Hosting dinner for six

[Anonymous]

OP, I host a lot of dinner parties. Here are some easy go- tos when I have a busy day and don’t want to go all out:

Always:
Charcuterie plate with 2 types of meat (I usually do a spicy sopressata and a black peppercorn salami), 3 nice cheeses (goat or other soft, blue, simple cheddar for less adventurous cheese folks), olives, grapes and/or berries). I also slice a baguette thin, or offer some nice crackers, a couple varieties.

For dinner, some easy options are chicken parm—light coating of flour and shredded parm, sauté/brown the chicken, put in casserole and cover with Rao’s marinara, top with shredded cheddar and Mozzarella. Bake for 45 minutes or so. Serve with pasta cooked in well salted water, a green salad. This is always a hit, carb haters skip the pasta. Have lots of salad and definitely a good homemade salad dressing. Mine is that I mince 3 garlic cloves, put in a small jar with 2/3 cup good olive oil, 1/3 cup lemon juice, generous fresh ground salt and pepper. Shake and rest for at least an hour. For dessert, berries with whipped cream are always fine (I put just a teaspoon of brown sugar and a dash of cardamom in my whipped cream).

For vegetarians, red beans and rice is an excellent option. Easy to put together and it is hands off. Mildly spicy but generally acceptable.

Ina Garten’s Asian Grilled Salmon is great, with rice and the salad above.

Asparagus is so easy to sauté if you want an additional veggie. Use butter, salt and pepper, go underdone rather than over. Bonus points for adding the asparagus to softened shallots and garlic.

Good luck!

[Anonymous]

how about uncle ben's chicken and wild rice casserole. salad and a veggie.

kabobs on the grill are easy and take about 10 minutes aside from the ahead-of-time prep.

you can get a pan of something from an italian place and do the salad and bread yourself.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I find a 1-pot chicken casserole type dish, that can be prepped in advance, like a coq au vin, or I like this NYT recipe, then couscous (prepped in advance) and a salad (again, prepped in advance, just add dressing before serving)

https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1017258-braised-chicken-with-lemon-and-olives

Pick up some nice pastries or a cake for dessert.

This (above) is an excellent menu idea. If the thought of cooking is too stressful then you could order middle eastern food -- a mix of chicken and beef kababs, some falafel in case anyone is vegetarian, and the rice. You could order the food earlier in the day and warm it up in the oven in aluminum trays before the guests get there. With that perhaps a couple of salads, maybe a mixed greens salad and one with chopped cucumber, tomato, scallions, parsley and dressed with lemon juice and olive oil.

I would steer away from middle eastern, or really any overtly international foods unless you know your guests will enjoy them. I know a not-insignificant number of people who are not adventurous eaters, more "meat and potatoes" types.

No judgement, but you do? I don’t know any adults in our generation in this geographical area that are essentially meat and potatoes. I know a grandma and adult son in Rochester who are, but that’s it!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, I host a lot of dinner parties. Here are some easy go- tos when I have a busy day and don’t want to go all out:

Always:
Charcuterie plate with 2 types of meat (I usually do a spicy sopressata and a black peppercorn salami), 3 nice cheeses (goat or other soft, blue, simple cheddar for less adventurous cheese folks), olives, grapes and/or berries). I also slice a baguette thin, or offer some nice crackers, a couple varieties.

For dinner, some easy options are chicken parm—light coating of flour and shredded parm, sauté/brown the chicken, put in casserole and cover with Rao’s marinara, top with shredded cheddar and Mozzarella. Bake for 45 minutes or so. Serve with pasta cooked in well salted water, a green salad. This is always a hit, carb haters skip the pasta. Have lots of salad and definitely a good homemade salad dressing. Mine is that I mince 3 garlic cloves, put in a small jar with 2/3 cup good olive oil, 1/3 cup lemon juice, generous fresh ground salt and pepper. Shake and rest for at least an hour. For dessert, berries with whipped cream are always fine (I put just a teaspoon of brown sugar and a dash of cardamom in my whipped cream).

For vegetarians, red beans and rice is an excellent option. Easy to put together and it is hands off. Mildly spicy but generally acceptable.

