Some type of roast - usually leg of lamb. Roasted rosemary potatoes (cut up red skin potatoes tossed in olive oil, lemon juice and rosemary) and popped into the oven with the lamb. A quick steamed veggie that can cook in a few minutes.

Something simple like fruit salad or pie with ice cream for dessert.

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Did it twice already. Everybody loved it. I didn't tell it was Giant though

1-pot meals in my dutch oven, that cook in the oven for about an hour. Prep right before they come, put it in the oven while you open the wine had have some apps. We have a few different recipes we use - google "dutch oven recipe" and you'll find some good stuff.

We invite about 10 friends over every couple of months and here is what I do. They are a low maintenance crowd!

Pot of Chili, nice toppings, cornbread, chips etc
Lasagna, salad, garlic bread
Quiche, salads
Enchiladas, Mexican salad
Curry (plus I pick up some naan bread & samosas from the local Indian store to accompany it)

Roast chicken is my go-to. It's truly tragic what I can do to red meat or pork, but roasting a chicken is easy for me.

It's so versatile that I can just pick sides based on what's in season.

During the winter I either do a pork loin roast with potatoes adn a salad or a chicken stew. All easy and can be cooking as company is arriving.

Dessert is either a chocolate cake made ahead or cookies/cupcakes.

During the warmer months, we grill.

Lasagna, garlic bread and salad.

Stew, brisket, roast -- some kind of meat that you can make ahead of time. Ratatouille can also be made ahead of time; serve with baguette if you don't feel like making rice or couscous.

I order pizza and wings. No complaints and no leftovers.

Beef tenderloin, some type of potatoes, green beans and salad. All very easy.

Anonymous wrote:I just served ziti, caesar salad and garlic bread. Everything made in advance and just put in the oven. Dessert was homemade cookies and ice cream.

Same thing. Either baked ziti or chicken parm. Very little work to make, can make the other stuff while the main dish is cooking. Only thing I'd add is that we put out crackers, cheese, and fruit as appetizers.

I love Italian dishes for company - my specialty is lasagna. Salad and bread along with it, and maybe another veggie. Cheese tray or crudites. Easy.

I just served ziti, caesar salad and garlic bread. Everything made in advance and just put in the oven. Dessert was homemade cookies and ice cream.

I usually do dome thing like homemade chicken pot pie or lasagna with salad, bread and maybe a roasted vegetable and dessert. I serve cheese and crackers, dips with chips, crudités with drinks when people arrive. Everything else is made ahead of time and I just pop it in the oven while we are having drinks. Dessert is either something I've made ahead of time and ready to go or a cobbler that gets put in the oven just as we are serving dinner. I pnly have to pop in and check on things once or twice.

We had company over last night or dinner. As I was stressing out all day yesterday and cooking all day, I decided there has to be an easy meal to make that is appropriate to serve to company. All I really wanted to do last night was sit down, enjoy a glass of wine, and socialize, but I had to be in the kitchen. Please help me make entertaining more entertaining, and less stressful, for myself. Thanks.