I'm hosting a dinner for the whole family, and I've never cooked for anyone besides for my hubby. Anyone have any advice? What should I cook? Should I have desert? How should i set everything up? And how can I make it entertaining, %26amp; not boring?
First time hosting a dinner %26amp; very nervous?
set the table the night before...
make something you are good at and are comfortable with,now is not the time to try new recipes!
serve a appetizer or salad,entree with vegetables and dessert and coffee or a cheese plate with wine
Reply:I have a big family and love hosting dinners.. and I totally feel for you.
First of all, make something you are comfortable with, now is not the time to experiment. You can usually double or triple a recipe so you can feed everyone.
Don't stress about what people do or don't like, as guests they should be polite and take only what they will want to eat.
With that said, a main dish and a starch side dish and vegetable side dish should accommodate everyone.
Dessert is nice, but you can do something simple, that you can make ahead, or even purchase from a bakery. Assorted cookies, pound cake with fresh fruit or a simple apple pie are big hits.
Have everything prepared before your guests arrive so you can visit. Have all the plates silverware napkins and glassware put out either on the table or a side board so people don't have to go through your cupboards.
If this is just family maybe bring out a board game for during dessert, or you can always sit around the table talking, no need to go all out for this, the dinner is good enough.
Just remember to relax and enjoy, that will put everyone else at ease and it will be a success.
Reply:First off you need to figure out whos all coming and make enough for those who want seconds to have it.
For super big family dinners I usually do a 15 or bigger turkey, Bone in Ham or several big beef roasts cooked low and slow in the oven or slow cooker so I can concentrate on the other items.
Have one pasta salad, one veggie salad, one fruit type salad, Have dinner rolls, veggie tray and dip, Have coffee, tea and sodas or juice for those that want it.
If your going with Ham, make scalloped potatos or a green bean casserole. If your going with Beef roast go with mashed potatos and gravy. But those are just ideas.
For dessert, buy angel food cakes, and buy ice cream and toppings for ppl to choose from.
Make the whole thing sit down but Buffet service so you dont need to be running around while everyones eating. And dont be afraid to ask for help from the family thats there when its clean up time. They came to your home to eat, they can be kind and repay a bit by doing dishes or packing the food away.
Good luck, best wishes and happy cooking
Reply:I would advise picking a menu that relies a lot on dishes that can be prepared ahead, or finished simply at the last minute. This will allow you time to spend with your guests and be a hostess. Otherwise it is easy to get stuck rushing around fixing all sorts of dishes. So for example, maybe dessert is fresh berries with a simple topping of whipped cream, drizzled heavy cream, or what we did this week, lemon curd. The berries also could be soaked in a little liqueur like Chambord or Grand Marnier.
But this dessert would be all set to go, just put the topping on the already prepared cups of berries and you are done.
So as much of this kind of recipes as you can put together will allow you to feel relaxed and not worry how things will turn out, as you know they are already done or near done.
Reply:make a standing rib roast, or a pork crown roast....very impressive. also make some au gratin potatoes, rice pilaf, or twice baked potatoes. as an extra vegetable, make honey glazed carrots. make a nice green salad and some dinner rolls. have a nice bottle of wine handy and a nice dessert...possibly apple crisp or strawberry shortcakes.
make it very elegant. use linen napkins and table cloth. set out some candles and put a nice flower centerpiece or arrangement on the table.
Reply:If you are that nervous, make things that you know are good.
Also, if you can make everything ahead and just reheat, it saves you lots of headaches and hassles.
Don't be afraid to ask your guests to help with little tasks if necessary.
and most importantly, if they are drunk enough before dinner, they won't notice any problems with the food!!
;-P
good luck
Reply:First--don't fret!! Make something easy, that you don't have to spend time in the kitchen while you have company. Let the oven do the work. How about baking a roast, potatoes, carrots, onion. Buy a gravy mix or can(s) of gravy, so you don't fret over lumpy gravy, or serve juices from roast as an aujus. During last half hr, put in frozen veggies, around roast.
Yes, you should have a dessert. Don't know how many you are serving, but just get a Dutch apple and cherry pie from the grocer's freezer and bake before hand. Throw in french bread during last 15 min. %26amp; Viola--Easy dinner! All you have to due is slice roast.
Reply:do something that involves everyone, like fajitas. have all of your toppings out so they can pick what they want. For dessert try a chocolate fondue with a variety of fruits and cookies to dip in the chocolate (dont forget s'mores)
Reply:Relax, find a good website for food lovers such as BBC, UKTV etc etc here you can find a lot of professional advice and while you are taking the notes enjoy a glass of wine.
You can do it
Reply:1. 30 Minute Chicken Marsala
Defrost 4 skinless boneless chicken breasts the night prior to preparing this meal. Refrigerate.
Mix 1/2 cup of floor, 1 teaspoon of pepper, 1 teaspoon of marjoram, 1/2 teaspoon of salt.
Take four chicken breasts rinse and pat dry. Press chicken breasts into flour mixture. Coat thoroughly. Shake off excess.
In a large frying pan, place a quarter stick of butter and melt. Add 1 cup of fresh sliced mushrooms, 1/2 cup of sliced green onions. Saute. When tender remove from skillet. Put chicken in same skillet. Brown. Add onions and mushrooms back into skillet. Add 1/4 cup of chicken broth. Add 1/4 cup of dry sherry or dry Marsala. Cook on medium two to three minutes, until mushroom mixture thickens. Serve with bread and butter, beverage of your choice, and fresh fruit for dessert. Your family will think you've hired a gourmet chef.
