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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=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!

[/quote]

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! [/quote]

FFS. You can buy your own cake to wolf down. A healthy and delicious dessert for one meal is not going to kill you. [/quote]

PP here -- agree.  Many of my friends don't want a heavy dessert and prefer something lighter, which is why I do that.  I'll occasionally do something like a pavlova with lemon curd and berries, or a fruit pie.  But heavy apps, main, and dessert is a lot.  Most people want fresh and lighter fare to some extent.[/quote]

Agree, but I think both is best.  I always have one heavier dessert like a homemade pie or cake and some cut fruit set out at all with dessert.  People can have both or pick.  But it gives those that over ate at dinner or just small eaters a lighter option will still participating in the eating and socializing that is so enjoyable with dessert [/quote]

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