Anonymous wrote:I usually do some sort of savory galette and a salad.

Do you mind sharing?

From now on I’m serving baked ziti the first time I have anyone over as a test the must pass to be invited back.

I’m an adventurous eater but lots of people hate/are allergic to sea food- find it ridiculous so many of these recipes are seafood heavy. I like meals with a variety of simple components so everyone likes something and usually chicken unless I know they are good with something else. Always a big salad.

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Anonymous wrote:1. Baked ziti, garlic bread, salad, cookies from Italian bakery
2. Baked chicken, baked potatoes, broccoli, Mrs. Smith's dutch apple pie

Please no baked ziti. If you have to resort to a jarred sauce, ground beef, pasta all baked into a casserole, just get good takeout.

Don’t be such a snob!

The poster asked what others like to make for company. You cannot “correct” a response to that question.

I am new mother. I am friends with many other new mothers, We are tried and exhausted basically 100% percent of the time. We don't expect a village or help beyond Uber Eats and a credit card, but... this ziti? Yeah I had twins and I would consider that trash.

I feel sorry for your future DIL.

I am an accomplished cook. When I am invited over, I am grateful for the effort my hostess has made because that’s what a guest does. It doesn’t have to be amazing or my favorite. In summer months we do grilled chicken thighs and shrimp kebabs, salad, 2 veggies and roasted potatoes. In winter months I do London broil with the same sides. Fruit crumble with vanilla ice cream. Fruit and veg are seasonal.

London broil? You are not only lazy, you’re cheap.

The question is about easy go-to dishes, and these are my stand bys for short notice company. London broil takes minutes, so I have time to visit with company or do other prep. (I am not the mother who says ziti is trash. And I have better manners than to Be a last-minute guest who judges anything you serve me, cheap, trashy, or otherwise.

Wow - it’s not cheap to host a full homemade dinner for friends that turns out well with little effort/stress for the host. What’s nice about LB is that is is cooked on the spot but doesn’t stress out the host. The accompanying wine doesn’t have to be cheap.

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Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:1. Baked ziti, garlic bread, salad, cookies from Italian bakery
2. Baked chicken, baked potatoes, broccoli, Mrs. Smith's dutch apple pie

Please no baked ziti. If you have to resort to a jarred sauce, ground beef, pasta all baked into a casserole, just get good takeout.

I’m not the PP but if you’re going to turn your nose up at baked ziti then don’t come. I make a vegetarian baked ziti every other week. It’s easy and everyone in the house eats it.

Do you at least make your own sauce?

This is such a typical DCUM remark.

Not really. It is rude to have company over for dinner and put zero effort into a meal. Jarred sauce plus pasta, and a bag of shredded cheese, baked it the oven is a total cop out. Just order good take you can’t cook or don’t want to be bothered.

I don’t make baked ziti for any occasion, but I think effort is in the eye of the beholder. So many of my friends are single moms who work FT. They have limited time, energy, and incomes. Jarred sauce and bagged cheese represents a grocery trip, pasta represents trying to keep little kids away from boiling water while not overcooking. I don’t even judge an aluminum pan. Or Stouffer’s for that matter. I appreciate they wanted my company.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:1. Baked ziti, garlic bread, salad, cookies from Italian bakery
2. Baked chicken, baked potatoes, broccoli, Mrs. Smith's dutch apple pie

Please no baked ziti. If you have to resort to a jarred sauce, ground beef, pasta all baked into a casserole, just get good takeout.

Don’t be such a snob!

The poster asked what others like to make for company. You cannot “correct” a response to that question.

I am new mother. I am friends with many other new mothers, We are tried and exhausted basically 100% percent of the time. We don't expect a village or help beyond Uber Eats and a credit card, but... this ziti? Yeah I had twins and I would consider that trash.

+1 it's barely cooking. Might as well pop a Stouffer's lasagna into the oven.

Ha. Funny you say that. When I had my third child a food train from a church mom’s group dropped off to me “pizza pasta.” It was noddles, a jar of sauce, a package of pepperoni, and shredded mozzarella on top baked in a casserole dish. Gross. I’d rather eat scrambled eggs and toast if I can manage to cook a dinner

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:1. Baked ziti, garlic bread, salad, cookies from Italian bakery
2. Baked chicken, baked potatoes, broccoli, Mrs. Smith's dutch apple pie

Please no baked ziti. If you have to resort to a jarred sauce, ground beef, pasta all baked into a casserole, just get good takeout.

Don’t be such a snob!

The poster asked what others like to make for company. You cannot “correct” a response to that question.

I am new mother. I am friends with many other new mothers, We are tried and exhausted basically 100% percent of the time. We don't expect a village or help beyond Uber Eats and a credit card, but... this ziti? Yeah I had twins and I would consider that trash.