2. 30 Minute Incredible Cranberry Pork Chops
Fry four to six 3/4 inch thick pork chops in butter or margarine over medium heat for five minutes. When brown, drain off all fat. Now, add 1/2 cup of apple juice to pork chops in pan. Bring to a boil. Now, cover and simmer for an additional five minutes. Remove pork chops from pan. Keep Warm. Reserve 1/2 cup of the juices in the frying pan. Mix together 8 0unces of cranberry sauce, 2 teaspoons of corn starch, and 1 teaspoon of brown sugar. Add this to reserved juices in frying pan. Stir well. Cook this mixture about 3 minutes, until it is thick and bubbly. Spoon mixture over pork chops. Serve with a quick cook rice,frozen or canned vegetable and applesauce.
3. 30 Minute Meatball Sandwiches
Mix two eggs, one pound of hamburger and one cup of bread crumbs together. Form meatballs. Place a paper towel on a microwave safe plate. Put your meatballs on top of this and microwave for two and a half minutes. Turn the meatballs and microwave for another three minutes. Place meatballs in a pan on your stove. Add a jar of your favorite ready made spaghetti sauce to the meatballs. Heat sauce. Serve meatballs on submarine sandwich rolls. Top with parmesan cheese. Serve a tossed salad on the side. Cut up cantelope for desert. Voila! A nutritious meal in under 30 minutes.
4. 30 Minute Soup and Sandwich Souper Easy Supper
Prepare this soup first, and serve with grilled ham and cheese sandwiches. Add watermelon for desert and you're done in under 30 minutes! To make the soup, place the contents of one ten ounce package of frozen cut broccoli in a medium sauce pan. Add 3/4 cup of water and 3/4 cup of shredded carrots to mixture. Bring to a boil, then simmer, covered for five minutes. Mix together 2 cups of milk, a dash of pepper, a dash of salt, and 1/3 cup of flour. Combine with one 14 1/2 oz. can of chicken broth. Add this mixture to the sauce pan. Add six ounces of shredded co-jack cheese. Cook approximately 10 minutes, or until mixture is thoroughly heated. Grill hot ham and cheese sandwiches while soup is heating. Serve!
5. 30 Minute Man Pleasing Meal
Wash four to six potatoes. Poke holes in them with a fork. Place in microwave. Cook for five minutes. Check potatoes. Cook for an additional 5 to 8 minutes depending upon microwave strength and potato size. Keep warm when done. While potatoes are cooking, preheat broiler. Take four to six steaks and using a sharp knife, place several slits in each steak. Stuff the slits with rosemary and garlic. Cover steaks with lemon pepper. Broil to desired doneness. Serve with baked potatoes, fresh salad, and bread and butter.
Serve canned fruit cocktail for desert.
Pot Roast of Beef
5-6 pound pot roast
1/2 cup flour
2 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon pepper
4 carrots, sliced
4 potatoes, quartered
1 pkg onion soup mix
2 stalk celery, sliced
2 cup mushrooms, sliced
1/3 cup flour
2-3 cups water, beef broth or wine
Directions
Combine 1/4 cup flour, salt, and pepper; coat meat.
Place all vegetables, except mushrooms, into the Crock-Pot® slow cooker. Top with the roast. Spread mushrooms over roast. Cover and cook on Low for 10-12 hours or on High for 6-8 hours.
To thicken gravy, make a paste out of 3 tablespoons flour and water and stir in.
Serves: 8-10
Size: 6-7 quarts
make cupcakes for dessert
you can make these the day brfor or in the morning
the pot roast can cook for hours. just make sure it has liquid.
you have meat , potatoes and veggies all in one.
Reply:My first ? is for how many? That will dictate allot. The next is what is your budget and how formal do you want it. With the weather getting nicer it might be allot of fun to do a nice bbq and eat outside with tablecloth and candles. People are eager to get outside now. You know best what these folks like to eat. Family style always keeps things lively as do fun foods like mexican, oriental and use chop stix, etc. A very safe bet is your traditional turkey dinner. You have to work really hard to screw that up and almost everything can be made a day or so ahead (taste better too). Some really nice apps for all occations are veggies and dip, cheese and crackers and meat/cheese and asparagus rolls with cream cheese. You always want to have something for desert w/ a good! coffee both caf and decaf. I like to serve something light with a big meal, sorbet, fresh fruit, cookies- fortune cookies make for good conversation even if you are not having chinese. For the table, just put out either a nice table cloth or place matts making sure they are clean. Cloth napkins make for a nice touch. I preffer low profile things on the table so they are not in the way of conversation. I usually use small conack snuffers with votives and a few very small arrangments of flowers, just a few flowers and greens. If you have six or more try to have one set of salt and pepper shakers to every 4-6. The night before you want to get your serving pieces out and organised; platters, bowls, gravy boats, and utensils..dont forget the butter tray and knife and bread basket. I spend the first of my budget on the liquer if a small group buying what I know each preffers; don't go cheap on this if you can help it as I have heard more talk afterwards on this issue at other affairs than any other. If a large group a nice red and white along with a small assortment of beer and then a whiskey, a gin, a vodka, and bailys for the coffee with mixers. I am not sure exactly what you are trying to pull off here but hope some of this helps, as this sounds like your premier : ) Email me through here if I can be of further help, love this kind of thing and only get to cook for my crew of forty four times a yr : ( Some keys to success; make lists and start early in the week inspecting tableware and linens. GOOD LUCK, you will do fine. recipes see below
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