Anonymous
Post 03/25/2026 17:37     Subject: Re:Pasta for dinner
Anonymous wrote:I’m going to have a loaded baked potato for lunch tomorrow in honor of this thread. It will have cheese AND butter AND sour cream AND bacon AND chives. Nom nom nom nom nom nom. Oh yeah and I will definitely put salt in it!!!


OMG but where is the lean protein?? No carrot sticks on the side?
Anonymous
Post 03/25/2026 17:36     Subject: Pasta for dinner
Anonymous wrote:For real though. Those of y’all who have a problem with what OP served, what would you have offered at an impromptu, post-playdate lunch? If it were me I’d probably have pulled out sandwich fixings (and sure, I always have fruit around so I’d probably offer that too). Maybe a bag of chips. I certainly wouldn’t be whipping up an elaborate meal, and I’d rather have homemade pasta alla vodka than a boring sandwich!

Do people really just not ever host if they haven’t pre planned a full course meal with optimal balance of lean protein, whole grains, fruits and fresh veg? That’s sad to me. I love that my friends are easy and casual and would happily come over for a DIY sandwich if a playdate ran into lunchtime and we wanted to keep the fun going.


OP never said any of it was from scratch. More likely than not it was jarred. Otherwise what would she have done? Tasked the friend with watching the kids while she cooked alone? That would be weird too. If I can’t pull together sandwiches, and a salad, we always have cheese, crackers, hummus, vegetables, meats, pita and fresh fruit on hand so it would be like a charcuterie board spread. If they were still hungry I have a freezer full of food to offer.
Anonymous
Post 03/25/2026 17:30     Subject: Re:Pasta for dinner
I’m going to have a loaded baked potato for lunch tomorrow in honor of this thread. It will have cheese AND butter AND sour cream AND bacon AND chives. Nom nom nom nom nom nom. Oh yeah and I will definitely put salt in it!!!
Anonymous
Post 03/25/2026 17:29     Subject: Pasta for dinner
When I was little my friend's mom would make us Ramen with eggs sometimes. (Like she'd make egg drop soup type consistency in the ramen broth). I used to absolutely love it.
Anonymous
Post 03/25/2026 17:29     Subject: Pasta for dinner
For real though. Those of y’all who have a problem with what OP served, what would you have offered at an impromptu, post-playdate lunch? If it were me I’d probably have pulled out sandwich fixings (and sure, I always have fruit around so I’d probably offer that too). Maybe a bag of chips. I certainly wouldn’t be whipping up an elaborate meal, and I’d rather have homemade pasta alla vodka than a boring sandwich!

Do people really just not ever host if they haven’t pre planned a full course meal with optimal balance of lean protein, whole grains, fruits and fresh veg? That’s sad to me. I love that my friends are easy and casual and would happily come over for a DIY sandwich if a playdate ran into lunchtime and we wanted to keep the fun going.
Anonymous
Post 03/25/2026 17:24     Subject: Pasta for dinner
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Husband and I are both Italian. His parents “are off the boat”. My grandparents were too and my parents were born in this country.

We have always had pasta for lunch or dinner.

I was with my kids (girl age 6 and boy 4) and a friend and her kids at a park. I invited them back to our house for lunch.

I made pasta-penne with butter for the kids and vodka sauce for myself and my friend.

She looked at it and said “is this lunch? A bowl of pasta?”

I said yes this is what we usually have. She looked at me oddly and didn’t say anything else and ate.

But what a weird response.


Bet your kids are fussy eaters.


Bet your kids hate your guts.


I didn’t know “hate your guts” still existed haven’t heard that one since the 80s. Your insults are dusty.
Anonymous
Post 03/25/2026 17:17     Subject: Pasta for dinner
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Lunch!? Who does that. The kitchen is closed - if you must stuff your face at all hours of the day, Burger King is a short 3 mile hike up the road.


Is this the real Burger King lady or an imposter/admirer?


Alas I’m just an imposter. I don’t think the real BKL has been around in years. Too busy polishing the fingerprints off the stainless steel appliances.
Anonymous
Post 03/25/2026 17:00     Subject: Pasta for dinner
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Husband and I are both Italian. His parents “are off the boat”. My grandparents were too and my parents were born in this country.

We have always had pasta for lunch or dinner.

I was with my kids (girl age 6 and boy 4) and a friend and her kids at a park. I invited them back to our house for lunch.

I made pasta-penne with butter for the kids and vodka sauce for myself and my friend.

She looked at it and said “is this lunch? A bowl of pasta?”

I said yes this is what we usually have. She looked at me oddly and didn’t say anything else and ate.

But what a weird response.


Bet your kids are fussy eaters.


Bet your kids hate your guts.
Anonymous
Post 03/25/2026 16:47     Subject: Pasta for dinner
Anonymous wrote:Husband and I are both Italian. His parents “are off the boat”. My grandparents were too and my parents were born in this country.

We have always had pasta for lunch or dinner.

I was with my kids (girl age 6 and boy 4) and a friend and her kids at a park. I invited them back to our house for lunch.

I made pasta-penne with butter for the kids and vodka sauce for myself and my friend.

She looked at it and said “is this lunch? A bowl of pasta?”

I said yes this is what we usually have. She looked at me oddly and didn’t say anything else and ate.

But what a weird response.


Bet your kids are fussy eaters.
Anonymous
Post 03/25/2026 16:38     Subject: Pasta for dinner
I wish Jeff still did the roundup of top posts.
Anonymous
Post 03/25/2026 16:25     Subject: Pasta for dinner
Anonymous wrote:Lunch!? Who does that. The kitchen is closed - if you must stuff your face at all hours of the day, Burger King is a short 3 mile hike up the road.


Right? Or you could eat an apple on the porch.
Anonymous
Post 03/25/2026 16:09     Subject: Pasta for dinner
Anonymous wrote:Lunch!? Who does that. The kitchen is closed - if you must stuff your face at all hours of the day, Burger King is a short 3 mile hike up the road.


Is this the real Burger King lady or an imposter/admirer?
Anonymous
Post 03/25/2026 16:04     Subject: Pasta for dinner
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:OP, next time you should consider serving spiced and lightly fried tuna. With some Code Red Mountain Dew, since water doesn't really quench the thirst.


Or chicken salad!


The chicken salad will have nuts, grapes, dried apricot, and celery in it. End of discussion.


Yes, nice inclusion of fiber from the grapes and apricots.
Anonymous
Post 03/25/2026 16:00     Subject: Pasta for dinner
Lunch!? Who does that. The kitchen is closed - if you must stuff your face at all hours of the day, Burger King is a short 3 mile hike up the road.
Anonymous
Post 03/25/2026 15:55     Subject: Pasta for dinner
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:OP, next time you should consider serving spiced and lightly fried tuna. With some Code Red Mountain Dew, since water doesn't really quench the thirst.


Or chicken salad!


With mayonaisse! The chicken salad must have mayonaisse. From a jar.