Easy dinners when you have guests

[Anonymous]

Here's what I did recently after a long hiatus:

crab cakes
roasted brussel sprouts
roasted carrot salad with avocado and microgreens

The carrot salad can be made ahead
The crab cake mixture and brussels can be prepped ahead

Just plate the carrot salad, and throw the crab cakes and brussels in the oven when guests arrive. Serve olives, nuts, pita and hummus and wine, beer or seltzer until the stuff is ready to come out of the oven.

[Anonymous]

Has anyone made the NYTimes Chicken Shawarma as kebabs on a grill? Thinking of doing this during a summer family vacation where we each take a turn to cook dinner for the rest each night. Need to do a meal for 10 adults. No AC so preferable to grill outdoors than use the oven.

Sides - thinking a regular salad and perhaps some couscous or rice dish and warmed pitas.

Also thought of doing Ottolenghi charred tomatoes over yogurt (I just really love that dish after making it recently) as an appetizer, but don't want to stretch myself. However, kebabs and side salads would be made in advance and DH will do the grilling.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would never serve pasta to a large group unless it was teenagers before their game, never adults. Most adults I know, men and women, would not eat much of it.

What? I want to know more about you and the adults you hang out with. Are you all super thin? Rich? How old? What do you mostly eat for dinner? Do you eat cake and oookies? I’m fascinated.

+1. When did pasta become so unfashionable?

I am so glad these are not the people I hang out with. Good lord. Life is short.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would never serve pasta to a large group unless it was teenagers before their game, never adults. Most adults I know, men and women, would not eat much of it.

What? I want to know more about you and the adults you hang out with. Are you all super thin? Rich? How old? What do you mostly eat for dinner? Do you eat cake and oookies? I’m fascinated.

+1. When did pasta become so unfashionable?

I am so glad these are not the people I hang out with. Good lord. Life is short.

The problem with pasta is it’s too heavy for some people. Like if I eat a pasta dish I just want to lay down for a nap. DH and I don’t eat it except maybe at a bbq or potluck once a year. I make it for my kids though several times a week.

[Anonymous]

Have not read all the comments, but here is what I would suggest for a crowd:

*Ham: comes pre-cooked, just reheat
*anything in a crockpot/instantpot
*anything on the grill (except pizza or fish)
*anything on a sheet pan
*anything that can be served cold/room temperature (e.g. poached salmon)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would never serve pasta to a large group unless it was teenagers before their game, never adults. Most adults I know, men and women, would not eat much of it.

What? I want to know more about you and the adults you hang out with. Are you all super thin? Rich? How old? What do you mostly eat for dinner? Do you eat cake and oookies? I’m fascinated.

+1. When did pasta become so unfashionable?

I'm not anti-pasta, but when I eat it I generally want it to be really decadent and delicious because it's an occasional indulgence. Baked pasta with jarred sauce and bagged salad like a PP suggested is not that. If that's what you're serving I think that's fine enough, but definitely manage expectations for anything other than a spur of the moment Wednesday meal after sports or whatever.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would never serve pasta to a large group unless it was teenagers before their game, never adults. Most adults I know, men and women, would not eat much of it.

What? I want to know more about you and the adults you hang out with. Are you all super thin? Rich? How old? What do you mostly eat for dinner? Do you eat cake and oookies? I’m fascinated.

+1. When did pasta become so unfashionable?

I'm not anti-pasta, but when I eat it I generally want it to be really decadent and delicious because it's an occasional indulgence. Baked pasta with jarred sauce and bagged salad like a PP suggested is not that. If that's what you're serving I think that's fine enough, but definitely manage expectations for anything other than a spur of the moment Wednesday meal after sports or whatever.

Uh, wow.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would never serve pasta to a large group unless it was teenagers before their game, never adults. Most adults I know, men and women, would not eat much of it.

What? I want to know more about you and the adults you hang out with. Are you all super thin? Rich? How old? What do you mostly eat for dinner? Do you eat cake and oookies? I’m fascinated.

+1. When did pasta become so unfashionable?

I am so glad these are not the people I hang out with. Good lord. Life is short.

Seriously. Pasta party at my place! Not everything needs to be so formal. And a good meal for company isn't going to be healthy because even if it's not pasta, it's going to have salt and fat I'm order to be guest-worthy. I like to make fancy menus and make things from scratch but there is very much a time and a place for pasta - even amongst adults!

[Anonymous]

To me, taste trumps everything. I think it’s fine to serve more humble fare if it tastes good. The difference for me between family food and guest food is just using really high-quality ingredients for guests.

I like soups and stews with good bread, anything from the grill (including burgers!), fajitas, roast chicken, and paninis.

I also like cheater appetizers from Trader Joe’s, like spanakopita, birds nests, etc.

But really my favorite thing to serve is takeout.