Calling all Marthas/Barefoot Contessas: Help me plan this type of dinner party:

[Anonymous]

Really old friends that I haven't seen in a long while are coming in from out-of-town with their kids and I invited them to our house for dinner. There will be four adults and a bunch of youngish kids. So I want something easy to make but that all of the kids will eat without fuss (no toddlers, all utensil using children). I was thinking of making homemade Bolognese Sauce and putting it over pasta, along with Italian bread, a side salad and making homemade chocolate mousse for dessert. Can you help me figure out how to make it special and crowd/child pleasing? Like with fancy hors d'ouevres for the parents with wine while the children play and get to know each other? Should I buy a tiramisu (which my children will eat but I have no ideas whether my friends' children will). Serve in the dinner with china or regular white ceramics? I can put on Opera in the background. Am I overthinking? Help!

[Anonymous]

Definitely no to opera. You want to have 1950s chic playing, like Cherry Pink and Apple Blossom White.

[Anonymous]

I think it sounds good - I wouldn't go too fancy - its harder for the adults if they're worried their kids are going to break things. My kids would prefer butter on the pasta to sauce, so make sure to keep some without sauce. You could also serve a vegetable like broccoli or asparagus. My kids like Caesar salad better than vegetable salad. A fancy cake with ice cream would be a nice dessert and some kids might want just ice cream. Although mousse would be good too. Not sure some parents want their kids having coffee desserts. Crackers, veggies and dip are usually kid-friendly, as is toasted french bread for dips. Really partially depends on the ages and pickiness of the kids as to how fancy the food can be and still be edible according to kids.

[Anonymous]

Garlic bread would be great with a nice salad (crisp romaine, apples, toasted walnuts, goatcheese and a light champagne vinaigrette).

Agree with ice cream and cake. And coffee/tea.

For the kids, boil pasta that is easy to eat (assuming the kids are on the younger side?)--penne, fussili, cavatappi. Butter and parmesan (the real kind, not the green can stuff). Have carrot sticks and veggies that are dippable in hummus or ranch dressing. Some kids won't eat salad.

For the adults, I would stick to linguine, tagliatelle, or spaghetti noodles with the bolognese sauce.

[Anonymous]

For adults, you could have a fancy cheese and olive/pickle plate with wine, that would coordinate with the Italian dinner.

[Anonymous]

Go with the menu you have planned. Sounds delish. Reserve some undressed pasta for the kids. In addition to the main meal, have some simple kid's stuff just in case (hot dogs, maybe frozen chicken fingers, mac and cheese?). Keep the adults in mind when it comes to hors d'ouevre but have a a simple crudite platter around which you can pick up at any supermarket with maybe a platter of cheese cubes-that'll satisfy the kids. Tiramisu for those who wish and a carton of vanilla ice cream in the freezer for those who don't. Have fun and enjoy your get together!

[Anonymous]

You should stick with the chocolate mousse. Most people have never had a good homemade mousse. To me, that is the essence of the Barefoot Contessa mentality: simple, familiar ingredients that are prepared in a way that takes a little more time/skill than people usually experience. So the bolognese from scratch is perfect. Also, I think you should use the china!

[Anonymous]

Thank you all for the great suggestions and most of all for confirming that it wouldn't be gauche to serve bolognese and pasta. Will do fancy hors d'ouvres and scratch the opera and try to find some good kid friendly music instead (PP, I have to admit I have no idea who the bands are the you suggested, geez, am I that old?!).

Many thanks!

[Anonymous]

Try Sinatra or Harry conick jr. If there are lot a of kids be prepared for some sauce to get on your table cloth.