I feel sorry for your future DIL.

I am an accomplished cook. When I am invited over, I am grateful for the effort my hostess has made because that’s what a guest does. It doesn’t have to be amazing or my favorite. In summer months we do grilled chicken thighs and shrimp kebabs, salad, 2 veggies and roasted potatoes. In winter months I do London broil with the same sides. Fruit crumble with vanilla ice cream. Fruit and veg are seasonal.

London broil? You are not only lazy, you’re cheap.

The question is about easy go-to dishes, and these are my stand bys for short notice company. London broil takes minutes, so I have time to visit with company or do other prep. (I am not the mother who says ziti is trash. And I have better manners than to Be a last-minute guest who judges anything you serve me, cheap, trashy, or otherwise.

This thread confirms my reluctance to ever have anyone over for dinner.

I like to do build your own salads with a grilled meat and homemade dressing. The prep is really just marinating the meat, chopping stuff, grilling the meat.

Anonymous wrote:1. Baked ziti, garlic bread, salad, cookies from Italian bakery
2. Baked chicken, baked potatoes, broccoli, Mrs. Smith's dutch apple pie

these may be ok for a family meal, but not for guests unless you are really strapped for cash.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:1. Baked ziti, garlic bread, salad, cookies from Italian bakery
2. Baked chicken, baked potatoes, broccoli, Mrs. Smith's dutch apple pie

Please no baked ziti. If you have to resort to a jarred sauce, ground beef, pasta all baked into a casserole, just get good takeout.

Don’t be such a snob!

The poster asked what others like to make for company. You cannot “correct” a response to that question.

I am new mother. I am friends with many other new mothers, We are tried and exhausted basically 100% percent of the time. We don't expect a village or help beyond Uber Eats and a credit card, but... this ziti? Yeah I had twins and I would consider that trash.

I feel sorry for your future DIL.

I am an accomplished cook. When I am invited over, I am grateful for the effort my hostess has made because that’s what a guest does. It doesn’t have to be amazing or my favorite. In summer months we do grilled chicken thighs and shrimp kebabs, salad, 2 veggies and roasted potatoes. In winter months I do London broil with the same sides. Fruit crumble with vanilla ice cream. Fruit and veg are seasonal.

London broil? You are not only lazy, you’re cheap.

Anonymous wrote:I've been doing fish en papillote for guests recently. Super easy but people are impressed. I usually do seabass and top with garlic butter and lemon slices. I put vegetables in the packet too (lately zucchini, summer squash, asparagus, cherry tomatoes) but can be whatever you want. Add some white wine, seal, and pop it in the oven for 20ish minutes. I serve with rice or couscous.

This is one our go-tos at the beach for a crowd. We make the packets with the fish in foil and let each person put on their own spices & veggies. Write their name in the packet and then put them on the grill.

Ina Garten’s Beef Bourguignon with a simple salad and fresh bread is pretty easy.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:1. Baked ziti, garlic bread, salad, cookies from Italian bakery
2. Baked chicken, baked potatoes, broccoli, Mrs. Smith's dutch apple pie

Please no baked ziti. If you have to resort to a jarred sauce, ground beef, pasta all baked into a casserole, just get good takeout.

Don’t be such a snob!

The poster asked what others like to make for company. You cannot “correct” a response to that question.

I am new mother. I am friends with many other new mothers, We are tried and exhausted basically 100% percent of the time. We don't expect a village or help beyond Uber Eats and a credit card, but... this ziti? Yeah I had twins and I would consider that trash.

I feel sorry for your future DIL.

I am an accomplished cook. When I am invited over, I am grateful for the effort my hostess has made because that’s what a guest does. It doesn’t have to be amazing or my favorite. In summer months we do grilled chicken thighs and shrimp kebabs, salad, 2 veggies and roasted potatoes. In winter months I do London broil with the same sides. Fruit crumble with vanilla ice cream. Fruit and veg are seasonal.

JFC. Now I, a different PP, am even more sorry for any future children in law you may have.

I love baked ziti. I actually like all of the food described. Some of you are such aholes.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:1. Baked ziti, garlic bread, salad, cookies from Italian bakery
2. Baked chicken, baked potatoes, broccoli, Mrs. Smith's dutch apple pie

Please no baked ziti. If you have to resort to a jarred sauce, ground beef, pasta all baked into a casserole, just get good takeout.

Don’t be such a snob!

The poster asked what others like to make for company. You cannot “correct” a response to that question.

I am new mother. I am friends with many other new mothers, We are tried and exhausted basically 100% percent of the time. We don't expect a village or help beyond Uber Eats and a credit card, but... this ziti? Yeah I had twins and I would consider that trash.

+1 it's barely cooking. Might as well pop a Stouffer's lasagna into the oven.