Dinner party advice for an incompetent host (me)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

I come from a tradition of the groaning board, thanks to my mother. I like to offer three main courses (a fish, a meat, and a chicken usually, and a vegetarian main if I am offering four mains), at least four or five sides, and one standout dessert. I like to make everything from scratch, as you might have guessed from my first post. I serve all this en famille, with all the dishes except dessert (which comes later), on the table at once. It makes for an abundant table.

np here - That's how my mom does it. She always makes at least two meats, several side dishes and dessert. And I think that would be perfect for 8-10 people. However, if it's just another couple, that's a lot of wasted food and energy.

As much as I enjoy tacos or pulled pork/chicken, I wouldn't serve them at a party. Normally I serve:

- chicken parmesan
- chicken cordon-blue
- steaks
- stuffed shrimp
- stuffed shells
- potato casserole (something cheesy)
- twice baked potato
- whole potatoes (from the can) baked
-roasted red potatoes
-roasted veggies
-salad

I pick from this list most of the time and most of the dishes can be prepared ahead of time. good luck op!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Oh my gosh are you guys ambitious. My old stand by is baked spaghetti (basically you mix all of the filling stuff that you use for lasagna or stuffed shells with cooked penne pasta and bake it for 45 minutes), garlic bread, salad and brownies for dessert. All of it is make ahead food. If I am motivated, I will make cupcakes and decorate them instead of brownies. But, I do serve it on my best dishes and I always pull out my pretty wine glasses. I've come to the conclusion that no one really cares much about the food. The whole point of getting together is the company and if you are stressed you won't get to visit with your friends.

I hate to say this, but some people do care about the food. I am disappointed when I go to the trouble to dress up a bit and travel to someone's house, only to eat everyday food. One time it was a pan of runny lasagna that the hostess said she had taken out of the freezer, and she ended the meal with store-bought ice cream and store- bought cookies. I think it was the way I was raised: my mother always put on the most astounding spreads when she was entertaining; anything less would have been a shame.

So what do you make when you invite people over? Or what dinners have others made for you that you've found acceptable?

I come from a tradition of the groaning board, thanks to my mother. I like to offer three main courses (a fish, a meat, and a chicken usually, and a vegetarian main if I am offering four mains), at least four or five sides, and one standout dessert. I like to make everything from scratch, as you might have guessed from my first post. I serve all this en famille, with all the dishes except dessert (which comes later), on the table at once. It makes for an abundant table.

Now, I understand that others may entertain in a more simple way, and I don't expect to be offered a banquet when I dine at someone else's house. Recently I enjoyed immensely a dinner at which the hostess served creamy cheesy chicken enchiladas that were to die for, a pico de gallo, a colorful red rice, a tortilla garden salad, limeade, and warm-from-the-oven lime squares for dessert. Everything was made from scratch except the tortillas. But my main point is that, although the menu was not complicated, everything was so hyper-delicious as to be out of the ordinary and the hostess obviously had put a lot of thought and effort into the dinner. I was very grateful (and had to have the recipes for the enchiladas!).

Dude. How can you post something like this without including the recipe for the chicken enchiladas?!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Oh my gosh are you guys ambitious. My old stand by is baked spaghetti (basically you mix all of the filling stuff that you use for lasagna or stuffed shells with cooked penne pasta and bake it for 45 minutes), garlic bread, salad and brownies for dessert. All of it is make ahead food. If I am motivated, I will make cupcakes and decorate them instead of brownies. But, I do serve it on my best dishes and I always pull out my pretty wine glasses. I've come to the conclusion that no one really cares much about the food. The whole point of getting together is the company and if you are stressed you won't get to visit with your friends.

I hate to say this, but some people do care about the food. I am disappointed when I go to the trouble to dress up a bit and travel to someone's house, only to eat everyday food. One time it was a pan of runny lasagna that the hostess said she had taken out of the freezer, and she ended the meal with store-bought ice cream and store- bought cookies. I think it was the way I was raised: my mother always put on the most astounding spreads when she was entertaining; anything less would have been a shame.

So what do you make when you invite people over? Or what dinners have others made for you that you've found acceptable?