Ina Garten’s Asian Grilled Salmon is great, with rice and the salad above.

Asparagus is so easy to sauté if you want an additional veggie. Use butter, salt and pepper, go underdone rather than over. Bonus points for adding the asparagus to softened shallots and garlic.

Good luck!

I would be polite and eat your berries with whipped cream, but I’d be disappointed by this dessert. I can’t speak for anyone other than myself but I hate fruit as dessert. Toss a slice of lemon pound cake in there!

[Anonymous]

Who is this person who is "disappointed" at everyone's menu!

No one invite them over!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Baked ziti, salad and garlic bread.

OMG no.

Agree.

[Anonymous]

Ask about food preferences. You don’t want to be serving pork if someone won’t eat it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Baked ziti, salad and garlic bread.

OMG no.

Agree.

+3. The baked ziti poster shows up on every dinner party thread. I think it’s the only thing she knows how to make.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My go to for easy but nice dinner is a lamb stew. Made the day before and served over cous cous with raisins and pine nuts. Also a crunchy/vinegary cucumber salad on the side. Wouldnt work for vegetarians but i can make it gluten free subbing rice. For vegetariabs i have made a separate moroccan butternut stew.
Not in the heat of summer but works all other seasons. You can serve it family style with all the bowls on the table or be all fancy with chargers on the table and nice bowls and a parsley or carrot curl garnish on top.

Feedback. Don't serve raisins in a dish. People have strong feelings about raisins.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Baked ziti, salad and garlic bread.

OMG no.

Agree.

+3. The baked ziti poster shows up on every dinner party thread. I think it’s the only thing she knows how to make.

She also knows how to set up a taco bar.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Baked ziti, salad and garlic bread.

OMG no.

Agree.

+3. The baked ziti poster shows up on every dinner party thread. I think it’s the only thing she knows how to make.

She also knows how to set up a taco bar.

And serves the tacos in a frito bag. Unless she’s making her famous chili.

[Anonymous]

NO CASSEROLE FOR COWORKERS!

[Anonymous]

This is my fav easy great dinner.

Grilled chicken tenders, cooked ahead and warmed up. I like to marinate in italian dressing for 12 hours or so.

Lentil, toasted walnut, chopped red pepper, green onion salad served room temp. Dressed with olive oil and balsamic vinegar.

Hummus purchased is fine. Top with olive oil and paprika.

Toasted pita's chopped into quarters.

Tzika sauce which is basically plain greek yogurt with a blended cucumber or two, chopped garlic, and olive oil. A squeeze of lemon stirred in b4 you serve.

Buy some baklava for dessert.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Baked ziti, salad and garlic bread.

OMG no.

Agree.

+3. The baked ziti poster shows up on every dinner party thread. I think it’s the only thing she knows how to make.

She also knows how to set up a taco bar.

And serves the tacos in a frito bag. Unless she’s making her famous chili.

😂

[Anonymous]

Find out about dietary restrictions first. If everyone likes and eats fish, I recommend doing fish en papillotte. It can be done ahead of time, cooks quickly, and you can do several pieces in one packet.

My classic that can be changed to your own preferences.

Salt and pepper fish (we like a white fish like Chilean Sea Bass or Halibut, but really it could be anything)
Top with garlic and herb butter (can be purchased from Whole Foods)
Scatter vegetables around the fish. This can be anything, but my favorites are sliced cherry tomatoes (better if they are multi-colored for visual effect), asparagus, zucchini, summer squash, leeks, peppers, and sometimes a handful of spinach.
Top the fish with lemon slices and squeeze out the ends into the packet
Generous splash of white wine
Close and cook for 20ish minutes at 425 degrees

You already have a protein and lots of vegetables, so I put this on a grain. A favorite is Israeli couscous. I buy the boxes from WF and usually add something to it to make it more visually appealing, commonly mushrooms and shallots. You can make this in advance and reheat, then it's the 20 minutes in the oven for the fish/veg.

It is VERY easy! Basically foolproof, but a step up from ziti and bagged salad. With all of the vegetables of different colors, it's also pretty looking and the white wine and butter sauce is indulgent in an otherwise healthy dish.