Anonymous
Post 07/09/2025 00:40     Subject: Make ahead/prep ahead meal for company
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I think it's poor hosting to make everything ahead. Desserts? Okay. Salad (without dressing) maybe okay. Fancy bread with dinner? Okay. But if I'm not willing to put in the time and effort, why am I even bothering to have these people over? They deserve high quality, tasty meals.


Yikes, ok. I like to talk to people when they are over and feel bad when people follow me to the kitchen because they feel bad enjoying themselves while I’m working over the stove. I think the best is something you prep ahead and then it cooks fresh but without needing a lot of attention (like lasagna in my OP). But I always make pulled pork/chicken by cooking for like 6 hours so that seems like it would achieve the same goal. I make the Mac n cheese real time too of course. Thankful my friends are definitely chiller than you!


I have high standards for myself. I wouldn't serve a crock pot meal to guests. It screams lazy and messy to me. Pulled pork seems like something to eat outdoors, like at a ... block party or something.
Anonymous
Post 07/09/2025 00:36     Subject: Make ahead/prep ahead meal for company
Anonymous wrote:I think it's poor hosting to make everything ahead. Desserts? Okay. Salad (without dressing) maybe okay. Fancy bread with dinner? Okay. But if I'm not willing to put in the time and effort, why am I even bothering to have these people over? They deserve high quality, tasty meals.


When I visit someone’s home, I am there for the company rather than the food - I have food at home. While I enjoy good food and appreciate whatever time, money, and effort my hosts devote to the occasion, I would much rather chip in for pizza or take a covered dish to a potluck than to have a host(ess) who is too busy and/or stressed out to socialize with their guests and enjoy their own party.
Anonymous
Post 07/08/2025 21:46     Subject: Make ahead/prep ahead meal for company
Indian food, if you like it, is excellent for make ahead. Butter chicken, a couple of veggie dishes like aloo gobi & saag paneer. Store bought naan and rice on the side.
Anonymous
Post 07/08/2025 21:19     Subject: Make ahead/prep ahead meal for company
Anonymous wrote:I'm going to make salady sides which are always better the next day and then pick up pulled pork, chicken, ribs from the local BBQ place, with sauce and buns. Bad hostess?


Sounds great!
Anonymous
Post 07/08/2025 21:07     Subject: Make ahead/prep ahead meal for company
Anonymous wrote:I think it's poor hosting to make everything ahead. Desserts? Okay. Salad (without dressing) maybe okay. Fancy bread with dinner? Okay. But if I'm not willing to put in the time and effort, why am I even bothering to have these people over? They deserve high quality, tasty meals.


Anonymous
Post 07/08/2025 21:01     Subject: Make ahead/prep ahead meal for company
Anonymous wrote:OP here - that wasn’t me but I actually love the idea of pulled pork in the crockpot or the oven. Definitely keeps me out of the kitchen! I was already planning on Mac n cheese for the kids but corn muffins and salads sound great. PP please come back and share your make a head salads!!


One salad that tastes better the next day is a "german" potato salad. I put it in quotes because I just cook potatoes, add tons of dill and crumbled bacon (can be on the side for vegetarians), chives and let it stew in a homemade italian dressing overnight.

And booo to the person putting down make ahead. Everything can be tasty (and tastier!) if you make ahead. And less stress. And it's a ton of work to make-ahead-- you are just spreading it out.
Anonymous
Post 07/08/2025 20:26     Subject: Make ahead/prep ahead meal for company
Anonymous wrote:Check out Ina Garten's "Make it Ahead" cookbook. Lots of great recipes and also tips for how to prep ahead. It's kind of become my whole hosting philosophy. She has a lot of other recipes online that are adaptable to make ahead too.

Her prosciutto-wrapped pork tenderloin is one of my go-to's, but I've done a ton of her stuff.


Oh I will definitely check this out. Perfect. Thanks PP!
Anonymous
Post 07/08/2025 20:21     Subject: Make ahead/prep ahead meal for company
Check out Ina Garten's "Make it Ahead" cookbook. Lots of great recipes and also tips for how to prep ahead. It's kind of become my whole hosting philosophy. She has a lot of other recipes online that are adaptable to make ahead too.

Her prosciutto-wrapped pork tenderloin is one of my go-to's, but I've done a ton of her stuff.
Anonymous
Post 07/08/2025 20:02     Subject: Make ahead/prep ahead meal for company
Anonymous wrote:I think it's poor hosting to make everything ahead. Desserts? Okay. Salad (without dressing) maybe okay. Fancy bread with dinner? Okay. But if I'm not willing to put in the time and effort, why am I even bothering to have these people over? They deserve high quality, tasty meals.


Yikes, ok. I like to talk to people when they are over and feel bad when people follow me to the kitchen because they feel bad enjoying themselves while I’m working over the stove. I think the best is something you prep ahead and then it cooks fresh but without needing a lot of attention (like lasagna in my OP). But I always make pulled pork/chicken by cooking for like 6 hours so that seems like it would achieve the same goal. I make the Mac n cheese real time too of course. Thankful my friends are definitely chiller than you!
Anonymous
Post 07/08/2025 19:45     Subject: Make ahead/prep ahead meal for company
I think it's poor hosting to make everything ahead. Desserts? Okay. Salad (without dressing) maybe okay. Fancy bread with dinner? Okay. But if I'm not willing to put in the time and effort, why am I even bothering to have these people over? They deserve high quality, tasty meals.
Anonymous
Post 07/08/2025 19:41     Subject: Make ahead/prep ahead meal for company
OP here - that wasn’t me but I actually love the idea of pulled pork in the crockpot or the oven. Definitely keeps me out of the kitchen! I was already planning on Mac n cheese for the kids but corn muffins and salads sound great. PP please come back and share your make a head salads!!
Anonymous
Post 07/08/2025 18:24     Subject: Make ahead/prep ahead meal for company
I don't think that's a bad hostess idea, but was coming here to suggest something similar but homemade - I've done this slow cooker brisket for company with cornbread muffins and it's gone over really well

https://globalnews.ca/news/2984747/slow-cooker-barbecue-brisket/
Anonymous
Post 07/08/2025 18:22     Subject: Make ahead/prep ahead meal for company
Anonymous wrote:I'm going to make salady sides which are always better the next day and then pick up pulled pork, chicken, ribs from the local BBQ place, with sauce and buns. Bad hostess?


Are you OP? I think this is a great idea!
Anonymous
Post 07/08/2025 17:55     Subject: Make ahead/prep ahead meal for company
I'm going to make salady sides which are always better the next day and then pick up pulled pork, chicken, ribs from the local BBQ place, with sauce and buns. Bad hostess?
Anonymous
Post 07/08/2025 15:23     Subject: Make ahead/prep ahead meal for company
Having friends over for dinner this weekend and want to prep something so I don’t have to be stuck in the kitchen. I have done lasagna in the past but looking for other good ideas especially with out tomato