I come from a tradition of the groaning board, thanks to my mother. I like to offer three main courses (a fish, a meat, and a chicken usually, and a vegetarian main if I am offering four mains), at least four or five sides, and one standout dessert. I like to make everything from scratch, as you might have guessed from my first post. I serve all this en famille, with all the dishes except dessert (which comes later), on the table at once. It makes for an abundant table.

Now, I understand that others may entertain in a more simple way, and I don't expect to be offered a banquet when I dine at someone else's house. Recently I enjoyed immensely a dinner at which the hostess served creamy cheesy chicken enchiladas that were to die for, a pico de gallo, a colorful red rice, a tortilla garden salad, limeade, and warm-from-the-oven lime squares for dessert. Everything was made from scratch except the tortillas. But my main point is that, although the menu was not complicated, everything was so hyper-delicious as to be out of the ordinary and the hostess obviously had put a lot of thought and effort into the dinner. I was very grateful (and had to have the recipes for the enchiladas!).

Dude. How can you post something like this without including the recipe for the chicken enchiladas?!

LOL!

Here's the recipe, verbatim as e-mailed to me by my cousin's lovely wife the day after the dinner party:


Chicken Enchiladas


1 Tablespoon butter

1 medium onion, chopped

4.5 can chopped green chile peppers

8 oz package cream cheese

3.5 cups cooked shredded chicken breast (or you can use one rotisserie chicken)

8 flour tortillas

8 oz Jalapeno Monterey Jack cheese, shredded

1.5 cups whipping cream (I used 1 ¼ and it was more than enough)


Melt butter in large skillet over medium heat. Add onions and saute 5 mins. Add green chiles and saute 1 more minute. Stir in cream cheese and chicken and cook, stirring until cream cheese melts. Spoon the chicken mixture down the center of each tortilla. Roll up tortillas and place seam side down in lightly greased 13x9 casserole dish. Cover with Jalapeno Monterey Jack cheese and pour cream over that. Bake at 350 degrees uncovered for about 30-40 mins. It's nice with fresh salsa or pico de gallo on the side. It seems to need something tomato-ish.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Oh my gosh are you guys ambitious. My old stand by is baked spaghetti (basically you mix all of the filling stuff that you use for lasagna or stuffed shells with cooked penne pasta and bake it for 45 minutes), garlic bread, salad and brownies for dessert. All of it is make ahead food. If I am motivated, I will make cupcakes and decorate them instead of brownies. But, I do serve it on my best dishes and I always pull out my pretty wine glasses. I've come to the conclusion that no one really cares much about the food. The whole point of getting together is the company and if you are stressed you won't get to visit with your friends.

I hate to say this, but some people do care about the food. I am disappointed when I go to the trouble to dress up a bit and travel to someone's house, only to eat everyday food. One time it was a pan of runny lasagna that the hostess said she had taken out of the freezer, and she ended the meal with store-bought ice cream and store- bought cookies. I think it was the way I was raised: my mother always put on the most astounding spreads when she was entertaining; anything less would have been a shame.

So what do you make when you invite people over? Or what dinners have others made for you that you've found acceptable?

I come from a tradition of the groaning board, thanks to my mother. I like to offer three main courses (a fish, a meat, and a chicken usually, and a vegetarian main if I am offering four mains), at least four or five sides, and one standout dessert. I like to make everything from scratch, as you might have guessed from my first post. I serve all this en famille, with all the dishes except dessert (which comes later), on the table at once. It makes for an abundant table.

Now, I understand that others may entertain in a more simple way, and I don't expect to be offered a banquet when I dine at someone else's house. Recently I enjoyed immensely a dinner at which the hostess served creamy cheesy chicken enchiladas that were to die for, a pico de gallo, a colorful red rice, a tortilla garden salad, limeade, and warm-from-the-oven lime squares for dessert. Everything was made from scratch except the tortillas. But my main point is that, although the menu was not complicated, everything was so hyper-delicious as to be out of the ordinary and the hostess obviously had put a lot of thought and effort into the dinner. I was very grateful (and had to have the recipes for the enchiladas!).

Dude. How can you post something like this without including the recipe for the chicken enchiladas?!

LOL!

