently.

Food snobs are the worst: if someone invited me over and wanted to serve lasagna made with Prego and Lucerne Ricotta. and bagged salad I'd eat it happily, because ain't nothing wrong with that. But anyway, you're not invited.

I'd be polite regardless and go to town on the ziti, but personally if I were hosting DH's work colleagues I would want to step it up from this kind of kid friendly mid-week "get it on the table fast and eaten by picky children!" kind of meals. If you actually made, "whole wheat cascatelli in a smoked gouda and fontina sauce with caramelized onions, roasted balsamic tomatoes, and garlic spinach and spicy chorizo manicotti with ricotta and basil pesto" then yes, that's different than your Prego sauce on pasta bake and we would like it better. You can't just "call" it that though, you're describing two inherently different dishes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm the ziti poster. This is literally the first time I've ever typed the word "ziti" on DCUM and I've been here for 15 years. For dinner this week I made chipotle chicken enchiladas with homemade pico and guac, a cajun blackened chicken fettuccini with red, green, and jalapeño peppers, onions, and lots of garlic with a side salad with citrus vinaigrette, homemade black beans burgers and homemade fries, and we ordered Indian and pizza because I work my ass off.

But do keep telling me how I don't know how to cook and don't like flavor. I am experienced with people and hosting enough to know that you don't make coconut curry fish stew or strongly flavored chicken with fruits and nuts and olives for a group whose tastes you don't know well. And a veggie-filled pasta plus a meat pasta (white or red sauces) with a lovely salad and fresh bread are crowd pleasers that are no heavier than whatever fancy steak and polenta you snobs are suggesting. I bet if I called it whole wheat cascatelli in a smoked gouda and fontina sauce with caramelized onions, roasted balsamic tomatoes, and garlic spinach and spicy chorizo manicotti with ricotta and basil pesto you'd feel differently.

Food snobs are the worst: if someone invited me over and wanted to serve lasagna made with Prego and Lucerne Ricotta. and bagged salad I'd eat it happily, because ain't nothing wrong with that. But anyway, you're not invited.

Don’t be so sensitive. Just own your love of baked ziti.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm the ziti poster. This is literally the first time I've ever typed the word "ziti" on DCUM and I've been here for 15 years. For dinner this week I made chipotle chicken enchiladas with homemade pico and guac, a cajun blackened chicken fettuccini with red, green, and jalapeño peppers, onions, and lots of garlic with a side salad with citrus vinaigrette, homemade black beans burgers and homemade fries, and we ordered Indian and pizza because I work my ass off.

But do keep telling me how I don't know how to cook and don't like flavor. I am experienced with people and hosting enough to know that you don't make coconut curry fish stew or strongly flavored chicken with fruits and nuts and olives for a group whose tastes you don't know well. And a veggie-filled pasta plus a meat pasta (white or red sauces) with a lovely salad and fresh bread are crowd pleasers that are no heavier than whatever fancy steak and polenta you snobs are suggesting. I bet if I called it whole wheat cascatelli in a smoked gouda and fontina sauce with caramelized onions, roasted balsamic tomatoes, and garlic spinach and spicy chorizo manicotti with ricotta and basil pesto you'd feel differently.

Food snobs are the worst: if someone invited me over and wanted to serve lasagna made with Prego and Lucerne Ricotta. and bagged salad I'd eat it happily, because ain't nothing wrong with that. But anyway, you're not invited.

Thank you. Fish is never an option unless you specifically check.

"I bet if I called it whole wheat cascatelli in a smoked gouda and fontina sauce with caramelized onions, roasted balsamic tomatoes, and garlic spinach and spicy chorizo manicotti with ricotta and basil pesto you'd feel differently. "

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm the ziti poster. This is literally the first time I've ever typed the word "ziti" on DCUM and I've been here for 15 years. For dinner this week I made chipotle chicken enchiladas with homemade pico and guac, a cajun blackened chicken fettuccini with red, green, and jalapeño peppers, onions, and lots of garlic with a side salad with citrus vinaigrette, homemade black beans burgers and homemade fries, and we ordered Indian and pizza because I work my ass off.

