HI Everyone,
We're hosting a couple of dinners for small groups of friends over the next couple of weeks (2-3 couples/occasion)
What are your favourite meals to prepare when entertaining? We usually do Beef (ie prime rib), but feel maybe its time to change it up. (DH loves lamb. but not everyone might care for lamb)
Any meals that are a big hit with your guests?
Thanks for any suggestions:)
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I made a beef tenderloin with a red wine sauce at Christmas a couple of years ago and I was surprised at how easy it was -- and how quickly it cooked! I got it at Costco, so it was not as pricey if I had bought it at a butcher, but still not cheap. So tender and delicious, though!
I also love a crown roast of pork with stuffing. When the butcher puts little cherry tomatoes on the ends of the bones, It looks so festive and beautiful on the serving platter.
Last evening I made a simple beef stew with dumplings.
Scrumptious!
But no guests - or kids(!) - just DH and I.
That means left overs! Yum!
Yes we had a busy day and to come in and smell the house it was so nice and I was to tired to cook so I was glad I had put in the oven earlier.
.....and also smells so good in the house!
I cooked a ham tonight and scalloped potatoes nice to make with guests coming as it is all done earlier in the day and just taken out of the oven. Simple to make and very yummy.
I should never read threads like this when I am hungry and only have the makings for canned soup in the cupboard...
i love grilled salmon on cedar plank - it's very easy to prepare, few ingredients, smells fantasitc. as a side dish you can make mashed potatoes and vegetables.
Hi Lisa at Home,
What have you decided to serve your guests? I would love to hear. There were some great suggestions that I may use for a small informal dinner party.
Yeah - a pic.
Gives me a better idea of exactly WHAT I should be doing !!!
thanks so much :)
Sure you can use Stove Top but add some grated or chopped apple OR use apple juice instead of what the box calls for and cranberries.
(Mix the apple in a bowl with a little lemon juice so they do not darken too much.) Apple and pork work well together.
I am going to try this. I am not a great cook. I buy those butterball frozen turkey's with the stuffing inside so I like short cuts. Now, I do realize, it is never the same as the real fresh homemade version.
Thanks for the tricks/hints.:)
Thanks !
Could I cheat/shortcut & use boxed Stove Top?
I could put some fresh cranberries in there to fool my guests !
;)
:p
Thanks everyone for some great suggestions...my mouth is watering:)
Lots of great ideas.
While I struggle with mains, one of my fave vegetable side dish is this Green Bean with Bacon recipe...delish!! (just ignore the added calories;)
Everyone has loved these....
GREEN BEAN BUNDLES:
10 slices bacon
1/2 pound fresh green beans
4 tablespoons unsalted butter
1/4 cup brown sugar
1 tablespoon soy sauce
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce.
1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Line a 9-by-13-inch baking pan with aluminum foil. Cook the bacon in a heavy skillet over medium heat until partly cooked but not crisp. Drain on paper towels.
2. Heat a saucepan of water to boiling and add the green beans. Boil for 2 minutes. Drain and rinse with cold water. Arrange groups of 4 to 5 beans in the prepared pan. Wrap each with a slice of bacon.
3. Melt the butter in a small saucepan over medium-low heat. Add the sugar, soy sauce and Worcestershire sauce, and cook for 1 minute, stirring, until the sugar melts. Brush mixture over the bean bundles. Bake about 15 minutes, until the bacon is cooked through.
Yield: 5-10 servings.
Would you be willing to post your recipe ? I find pork pretty easy to do & I am curious about your herb stuffing. thanks
/Sam
My fave dinner for casual entertaining is fajitas :) We pick up the tortillas & salsa from a restaurant that makes the BEST tortillas and salsa, and then we grill chicken & beef, pan fry a couple of red & green peppers & an onion. For sides & toppings, we have homemade guacamole, refried beans, shredded cheese, lettuce, chopped tomatoes, and sour cream. It's fun and easy to please everyone because each person puts their own fajitas together just the way they want them :)
I've also hosted "Tapas" style dinner parties. Although I find this is often a lot more work than a traditional roast etc.. Everyone loves it because it is different. My favourite dessert is to serve a chocolate fondue. Usually I serve an assortment of fruit & pound cake/cookies. That way even those watching calories etc. can guiltlessly enjoy dessert. :D
I love lamb but ask guests is they are fellow lamb lovers first, most are open to trying it if they never have.
I make a killer macaroni and cheese, sounds pretty low key but it's anything but. It's Patti LaBelles famous recipe. [url]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FdiwAxPuDNY[/url]
This is for VERY special occassions and I only make it once a year tops. It takes a while to prepare and your kids may never want to eat Kraft Dinner ever again.
Ingredients:
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 pound elbow macaroni
1/2 cup butter PLUS"PLUS" means this ingredient in addition to the one on the next line, often with divided uses
1 tablespoon
1/2 cup shredded Muenster cheese
1/2 cup shredded mild Cheddar cheese
1/2 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
1/2 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese
2 cups half & half
1 cup Velveeta, cut into small cubes
2 large eggs, lightly beaten
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon black pepper, freshly ground
Directions:
Preheat oven to 350:. Lightly butter a deep 2 1/2 quart casserole. Bring a large pot of water to a boil over high heat, add the oil then the elbow macaroni and cook until macaroni is just tender (about 7 minutes). Do not overcook. Drain well and return to the pot.
In a small saucepan, melt the first measure of butter. Stir into the macaroni. In a large bowl, mix the Muenster, mild and sharp Cheddar cheese and the Monterey Jack cheese. To the macaroni, add the half & half, 1 1/2 cups of the shredded cheeses, the cubed Velveeta and the eggs. Season with salt and pepper. Transfer to the buttered casserole. Sprinkle with the remaining 1/2 cup of cheese and dot with the remaining butter.
Bake until it is bubbling around the edges, about 35 minutes. Serve hot.
It tastes great cold the morning after too ;)
Sea Bass with sliced ginger, cooked on bbq drizzled with a small amount of light chilli oil, served with bok choi, jasmine rice and glazed carrots. Served that this past weekend and it was a hit.
Butterflied lamb is of course great - is there anyway you could ask your guests in advance if they like lamb - I agree that it's a love it or hate it meat.
Pork tenderloin -again like lamb some people might not eat for various reasons - the thought of it and perhaps religious reasons.
Good luck!
Hi Lisa...Prime rib is also our favourite when entertaining in fact everyone knows it is an automatic .... I also like to serve chicken kiev ..it can be prepared ahead & everyone loves chicken....twice baked potatoes topped with bacon shredded cheese ,chopped chives & sour cream looks nice also green beans tied in a bundle & wrapped with cooked bacon drizzled with italian dressing & chopped red pepper & back in the oven along with the baked potatoes for 10 minutes just before serving: Good ole shrimp cocktail for appetizer & Tiramusu is a nice dessert :)
Pork tenderloin is always a hit!! I marinade it in garlic, rosemary and olive oil for a few hours or overnight....pop it in the oven for about 1/2 an hour...couldn't be easier. Goes really well with scallopped potatoes (which can be prepared in advance) and sauteed green beans topped with toasted almond slices and/or crisp bacon bits!!
I have made Osso Buco and had fab results with it.......your guests will be complimenting you for sure.....here's a recipe from Epicurious
[url]http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Osso-Buco-11052[/url]
I think Lamb is a little risky as it is a love it or hate it thing. I think a roast chicken is a safe choice. I like to do Salmon but that is also one you have to know your guests tastes well. Do you like to do sit down dinners or more buffet type. I always used to do fondue on Christmas Eve and my son that is coming home this year has asked to do it with his SS as they have never had one.