Here's the recipe, verbatim as e-mailed to me by my cousin's lovely wife the day after the dinner party:


Chicken Enchiladas


1 Tablespoon butter

1 medium onion, chopped

4.5 can chopped green chile peppers

8 oz package cream cheese

3.5 cups cooked shredded chicken breast (or you can use one rotisserie chicken)

8 flour tortillas

8 oz Jalapeno Monterey Jack cheese, shredded

1.5 cups whipping cream (I used 1 ¼ and it was more than enough)


Melt butter in large skillet over medium heat. Add onions and saute 5 mins. Add green chiles and saute 1 more minute. Stir in cream cheese and chicken and cook, stirring until cream cheese melts. Spoon the chicken mixture down the center of each tortilla. Roll up tortillas and place seam side down in lightly greased 13x9 casserole dish. Cover with Jalapeno Monterey Jack cheese and pour cream over that. Bake at 350 degrees uncovered for about 30-40 mins. It's nice with fresh salsa or pico de gallo on the side. It seems to need something tomato-ish.

Thank you very much! Sounds delish.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Oh my gosh are you guys ambitious. My old stand by is baked spaghetti (basically you mix all of the filling stuff that you use for lasagna or stuffed shells with cooked penne pasta and bake it for 45 minutes), garlic bread, salad and brownies for dessert. All of it is make ahead food. If I am motivated, I will make cupcakes and decorate them instead of brownies. But, I do serve it on my best dishes and I always pull out my pretty wine glasses. I've come to the conclusion that no one really cares much about the food. The whole point of getting together is the company and if you are stressed you won't get to visit with your friends.

I hate to say this, but some people do care about the food. I am disappointed when I go to the trouble to dress up a bit and travel to someone's house, only to eat everyday food. One time it was a pan of runny lasagna that the hostess said she had taken out of the freezer, and she ended the meal with store-bought ice cream and store- bought cookies. I think it was the way I was raised: my mother always put on the most astounding spreads when she was entertaining; anything less would have been a shame.

So what do you make when you invite people over? Or what dinners have others made for you that you've found acceptable?

I come from a tradition of the groaning board, thanks to my mother. I like to offer three main courses (a fish, a meat, and a chicken usually, and a vegetarian main if I am offering four mains), at least four or five sides, and one standout dessert. I like to make everything from scratch, as you might have guessed from my first post. I serve all this en famille, with all the dishes except dessert (which comes later), on the table at once. It makes for an abundant table.

Now, I understand that others may entertain in a more simple way, and I don't expect to be offered a banquet when I dine at someone else's house. Recently I enjoyed immensely a dinner at which the hostess served creamy cheesy chicken enchiladas that were to die for, a pico de gallo, a colorful red rice, a tortilla garden salad, limeade, and warm-from-the-oven lime squares for dessert. Everything was made from scratch except the tortillas. But my main point is that, although the menu was not complicated, everything was so hyper-delicious as to be out of the ordinary and the hostess obviously had put a lot of thought and effort into the dinner. I was very grateful (and had to have the recipes for the enchiladas!).

Dude. How can you post something like this without including the recipe for the chicken enchiladas?!

LOL!

Here's the recipe, verbatim as e-mailed to me by my cousin's lovely wife the day after the dinner party:


Chicken Enchiladas


1 Tablespoon butter

1 medium onion, chopped

4.5 can chopped green chile peppers

8 oz package cream cheese

3.5 cups cooked shredded chicken breast (or you can use one rotisserie chicken)

8 flour tortillas

8 oz Jalapeno Monterey Jack cheese, shredded

1.5 cups whipping cream (I used 1 ¼ and it was more than enough)


Melt butter in large skillet over medium heat. Add onions and saute 5 mins. Add green chiles and saute 1 more minute. Stir in cream cheese and chicken and cook, stirring until cream cheese melts. Spoon the chicken mixture down the center of each tortilla. Roll up tortillas and place seam side down in lightly greased 13x9 casserole dish. Cover with Jalapeno Monterey Jack cheese and pour cream over that. Bake at 350 degrees uncovered for about 30-40 mins. It's nice with fresh salsa or pico de gallo on the side. It seems to need something tomato-ish.

Thank you very much! Sounds delish.

I just made this for tonight's dinner and, in the course of cooking the filling, I realized that my cousin's wife must have inadvertently left out the salt and pepper when she typed up the recipe for me. Please add salt and pepper (both to taste) to the list of ingredients. I made double, so I have two pans of enchiladas baking in the oven as I type. Can hardly wait for dinner!