Dear Friend in Town - Dinner Tonight at My House? (Make What?)

[Anonymous]

Why would whether she has kids have anything to do with whether she cooks a lot for herself vs. goes to restaurant or gets takeout?!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I was hoping this was a snark post.

Dear Friend in town,

Dinner tonight at my place, you were a dramatic, RWNJ who should have offered to clean the dishes and you should have brought a bottle of the finest wine with you.


Love

Larla

LOL

[Anonymous]

If I never hear or read "littles" again it will be too soon.

But sounds like you love to cook, OP, so make one of your favorites.

[Anonymous]

No kids, no need to worry about a kid friendly menu.

[Anonymous]

You don't really give us much to go on as to what you like to cook.

Kale salad with strawberries and goat cheese
Shish kabobs
Rice
Spinach
Brownies

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What does her being single with no kids have to do with this?

We're supposed to think well of OP for having five kids yet stashing them in the basement for her beloved friend. Also we should appreciate that OP is taking time out of her busy day momming to entertain her friend.

I should have just said she eats out a lot, does not really cook for herself, so I wanted it to be special in environment different from her home. What I normally cook is informed by having 5 kids. I wanted to relay that the littles will not join for dinner (we eat later to account for older kids' activities) and older kids will join. She actually is a Godmother to one of the littles. who will be awake to see her, just in jammies and getting ready for bed not eating dinner. Sheesh...

Since she eats out a lot and doesn’t cook, maybe just some comfort food? Whatever your go-to recipes are, casserole, slow-coojer, etc., the things that you make because you enjoy them, even if they’re not kid favorites.

Alternatively, if you think you’re going to be catching up for hours, maybe plan on appetizers that you can graze on throughout the evening.

[Anonymous]

I’d do an indulgent cheese board and a few sweets, good wine. Salad with edible flowers and a homemade dressing (with your face veg).

Or conversely some sort of short rib dish, a mash, blanched beans with lemon.

Or….order in fancy tacos. Spend more time visiting than prepping.

[Anonymous]

Shrimp scampi over linguine (buy fresh pasta) and a salad.

[Anonymous]

Salmon,rice pilaf and a vegetable. And, some crusty bread. Buy dessert.

[Anonymous]

Reservations for the two of you to go out and enjoy yourselves.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What does her being single with no kids have to do with this?

We're supposed to think well of OP for having five kids yet stashing them in the basement for her beloved friend. Also we should appreciate that OP is taking time out of her busy day momming to entertain her friend.

I should have just said she eats out a lot, does not really cook for herself, so I wanted it to be special in environment different from her home. What I normally cook is informed by having 5 kids. I wanted to relay that the littles will not join for dinner (we eat later to account for older kids' activities) and older kids will join. She actually is a Godmother to one of the littles. who will be awake to see her, just in jammies and getting ready for bed not eating dinner. Sheesh...

For her, that's part of the fun of visiting you. It's getting to see you and your kids. And letting your kids quiz her on you.

Don't deprive her or them of this fun time

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What does her being single with no kids have to do with this?

We're supposed to think well of OP for having five kids yet stashing them in the basement for her beloved friend. Also we should appreciate that OP is taking time out of her busy day momming to entertain her friend.

I should have just said she eats out a lot, does not really cook for herself, so I wanted it to be special in environment different from her home. What I normally cook is informed by having 5 kids. I wanted to relay that the littles will not join for dinner (we eat later to account for older kids' activities) and older kids will join. She actually is a Godmother to one of the littles. who will be awake to see her, just in jammies and getting ready for bed not eating dinner. Sheesh...

For her, that's part of the fun of visiting you. It's getting to see you and your kids. And letting your kids quiz her on you.

Don't deprive her or them of this fun time

What? No.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What does her being single with no kids have to do with this?

We're supposed to think well of OP for having five kids yet stashing them in the basement for her beloved friend. Also we should appreciate that OP is taking time out of her busy day momming to entertain her friend.

I should have just said she eats out a lot, does not really cook for herself, so I wanted it to be special in environment different from her home. What I normally cook is informed by having 5 kids. I wanted to relay that the littles will not join for dinner (we eat later to account for older kids' activities) and older kids will join. She actually is a Godmother to one of the littles. who will be awake to see her, just in jammies and getting ready for bed not eating dinner. Sheesh...

For her, that's part of the fun of visiting you. It's getting to see you and your kids. And letting your kids quiz her on you.

Don't deprive her or them of this fun time

I don’t see how she’s depriving anyone of fun. The older kids are joining them. The younger kids will get to see the friend, but it will apparently be late for them. I guess she could keep them up late and make them wait for dinner, but in my experience little kids who are hungry and tired isn’t anybody’s idea of fun.

[Anonymous]

If food is your love language, make something you love to make and serve people. I would not try something too out of the ordinary or your comfort zone.

[Anonymous]

You probably shopped already, but here is what I'd have made:

for starter good cheese board with local beer / wines
dinner - grilled chicken and steak kebobs, served with chimichurri sauce; roasted potatoes tossed with evoo, lemon and herbs or a chilled cous cous salad; mozz and tomato salad; simple green salad
dessert - berries, whipped cream and Jenis ice cream