Simple dinner party meal

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I second the suggestion for taco bar. Lasagne is generally popular but I have one tomato and cheese averse kid so that wouldn’t be my pick.
I find Indian food is quite popular these days too. Kids like butter chicken, Chana masala, saag paneer, samosas, buttered naan. I usually do store bought for the samosas and naan and make the curries myself.

This.

Actually any dish in a pot would work. Chili, curry, risotto, biryani - pasta bolognase almost fits in one pot and works well. For sides you can prepare in advance or get frozen ready to bake one's, like: cornbread, naan/samosa, garlic bread/salad, respectively.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Happy back to school! I'd love to host some of the kids' friends' parents over for dinners.
In my ideal world is that I have that "go to" dinner party meal for 8-ish people, including 4 kids. Easy, delicious, kids will (well, not one of mine; she eats only fruit and popcorn, sigh) eat it.

Do you have one of these? What's your menu?

(yes, this may have been asked before, but people change their menus )

We always have meals like that catered. No one really wants to eat food that is not professionally and sanitarily prepared. I know I sure would not at your house.

Ha ha ha - someone who has never been in the back of a restaurant AND someone who never learned manners.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Dc is a strange place, so much catering towards vegetarianism, which is a choice and relatively small percentage of the population. There’s almost no acknowledgement of people that can’t eat gluten/wheat due to health reasons. At just about every gathering we go to there is a veggie pizza, or veggie lasagna, or vegan buns, and complete disregard for the kids that can’t eat wheat. It’s very annoying.

Until very, very recently, true celiac disease was VERY rare. I would still say that those who really can't eat gluten is a small percentage of the population.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Dc is a strange place, so much catering towards vegetarianism, which is a choice and relatively small percentage of the population. There’s almost no acknowledgement of people that can’t eat gluten/wheat due to health reasons. At just about every gathering we go to there is a veggie pizza, or veggie lasagna, or vegan buns, and complete disregard for the kids that can’t eat wheat. It’s very annoying.

Until very, very recently, true celiac disease was VERY rare. I would still say that those who really can't eat gluten is a small percentage of the population.

1% of the U.S. population has celiacs. And other 1% have Wheat allergies. If you host a get together there is a good chance at least one of your guests needs to avoid wheat products.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Dc is a strange place, so much catering towards vegetarianism, which is a choice and relatively small percentage of the population. There’s almost no acknowledgement of people that can’t eat gluten/wheat due to health reasons. At just about every gathering we go to there is a veggie pizza, or veggie lasagna, or vegan buns, and complete disregard for the kids that can’t eat wheat. It’s very annoying.

Until very, very recently, true celiac disease was VERY rare. I would still say that those who really can't eat gluten is a small percentage of the population.

1% of the U.S. population has celiacs. And other 1% have Wheat allergies. If you host a get together there is a good chance at least one of your guests needs to avoid wheat products.

I have no problem planning a menu with invited guest’s dietary requirements in mind, but please think critically before you type.

By the stats you cite, 98% of the US population is not celiac and does not have a wheat allergy. These are minuscule numbers. Birth control has a higher fail rate.

According to these stats, there is absolutely NOT a good chance that one of your guests needs to avoid wheat unless you are having a gathering for hundreds of people.

[Anonymous]

If you have celiac disease, are you comfortable eating food someone else has prepared? We’re good friends with someone who has it, and they eat what I cook (gluten-free ingredients prepared in a gluten-friendly kitchen), but I know other people who would rather bring their own food to social events.

It seems like this is either something the hosts need to know before they even start cooking (in which case speculative meal-planning is pointless) or something they don’t need to think about because the celiac guest won’t be eating their food

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My easy dinner party meal is pork tenderloin. I buy around a half pound per adult, which would probably be around 2-3 pieces. Season with lemon juice and olive oil, mustard, or whatever rub you like (I usually do Greek-ish - garlic, oregano, olive oil, lemon) and throw it in the oven. You can marinate ahead of time if you remember, but if you forget that’s okay too. It also cooks fast because it’s long and thin.

This goes well with basically any carb - I’ve done cous cous, roasted or mashed potatoes, risotto, rice pilaf, orzo, quinoa salad, etc. Plus a big tray of roasted veggies or a green salad, or both, depending on your preference. I am not a baker/dessert person, so I either buy a dessert, serve fruit and ice cream, or make Ghirardelli brownies from the box.

I would never do pork for a large group. A lot of people don’t eat it, be it religious or cultural (my atheist Middle Eastern born spouse won’t eat it) or a personal dietary choice

+1 Pork only works if you don't have any Jewish, Muslim, or vegetarian friends. Even brisket--that's so heavy and people aren't eating red meat as much any more.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My easy dinner party meal is pork tenderloin. I buy around a half pound per adult, which would probably be around 2-3 pieces. Season with lemon juice and olive oil, mustard, or whatever rub you like (I usually do Greek-ish - garlic, oregano, olive oil, lemon) and throw it in the oven. You can marinate ahead of time if you remember, but if you forget that’s okay too. It also cooks fast because it’s long and thin.

This goes well with basically any carb - I’ve done cous cous, roasted or mashed potatoes, risotto, rice pilaf, orzo, quinoa salad, etc. Plus a big tray of roasted veggies or a green salad, or both, depending on your preference. I am not a baker/dessert person, so I either buy a dessert, serve fruit and ice cream, or make Ghirardelli brownies from the box.

I would never do pork for a large group. A lot of people don’t eat it, be it religious or cultural (my atheist Middle Eastern born spouse won’t eat it) or a personal dietary choice

+1 Pork only works if you don't have any Jewish, Muslim, or vegetarian friends. Even brisket--that's so heavy and people aren't eating red meat as much any more.

Brisket is only fine when grandma is cooking...or if you're in the deep South.

[Anonymous]

Uncle Julio’s Rio Grande fajitas takeout.
Or grilled chicken, ratatouille (made with Rao’s marinara) and French bread

[Anonymous]

Roasted chicken and potatoes
Green beans
Ice cream sundaes for dessert

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I knew it wouldn’t be long before the taco bar or baked potato bar person posted.

NP. How weird that you have to point this out. You might want to look in the mirror and assess. I have never posted either of those, but they're great suggestions.

I notice you didn't bother to add some great, creative, never-been-posted-before option.

Neither did you.