What's the happy medium menu here?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'd prepare a tray of baked ziti and garlic bread ahead of time, then pop them in the oven as soon as you get home. You can prep a salad in advance too.

I'd probably do something like this but ask if they have any food preferences.

I did ask. Mom said no allergies, no restrictions, "anything is fine".

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’d make chicken parmesan, pasta aglio olio, roasted broccoli. I’d roast the broccoli ahead of time and serve at room temp. I’d make the aglio olio ahead of time and leave on stovetop. I’d make the breaded chicken cutlets ahead and leave in fridge. When I got home, I’d simultaneously (1) warm olive oil on stove, (2) boil/make pasta, (3) warm/crisp up chicken in oven and add sauce and cheese topper. You could also throw some garlic bread in oven.

I would feel like my host really fussed mid week with this meal. I would be stressed about inviting you back...

OP here,

See, that's the problem from my perspective.

I want to cook, because I like to cook and cooking for adults is more fun. And because a nice homemade meal seems like a nice thing to do for a new friend.

But I also don't want to overwhelm someone.

Hence, the "happy medium" goal.

Interesting. I am the person who posted it, and for me it is an easy make ahead meal (we often bread and cook chicken and keep in freezer). Then it is just boiling pasta and warming the chicken and olive oil. Vs tacos (which I love, and think make a great group meal), you need to chop and prep every topping. I guess everyobe has different views of what is easy vs time consuming!

[Anonymous]

I would do homemade sloppy joes, have them in the crockpot, with some good accompaniments like pickles, sweet peppers, etc. a nice side of coleslaw or something. Everything ready to go when you get home so you can chat, not rush to prep.
Make something fun for dessert that ready ahead like a fruit cobbler or pudding.

[Anonymous]

I would feel odd if I went over a child’s friends house after a practice for a quick dinner and they are literally frying things at the stove and have multiple sauces, sides, and dessert plus fruits already made and set up. That is a lot of work. Too much work for this level of casual and quick. You’ll set the bar high enough that they may not reciprocate the invite

Use the crockpot for the main. Have a simple side or salad, some bread and a dessert or cut fruit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Smothered wet burritos. Preassemble, put it in a glass baking dish and keep in the fridge. When you need to serve, pour the sauce generously to drown the burritos and microwave or heat in the oven. You can make it with beef, chicken, beans and it is equally delicious. Serve with a topping of finely chopped lettuce, salsa, sour cream.

Please don't microwave this. Please.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Hard to go wrong with chicken tacos - you can get everything ready in advance - sauté peppers and onions, grate cheese, chop lettuce and tomatoes, grill or sauté the chicken, even make the guacamole. Then it’s just reheating and assembly and people can put what the want on their taco.

This with already grilled chicken or rotisserie

Taco bar hater chiming in here. This forum is the worst about suggesting taco bars for every conceivable occasion. Please stop beating the dead horse.

I feel this way about this board and the friggin baked ziti. Enough already.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would do homemade sloppy joes, have them in the crockpot, with some good accompaniments like pickles, sweet peppers, etc. a nice side of coleslaw or something. Everything ready to go when you get home so you can chat, not rush to prep.
Make something fun for dessert that ready ahead like a fruit cobbler or pudding.

Similar vien, but sloppy Joe casserole instead, little less messy to eat. We serve with sweet potato fries and/or salad.

[Anonymous]

I am surprised nobody has suggested grilling, if you have a grill. There are plenty of simple marinades for steak or chicken. I would probably do a mix of those two, get them marinating in the morning, throw them on the grill and prepare a starchy side like a rice pilaf and either a nice salad or a steamed or roasted green vegetable. extra bonus: fewer dishes!

[Anonymous]

Pp here: roasted or boiled potatoes (with lemon, butter and parsley) would also be a good side

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would feel odd if I went over a child’s friends house after a practice for a quick dinner and they are literally frying things at the stove and have multiple sauces, sides, and dessert plus fruits already made and set up. That is a lot of work. Too much work for this level of casual and quick. You’ll set the bar high enough that they may not reciprocate the invite

Use the crockpot for the main. Have a simple side or salad, some bread and a dessert or cut fruit.

I agree.

[Anonymous]

something easy, tacos, spaghetti, funeral sandwiches, soup or chili.

[Anonymous]

I would do a broiled salmon with teriyaki sauce over it, and rice, and steamed broccoli or green beans. Side of cut up pineapples.

[Anonymous]

What about all the ingredients for sandwich and salad?

So: good bread, condiments, pickles, cured meats and/or deli meats, cheeses, lettuce, a veggie tray or shredded veg/tomato slices to toss into salad/sandwiches, balsamic, chips.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would do a broiled salmon with teriyaki sauce over it, and rice, and steamed broccoli or green beans. Side of cut up pineapples.

Pineapple as a side dish?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Hard to go wrong with chicken tacos - you can get everything ready in advance - sauté peppers and onions, grate cheese, chop lettuce and tomatoes, grill or sauté the chicken, even make the guacamole. Then it’s just reheating and assembly and people can put what the want on their taco.

This with already grilled chicken or rotisserie

Taco bar hater chiming in here. This forum is the worst about suggesting taco bars for every conceivable occasion. Please stop beating the dead horse.

Are there any suggestions above you like? I'm hoping to hear from people who have strong opinions because I want something that will please most people.

We'll probably just serve whatever it is family style at the table on the deck, because it's going to be 4 or 5 people. But I am leaning towards something kind of deconstructed because you never know what kids like to eat, whether that's tacos, or pasta with a few choices for toppings, and sides, or something else.

-- OP

NP here with a very picky kid and a relatively flexible kid who doesn't eat some of the few things the picky kid eats. And a lightly picky DH to boot. We do taco bars all the time for the same reason people suggest it all the time--it is easy to please lots of different tastes.

OP here,

For whatever reason, my kids really like my carne asada (which won't work timing wise), and my fish tacos (which I think might be too adventurous for kids with unknown pickiness), and some weird vegetarian tacos I've made that I wouldn't inflict on other people, but chicken tacos aren't a huge hit there.

How would this menu go over with your family:

Broiled chicken breast (choice of plain or with lemon and herbs)

Plain pasta

Roasted vegetables (I usually serve them separated on a platter so people can pick the ones they want and leave the others)

Romesco sauce (roasted red pepper sauce, could go on pasta or chicken or veggies)

Pesto (also could go on whatever)

Parmesan

Some kinda fruit

Some kinda baked thing (brownies, lemon bars, chocolate chip cookies?????)

Vanilla ice cream

Could everyone feed themselves from that?

Is that too "extra"?

That sounds great to me. Simple chicken (lemon especially), pasta, and vegetables, followed by a simple dessert with fresh cut up fruit. I recognize the almost universal appeal of tacos, heavy meat based pastas, etc., especially with kids, but my heart kind of sinks when I see those foods (esp fish tacos - gag me). Personally, I would serve a mix of quick and easy, kid friendly food and more ‘adult’ food and let everyone figure it out for themselves. But you don’t need to kill yourself trying to make everyone happy.