I’ve got a pellet smoker and do pulled pork for these occasions with some sides. People can make sandwiches and the gf people can just eat the pork. It’s relatively easy and feeds and army.

A shrimp boil is really fun and pretty easy. The Valerie Bertinelli or Ina recipes for over roasted shrimp boils are super easy and delicious.

Anonymous wrote:I have been wildly overthinking this. I was thinking some sort of lovely salad, a pretend fancy main dish (risotto? paella?) and then something for a dessert.

Folks are cool with this level of casual? Honestly, this is incredibly useful. I had been using dinner parties as experiments for fancy cooking, and it takes all day, and then I don't do them very often. I am dumb.

I think it’s a “know your crowd” thing. If it was an adults-only dinner party in my crowd, yes, fancier food would be expected. We have some serious home chefs, child-free people, and those who’ve pursued their sommelier designations as a hobby in our friend group. Not all people are this food-obsessed though. Many (including us) are fine with casual also, esp. when kids are involved.

Regardless, I still think knowing your people is important - someone posted that none of their friends eat pasta - all of mine do, but not as an everyday thing - so it’d need to be a “fancy” pasta - a simmer-for-hours bolognese sauce lasagna, the Ina rigatoni with sausage and fennel, or a lobster Mac and cheese type of situation. None of those are necessarily pastas that kids would love, either.

So ultimately I guess my take is - don’t conflate the two: there are weeknight dinners with children, and then there are weekend dinner parties for adults. You should not be expected to cook for one like it is the other.

Anonymous wrote:My easy dinner party meal is pork tenderloin. I buy around a half pound per adult, which would probably be around 2-3 pieces. Season with lemon juice and olive oil, mustard, or whatever rub you like (I usually do Greek-ish - garlic, oregano, olive oil, lemon) and throw it in the oven. You can marinate ahead of time if you remember, but if you forget that’s okay too. It also cooks fast because it’s long and thin.

This goes well with basically any carb - I’ve done cous cous, roasted or mashed potatoes, risotto, rice pilaf, orzo, quinoa salad, etc. Plus a big tray of roasted veggies or a green salad, or both, depending on your preference. I am not a baker/dessert person, so I either buy a dessert, serve fruit and ice cream, or make Ghirardelli brownies from the box.

I agree that if you have a crowd that will eat pork (my friends are much more open in their dining options/lacking restrictions than many of those who post here, but I have some for whom pork is not an option) that a tenderloin is great option. Pistachio-crusted if you want to make it really special.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Happy back to school! I'd love to host some of the kids' friends' parents over for dinners.
In my ideal world is that I have that "go to" dinner party meal for 8-ish people, including 4 kids. Easy, delicious, kids will (well, not one of mine; she eats only fruit and popcorn, sigh) eat it.

Do you have one of these? What's your menu?

(yes, this may have been asked before, but people change their menus )

We always have meals like that catered. No one really wants to eat food that is not professionally and sanitarily prepared. I know I sure would not at your house.

That’s fine, but then it’s on you and people who feel similarly to politely ask the questions to suss out whether OP will be cooking themselves or having it catered, and then accept or decline the invitation accordingly. Do not accept an invitation, arrive, and then refuse to eat because it wasn’t catered.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have been wildly overthinking this. I was thinking some sort of lovely salad, a pretend fancy main dish (risotto? paella?) and then something for a dessert.

Folks are cool with this level of casual? Honestly, this is incredibly useful. I had been using dinner parties as experiments for fancy cooking, and it takes all day, and then I don't do them very often. I am dumb.

You could do an oven risotto and then grill some chicken (or whatever you and your guests prefer) and either grill some veggies or make a salad. But yes, I think most people are totally fine with casual.

DP. I am unfamiliar with oven risotto. Details please

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I knew it wouldn’t be long before the taco bar or baked potato bar person posted.

+1

I see that make-your-own-taco bar thing posted all the damn time, and I don't want to eat it at someone's house and I'm definitely not serving it.

+1. This is a 5 minute weeknight meal not something you serve when you invite people over.

Anonymous wrote:Keep in mind a lot of people aren't eating red meat these days, or have religious restrictions that make beef or pork a no go. Sticking to chicken is a safer bet, and having a vegetarian option is always a good idea (for non-vegetarians as well).

