Help! I have to entertain!

[Anonymous]

I'll be so grateful for any advice you DCUMers can give.

I am not a natural hostess, but I'm trying to branch out for the sake of my child. Entertaining makes me VERY nervous, and I'm trying to get more used to it. I've invited a few families and their kids (6 adults, 6 kids) over for dinner. The kids are 3-5.

What can I serve that will be relatively easy (I'm a terrible cook), but won't be totally generic?

Do I have beer, wine and liquor? Any beer/wine suggestions also appreciated.

Thank you very much.

[Anonymous]

Is Italian too generic? Personally, I go with what is easiest, so in this case, Lasagna or Baked Ziti, Salad, Garlic Bread, Dessert. TJ's has an awesome Tiramisu. If you don't want to make the Lasagna or Ziti yourself, Paisano's does a great version of either, and they deliver.
Yes to wine, beer, alcohol.

[Anonymous]

Wegmans

[Anonymous]

Little top your own pizzas with nicer toppings for the adults.

If people ask what they can bring suggest a bottle of wine or a 6 pack.

[Anonymous]

Good for you. I wish I did more of that. I recently went to a friends house w/ 2 other couples and the kids were invited too. She is not the greatest cook, but she made spaghetti and meatballs, salad and garlic bread. I think she probably bought the meatballs and used jarred sauce. Spaghetti was good because the kids could have it w/o the sauce. The guests brought a cake, brownies, and a pie. It was a little generic, but honestly I loved it. We don't live in the friendliest area and I was really happy to be invited over. It really was the company that made the night. Her husband made sure everyone always had a full glass of wine. Oh and the kids all had a blast.

[Anonymous]

Check out the Barefoot Contessa website. She has great tips for entertaining - even for kids. Although, cocktails are one of her specialties.

[Anonymous]

What about tacos? Pretty hard to mess up and everyone likes them.

You can find a recipe online, but if you have a slow cooker, dump in a couple chicken breasts, a jar of salsa, and a packet of taco seasoning. Eight hours later you'll have delicious stewed chicken. Put out hard and soft shells, lettuce, avocado, salsa, cheese, and sour cream and you've got yourself dinner. You could make a couple of cheese quessadillas for the kids if they are super picky.

[Anonymous]

^ for drinks, if you go with tacos, pick up a some Coronas or Dos Aquis for drinks, or if you are feeling ambitious, make a pitcher or margaritas. It never hurts to have some wine on hand too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What about tacos? Pretty hard to mess up and everyone likes them.

You can find a recipe online, but if you have a slow cooker, dump in a couple chicken breasts, a jar of salsa, and a packet of taco seasoning. Eight hours later you'll have delicious stewed chicken. Put out hard and soft shells, lettuce, avocado, salsa, cheese, and sour cream and you've got yourself dinner. You could make a couple of cheese quessadillas for the kids if they are super picky.

Don't do this. Too much management at the time. Instead, do things that can all be prepared ahead. Cheeses and crackers, nuts (if no allergies of course), and something that takes one dish like lasagna and salad. Honestly, if I were you, I would do pizza because it is easy and you are nervous. The only thing you can do wrong is to be nervous, so just relax and make it as easy for yourself as possible. Stock the counters with wine and the fridge with beer and ask people what they want. Get juice boxes and water so you don't have to deal with glasses. Try to have fun and have as little as possible to do while entertaining.

[Anonymous]

Make a lasagna for the adults and prepare some plain pasta for kids who might not like the lasagna. Or better yet, just heat up some chicken nuggets for them. For the lasagna buy the Barilla no boil noodles and follow the recipe on the box. I've followed that recipe with some slight additions (sausage and spinach) and have always gotten compliments and requests for the recipe. If the guests offer, ask them to bring dessert or an appetizer to share and you are set.

[Anonymous]

We love doing "make your own" -- pizza, nachos, tacos -- just buy a bunch of sides and have everyone build their own. Plus it's an activity so a good way to break the ice. One of my friends told me the nacho bar was the best dinner out they'd had in a while and her son hadn't stopped talking about it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What about tacos? Pretty hard to mess up and everyone likes them.

You can find a recipe online, but if you have a slow cooker, dump in a couple chicken breasts, a jar of salsa, and a packet of taco seasoning. Eight hours later you'll have delicious stewed chicken. Put out hard and soft shells, lettuce, avocado, salsa, cheese, and sour cream and you've got yourself dinner. You could make a couple of cheese quessadillas for the kids if they are super picky.

