Last Minute Dinner Guests -- What To Do
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Anonymous
| Including my kids there were six of us for dinner. This morning, some family members/sibling changed their plans and told me that they were coming for dinner AFTER I already had returned from the grocery store, and I could not go back (the stuff I bought was ordered and there wasn't more of that fish). Then, about an hour ago, I get a call that they are adding yet another person, so my family dinner of 6 is now 11. I love Christmas, and I do think "the more the merrier," but if I had known yesterday, then I would have bought more food. So this is the question, do I feed my kids chicken nuggets/kid food instead of steak? I won't eat the meat, but do I also tell my husband not to eat meat to accomodate our new guests? How accomodating do I need to be and is it fair to make my children eat a different meal -- a meal that I actually planned around them so that I was cooking one meal that I knew the entire group of six would eat. |
Anonymous
| I would probably give the kids the nuggets, unless you can stretch the main course with other things, more veggies, starches, etc. Can you cut the steak and serve it in slices rather than individual steaks? |
Anonymous
| Screw it, order pizza and call it a day. |
Anonymous
|
Yeah, if the kids are young, make them something different that they will like.
Make some extra sides/ pre cut the meat into smaller portions/ get a bucket of chicken/ do a buffet instead of a sit down. Just smile and laugh, and tell everyone that you are so happy they came to your house, but you needed to switch things up a little. It will be totally fine, and if these are nice people, they will be thankful that you were willing to graciously accommodate them at the last minute. |
Anonymous
This is a great plan. Don't forget plenty of rolls and bread. Filler food will make everything else stretch more. |
Anonymous
This. They know they are last minute guests. Do dinner as planned and avoid individual portions. If it's steak, pre-slice and put on a platter. Serve everything buffet style or passed plates. Make lots of kid friendly food (but let your kids have a little of the real food, as it sounds like it's their favorite). Don't worry about your "menu". Make what you bought and throw together some pasta and sauce. Smile and let them know how happy you are to have the extra company. |
Anonymous
| Get takeout. My husband tends to invite people over spur of the moment. It used to stress me out to no end, and then I simply stopped regarding it as my problem. Now when he calls me and tells me he's bringing X people over for dinner, I just smile and say, sounds great, please pick up takeout from place X on your way. |
Anonymous
| Add a "nontraditional" dish. Like spaghetti or lasagna. Those go a looooong way. |
Anonymous
| Just add things in addition to what you already have. Rolls are a good idea, so is salad. Make extra potatoes if you're serving potatoes. If you have the ingredients, throw together a quick and easy casserole or pasta. Add a dessert if you don't have one already. |
Anonymous
| OP here. Thanks everyone! I remembered that I had a loaf of french bread in the freezer, and it is now warming up in the oven. I also threw together a potato something -- literally with whatever we had in the house. We're going to put the steak on a platter. And I do love our guests, but the last minute thing drives me crazy. |
Anonymous
Pizza and wings. Yup. 
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Anonymous
I agree, and serve plenty of bread and butter. You are nice to welcome extra people, OP. Merry Christmas! |
Anonymous
| Learn to say "no" |
Anonymous
My BIL got married and 150 extra people showed up. In some cultures/families, this is just how it goes. We deal with it by keeping extra meals in the freezer (e.g., beans, rice, tamales) that can be re-heated when you are sick or feeling lazy or when 20 extra people show up for Christmas. |
Anonymous
| How did it go OP? |