+1
Our parents’ group includes Jewish, Hindu and Muslim families so I don’t serve either beef or pork.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Happy back to school! I'd love to host some of the kids' friends' parents over for dinners.
In my ideal world is that I have that "go to" dinner party meal for 8-ish people, including 4 kids. Easy, delicious, kids will (well, not one of mine; she eats only fruit and popcorn, sigh) eat it.

Do you have one of these? What's your menu?

(yes, this may have been asked before, but people change their menus )

We always have meals like that catered. No one really wants to eat food that is not professionally and sanitarily prepared. I know I sure would not at your house.

Are people really this uptight? They won’t eat home cooked meals at the homes of friends?

DP. I'm not worried about the germs. I just don't want to pretend the food is good if it's not. I hate that.

Or just put out some heavy apps.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Happy back to school! I'd love to host some of the kids' friends' parents over for dinners.
In my ideal world is that I have that "go to" dinner party meal for 8-ish people, including 4 kids. Easy, delicious, kids will (well, not one of mine; she eats only fruit and popcorn, sigh) eat it.

Do you have one of these? What's your menu?

(yes, this may have been asked before, but people change their menus )

We always have meals like that catered. No one really wants to eat food that is not professionally and sanitarily prepared. I know I sure would not at your house.

Are people really this uptight? They won’t eat home cooked meals at the homes of friends?

Anonymous wrote:Happy back to school! I'd love to host some of the kids' friends' parents over for dinners.
In my ideal world is that I have that "go to" dinner party meal for 8-ish people, including 4 kids. Easy, delicious, kids will (well, not one of mine; she eats only fruit and popcorn, sigh) eat it.

Do you have one of these? What's your menu?

(yes, this may have been asked before, but people change their menus )

We always have meals like that catered. No one really wants to eat food that is not professionally and sanitarily prepared. I know I sure would not at your house.

Appetizers
- Grilled kebabs, fried fish and tandoori chicken.
- Samosas

Entrees -
Butter chicken
cauliflower and potatoes sabji
Cucumber Raita
Green myngbean daal with spinach

Carbs -
Peas, carrots and raisin rice pilaf
Garlic naan

Desserts -
Mango icecream

My easy dinner party meal is pork tenderloin. I buy around a half pound per adult, which would probably be around 2-3 pieces. Season with lemon juice and olive oil, mustard, or whatever rub you like (I usually do Greek-ish - garlic, oregano, olive oil, lemon) and throw it in the oven. You can marinate ahead of time if you remember, but if you forget that’s okay too. It also cooks fast because it’s long and thin.

This goes well with basically any carb - I’ve done cous cous, roasted or mashed potatoes, risotto, rice pilaf, orzo, quinoa salad, etc. Plus a big tray of roasted veggies or a green salad, or both, depending on your preference. I am not a baker/dessert person, so I either buy a dessert, serve fruit and ice cream, or make Ghirardelli brownies from the box.

I do the NYT chicken shawarma. It’s so good and easy. I’ll pair with a big pot of rice, a nice salad with lemon vinaigrette, and depending on my time, I may make homemade hummos. I always make homemade dessert. One-bowl brownies if short of time, a pie or fruit crumble/ is nice too

[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][b]Are the kids very young? I can’t even imagine a night when we don’t have sports commitments. [/b]I would love grilled steak and asparagus or broccoli and maybe some roasted potatoes. I wouldn’t be thrilled with a taco bar or soup. [/quote]

This doesn't help OP at all. Not everyone has multiple kids in sports every night. And many families would love to be invited over for dinner with kids. There are so many posts on DCUM of people who wish to be invited to things. If you are asked you can politely say no but don't try and dissuade OP from hosting.

Here are some ideas:

Mediterranean:

Chicken Skewers served with roasted vegetables, a simple buttered orzo (like butter noodles), pita bread, hummus, and tomato and cucumber salad.

If they are young kids you can keep some grape tomatoes and sliced cucumbers on a separate plate.

Mexican

Fajitas with chicken, peppers and onions
Have some cheese quesadillas ready for any picky eaters
Mexican corn salad
Spanish rice

More Casual:

Cornbread
Chili with lots of toppings on the side
Spinach Salad
Mac and cheese



[/quote]

DP (not OP) - I love all of these ideas! Also agree with the sentiment - OP good for you for taking the initiative to schedule a fun dinner! As a guest I would never begrudge a meal that wasn’t necessarily my favorite - some of you guys have impossible standards!