But do keep telling me how I don't know how to cook and don't like flavor. I am experienced with people and hosting enough to know that you don't make coconut curry fish stew or strongly flavored chicken with fruits and nuts and olives for a group whose tastes you don't know well. And a veggie-filled pasta plus a meat pasta (white or red sauces) with a lovely salad and fresh bread are crowd pleasers that are no heavier than whatever fancy steak and polenta you snobs are suggesting. I bet if I called it whole wheat cascatelli in a smoked gouda and fontina sauce with caramelized onions, roasted balsamic tomatoes, and garlic spinach and spicy chorizo manicotti with ricotta and basil pesto you'd feel differently.

Food snobs are the worst: if someone invited me over and wanted to serve lasagna made with Prego and Lucerne Ricotta. and bagged salad I'd eat it happily, because ain't nothing wrong with that. But anyway, you're not invited.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm the ziti poster. This is literally the first time I've ever typed the word "ziti" on DCUM and I've been here for 15 years. For dinner this week I made chipotle chicken enchiladas with homemade pico and guac, a cajun blackened chicken fettuccini with red, green, and jalapeño peppers, onions, and lots of garlic with a side salad with citrus vinaigrette, homemade black beans burgers and homemade fries, and we ordered Indian and pizza because I work my ass off.

But do keep telling me how I don't know how to cook and don't like flavor. I am experienced with people and hosting enough to know that you don't make coconut curry fish stew or strongly flavored chicken with fruits and nuts and olives for a group whose tastes you don't know well. And a veggie-filled pasta plus a meat pasta (white or red sauces) with a lovely salad and fresh bread are crowd pleasers that are no heavier than whatever fancy steak and polenta you snobs are suggesting. I bet if I called it whole wheat cascatelli in a smoked gouda and fontina sauce with caramelized onions, roasted balsamic tomatoes, and garlic spinach and spicy chorizo manicotti with ricotta and basil pesto you'd feel differently.

Food snobs are the worst: if someone invited me over and wanted to serve lasagna made with Prego and Lucerne Ricotta. and bagged salad I'd eat it happily, because ain't nothing wrong with that. But anyway, you're not invited.

Don’t be so sensitive. Just own your love of baked ziti.

Please…we all know you’d dump a jar of prego in a pan with some ground chuck, dump on cooked pasta in a casserole dish and top with bagged shredded mozzarella and stick in oven

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm the ziti poster. This is literally the first time I've ever typed the word "ziti" on DCUM and I've been here for 15 years. For dinner this week I made chipotle chicken enchiladas with homemade pico and guac, a cajun blackened chicken fettuccini with red, green, and jalapeño peppers, onions, and lots of garlic with a side salad with citrus vinaigrette, homemade black beans burgers and homemade fries, and we ordered Indian and pizza because I work my ass off.

But do keep telling me how I don't know how to cook and don't like flavor. I am experienced with people and hosting enough to know that you don't make coconut curry fish stew or strongly flavored chicken with fruits and nuts and olives for a group whose tastes you don't know well. And a veggie-filled pasta plus a meat pasta (white or red sauces) with a lovely salad and fresh bread are crowd pleasers that are no heavier than whatever fancy steak and polenta you snobs are suggesting. I bet if I called it whole wheat cascatelli in a smoked gouda and fontina sauce with caramelized onions, roasted balsamic tomatoes, and garlic spinach and spicy chorizo manicotti with ricotta and basil pesto you'd feel differently.

Food snobs are the worst: if someone invited me over and wanted to serve lasagna made with Prego and Lucerne Ricotta. and bagged salad I'd eat it happily, because ain't nothing wrong with that. But anyway, you're not invited.

I agree with you, Ziti Mom. And I’d totally eat your meal happily.