Don't do this. Too much management at the time. Instead, do things that can all be prepared ahead. Cheeses and crackers, nuts (if no allergies of course), and something that takes one dish like lasagna and salad. Honestly, if I were you, I would do pizza because it is easy and you are nervous. The only thing you can do wrong is to be nervous, so just relax and make it as easy for yourself as possible. Stock the counters with wine and the fridge with beer and ask people what they want. Get juice boxes and water so you don't have to deal with glasses. Try to have fun and have as little as possible to do while entertaining.

I agree about everything done ahead of time, but I don't see how the taco idea doesn't fit. If you use the slow cooker, all the work is done that morning. And you could have platters of all the other things made beforehand also. The beauty of a taco bar theme is add some fruit and everyone can find something to eat as they can choose what goes on the taco (or they can eat it all separated if they are picky). With pizza, you have to guess at toppings so you may be hit or miss (or have someone who doesn't eat cheese and they have nothing to eat).

[Anonymous]

I would either serve lasagna (vace makes a great one - just defrost and heat), garlic bread and salad (make ahead and have it ready). Or I'd grill - let the guys go outside to grill the meat while you and friends finish putting out chips, baked beans, make-ahead pasta salad, bowl of fruit. I like to grill marinated chicken breasts and thighs, but you can always throw on hot dogs for picky kids. As a pp said, set out all the drinks ahead of time (preferably not in an area where you'll be accessing to get ready for dinner) - keep it simple with beer, wine, water and juice boxes for kids. Buy dessert - ice cream and cookies are a hit with all ages. Have fun!

[Anonymous]

I would either serve lasagna (vace makes a great one - just defrost and heat), garlic bread and salad (make ahead and have it ready). Or I'd grill - let the guys go outside to grill the meat while you and friends finish putting out chips, baked beans, make-ahead pasta salad, bowl of fruit. I like to grill marinated chicken breasts and thighs, but you can always throw on hot dogs for picky kids. As a pp said, set out all the drinks ahead of time (preferably not in an area where you'll be accessing to get ready for dinner) - keep it simple with beer, wine, water and juice boxes for kids. Buy dessert - ice cream and cookies are a hit with all ages. Have fun!

I totally agree with this.

If you want to cook it yourself, lasagna is a great dish to start with. There are lots of recipes to choose from, it's not that hard to execute, most people like it, it's easy to do vegetarian if that's a factor, and you can do the whole thing in advance so if you screw it up, you have time to do it again or go buy one. Add garlic bread and a salad--both also easy to make.

Here's an easy salad: baby spinach leaves, goat cheese crumbles, something red (strawberries, dried cranberries, red peppers, whatever, but just one of them), and some kind of nut (pine nuts, walnuts, pecans, or pepitas). For extra credit, you can lightly toast the nuts. That's easier than it sounds--you just heat them in a small dry skillet over medium heat for 3-4 minutes, till they start to turn color and smell yummy. Toss them around every minute or so so they don't burn on one side. For salad dressing, mix equal parts olive oil and balsamic vinegar, and shake in a cruet or whisk vigorously in a bowl before putting into the cruet or small serving pitcher. Or just buy a bottle of balsamic vinaigrette.

For affordable, entry-level red wine, I'd go with Mark West Pinot Noir or a Spanish Rioja (Crianza) like LAN rioja or Marques de Caceres. These are all between $12-15. For a white, I'd go with Hogue or Chateau St. Michelle riesling or gewurtztraminer (all about $10), or if you can find it, Pine Ridge Chenin Blanc/Viognier (about $12). Lots of people also like Santa Margerita pinot grigio or Kim Crawford sauvignon blanc, though they're not faves of mine. (Dont' buy any wine with a cute name or an animal on the label.)

There are a million beers and a million opinions on them. But to please a crowd, get one pale ale or IPA (India Pale Ale), one Belgian-style beer, and a basic light beer like Bud Light. Some people love IPAs and hate Belgians, and some people love Belgians and hate IPAs, and some people just want basic light beer. Or, if you have to pick just one beer, pick Sam Adams (the original).

Trader Joe's has awesome desserts, all kinds, in their freezer. Or, you can't go wrong with Breyer's vanilla and some berries. Maybe lemon ice cups for the kids.

[Anonymous]

Oh, and you don't need liquor. Not for a family event. It wouldn't hurt to have some club soda or perrier, though, for people who are watching their calories but want more than water. A nice optional touch is little lemon or lime slices for those drinks.