Hosting Dinner - Don't Cook

[Anonymous]

We're having new friends over for dinner this weekend. We've been to their house once and it's our turn. Unfortunately, WE DON'T COOK and don't have a grill. What's a simple - but not embarrassing menu - that I could throw together?

[Anonymous]

Pick up Thai or Chinese - get a variety of things so people can sample things.

[Anonymous]

You could do a taco bar/mexican theme:

Tacos with ground beef or turkey, all the fixings, store bought guacamole, rice

You could make home made pizza: I make a white pizza (premade shells) with fontina, goat cheese and mozerrella with a tomato-arugula sald on top. or you could make a couple diiferent kids with a toss salad on the side

Stuffed shells or lasagna with garlic bread and salad store bought dessert is also easy.

[Anonymous]

I had to do something very last minute and ordered chicken tagine and some sides for 8 from Figs. It was fantastic.

http://figsfinefoodsdc.com/Menu.html

[Anonymous]

I'd order sushi!

(I DO cook, but every once in a while we invite friends over & order sushi for the grownups & just make pasta & chicken nuggets for the kids.)

[Anonymous]

Just order something decent. You could even order good pizza and make a salad.

[Anonymous]

Pick up pizzas and big salad from Homemade Pizza Co - you bake the pizzas yourself so it feels a little more authentic than ordering from say PotomacPizza

[Anonymous]

OP here, thanks for the suggestions! I knew asking here would get me some good ideas. I'm liking the idea of a "bar" so that everyone can make their own...

Something like a taco or fajita bar or even a pizza bar. Need to put some thought into this, but could shape up to be a decent meal. Thanks!!

[Anonymous]

If you have kids and are concerned about their health, I urge you to learn how to cook a few simple meals.

Maybe not the first time you have company, but you really be able to cook some basic foods for the sake of your family's well-being.

[Anonymous]

I'd suggest getting some frozen pasta and sauce from Vace (in Cleveland Park and Bethesda. If you're in VA, The Italian Store has the same kind of thing). Add garlic bread, salad (either green or tomato, basil, and mozzarella or both), dessert, wine. Olives from the olive bar at Whole Foods and a few cheeses to start.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you have kids and are concerned about their health, I urge you to learn how to cook a few simple meals.

Maybe not the first time you have company, but you really be able to cook some basic foods for the sake of your family's well-being.

I agree. I don't understand this business of, "don't cook."

And how can you have people over for dinner if you don't cook?

[Anonymous]

I usually order sushi or thai food for everyone. If you do Thai, just order a few things and put them in big, white bowls. Buy fancy chopsticks. And you're done.

Taco bar is very downscale - yuck.

[Anonymous]

For those who have posted to criticize my skills in the kitchen, thanks...that's exactly the help I needed when I posted this question. For those who urge me to learn to cook a few dishes -- that's what I'm doing. Simple but not embarassing ideas. What more do you want from me? For those who think that my kids are unhealthy, you should know that I pay a nanny very well to cook very healthy foods for them.

"Don't cook" means that I get stressed out in the kitchen. I can't look at my fridge, pick out three things, and make a great meal. I need to follow a recipe and I need someone to vouch that the food tastes good. Nothing comes to mind when I need to put a meal together.

On the other hand, I can bake with the best of them. I think it has something to do with the precise aspect of baking where is I see cooking as something that you just put together. I don't know why cooking stresses me out. I have no problem putting an outfit together or decorating a room. For some reason, I don't think the food that I make ever tastes good.

[Anonymous]

I often do not like my own food either and don't eat it. Pat the nanny extra to cook for you and your friends!!!!

[Anonymous]

I haven't made this recipe, but it is very similar to something we throw together but don't have a recipe for. You can add a salad and pasta or bread, and you'd be set.

http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/chicken-breasts-with-balsamic-vinegar-and-garlic/detail.aspx