Anonymous wrote:Two types of lasagna, rosemary chicken, salad, soup and some roasted veggies.

Anonymous wrote:

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.

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.

I completely agree with this, I would much rather have a relaxed host who has ordered/made ahead but is enjoying the party. Recently went to a friend's house and her DH is an excellent cook and they are the most gracious couple but I felt so bad bc they had 3 families with kids over and they served a sit down dinner and he seemed generally stressed running around and trying to do everything. Everyone tried to help but I think it can just be tricky to host this type of gathering without help. Much easier and stress free to do a buffet type dinner and keep it casual unless it is a very small gathering with adults.

Anonymous wrote:We had 4 families over with 9 kids 7 and under and we did a taco night - I made carnitas and ground beef ahead, and popped a sheet pan quesedilla in oven. PP would be horrified but tacos are one of the easiest and most customizable things to get people to eat. We’ve also hosted 10 families in the backyard before and ordered bbq - if I had to cook for everyone I definitely would’ve done pulled pork sliders or something similar.

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.

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 wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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.

Please don't serve it to Indians, if you are not an Indian. Please order from an restaurant instead of cooking yourself.

But it's ok for you to make non-Indian food? What a weird take. Cooking is not encoded in DNA

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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.

Please don't serve it to Indians, if you are not an Indian. Please order from an restaurant instead of cooking yourself.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Side Note: If you are putting Italian dressing on potatoes, there is nothing German about it. Not saying it doesn't taste good. Just not German--call it potato salad.

--German

Oh man my grandmother made a really delicious German potato salad with a vinegar base. I don’t think I’ve had it since she passed. I wonder if anyone has the recipe…

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Side Note: If you are putting Italian dressing on potatoes, there is nothing German about it. Not saying it doesn't taste good. Just not German--call it potato salad.

--German

That's why I put it in quotes and had the caveat that it's my version of potato salad. I expect better attention to detail from you, oh "German".

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 wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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.

Please don't serve it to Indians, if you are not an Indian. Please order from an restaurant instead of cooking yourself.

+1

Better yet: Invite your friends from India who'd love to share recipes and cooking techniques to come over and help prepare a great meal.

Are you volunteering? Because I would absolutely love that but I don’t have any friends who are Indian and love to cook! One friend’s mother lives with her part of the year and stocks her house when she’s here but my friend doesn’t know how to cook much of anything

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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.

Please don't serve it to Indians, if you are not an Indian. Please order from an restaurant instead of cooking yourself.

+1

Better yet: Invite your friends from India who'd love to share recipes and cooking techniques to come over and help prepare a great meal.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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.

Please don't serve it to Indians, if you are not an Indian. Please order from an restaurant instead of cooking yourself.