Hi. I have a large crew coming over for dinner tonight, do you have any family recipes you'd like to share?

Question

I'm not really interested in Mexican or Chinese. I figured I would drop the barbeque aside and put the hot dogs back on the cabinet. And pizza is a big no no.

So do you have any suggestions?

I think I'll be getting eight guests.

Answer 1

I don't agree with cooking family. But how about a risotto?

Rice, your choice of mixed veggies, maybe some diced cheese and/or meat, a little soy, or teriyaki sauce and a warm welcome for everybody.

Answer 2

Everybody knows how to make spaghetti so the measurements are "guesstimates"...the pepperoni is what makes it zing.

Baked Spaghetti

1 1/2 lb lean ground beef
1 lg onion, chopped
1 green pepper, diced
cooked spaghetti noodles
2 c mozzarella cheese
pepperoni slices
store bought spaghetti sauce

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Brown the ground beef on medium heat. Drain on a paper towel. Using the fat from the beef, saute the chopped onion and green pepper. Add the beef back in the pan and quickly add the spaghetti sauce. Cook on low until the sauce is warm. In a 13 x 9 inch pan put about 2-3 spoonfuls of the sauce mixture on the bottom. Then begin to layer the pan with ingredients. Start with the noodles, then add a layer of sauce, top of pepperoni and then cheese. Then make a second layer. Bake in the oven until the cheese is golden and bubbly.

Serve with a salad and garlic bread.

Here's a quick recipes for homemade croutons for your salad:

4 T. butter
1 clove garlic, minced
3 thick slices of French bread

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cut bread into 1 inch cubes. In a large saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Stir in garlic; cook and stir for 1 minute. Add bread cutes and toss to coat. Spread on baking sheet. Bake 10 minutes or until crisp and dry. Check frequently on baking croutons to prevent burning. Cool.

Have fun.

Answer 3

It's a good idea to make spaguetti, specially if you follow this tips:
1)Make the pasta and sauce beforehand and keep it in the fridge, but remember the pasta must be kept in water covered.
2) When your guest arrive and it's near time to eat: put water to boil.
3) Heat the sauce and keep it warm on stove in double boiler.
4) To serve the pasta, put it in a colander (china/cone) and dip into hot water and drain.
5) Serve with breadstick with little butter and garlic on.
This will let you be with your guest most of the time.
Good luck and have fun


Make the sauce beforehand and keep it warm on stove in double boiler

Answer 4

chicken ziti broccoli is a great dinner easy to make and not that costly.
marinate chicken in kens creamy italian dressing add rosemary, black pepper, minced garlic and a squirt of regular italian dressing.
marinade at least 2 hours
cook chicken and then cut into bite size pieces.
cook ziti
steam broccoli
then in a separate pan melt some butter add minced garlic to butter cook for a few minutes on low heat
then mix everything together with parmesean cheese.
done

Answer 5

Kahlúa® Brownies
½ cup butter
3 ounces unsweetened baking chocolate
1 ½ cup sugar
3 eggs
1 ½ cup all purpose flour
½ teaspoon baking powder
½ teaspoon salt
1/3 cup Kahlúa®

Heat oven to 350ƒ F (180ƒ C)
Grease an 8 X 8 inch cake pan.
Mix together the flour, baking powder, and salt, and set aside.
In a saucepan over low heat, melt the butter and chocolate, stirring frequently until smooth.
Remove the saucepan from heat, and let cool.
Beat eggs and sugar until light. Mix in cooled chocolate mixture and Kahlúa® flour mixture. Spread in the cake pan and bake for 40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean.
Cool slightly, then brush the top with about 1-2 tablespoons of Kahlúa®.
Cut into squares.


Kahlúa® Chocolate Cake
3 eggs, separated
¾ cup granulated sugar
¼ cup butter
1 cup light brown sugar, packed
2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 ½ teaspoon, baking soda
¾ cup strong cold coffee
¾ cup Kahlúa®
Kahlúa® Frosting

Grease & flour two 9 inch cake pans.
Preheat oven to 350† F.

Beat egg whites until frothy; then beat in sugar until stiff peaks form. Set aside. Cream butter and brown sugar until fluffy. Beat in egg yolks, one at a time. Sift flour, cocoa, baking soda together. Add to creamed mixture alternately with coffee and Kahlúa®: blend well. Fold egg whites into batter. Pour into prepared pans.
Bake 30-35 minutes, or until done. Cool 10 minutes. Invert on wire rack; remove pans. Cool before frosting. Serves 10-12

Kahlúa® Frosting:
In large bowl, cream 6 tablespoons. butter and 1 pound sifted powdered sugar. Add 3 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder, 3 tablespoons Kahlúa® and 2-3 tablespoons hot coffee; beat until smooth.

Answer 6

eight is not a large crew..24 is a large crew, so this meal is do-able:

go to http://foodnetwork.com/

look for Paula Deen or Sandra Lee (Semi-home cooking)
enter what you want for the main course, find a recipe and all the rest of the recipes (salads, bread, veggies, desserts, beverages...) will be there as well
Good Luck

Answer 7

y pasta is always a great dish. why not try some meaty ball spaghetti with garlic bread? It's a great dish because not too much work is involved and you can make an abundance of it. just add oregano and buy a good sauce. you really can't screw up meat balls, (for every one pound of hamb meat, add and egg white, add a little flour if they seem a little too saucey. bake them, and they'll stay soft.) flavor is in the sauce, so when your balls are almost done, add some sauce and finish baking them balls :)

Answer 8

your a little late in your planning. you better order delivery.

Answer 9

Mid-Summer Italian Bread Salad(to start)

"Everything in this salad is fresh, except the bread! Prepare this salad by using a loaf of artisan bread or rosemary bread that is a touch stale. If your bread is too fresh, toast it until it is about half as dried and crunchy as a crouton."
Original recipe yield: 4 to 6 servings.
Prep Time:10 Minutes
Ready In:10 Minutes
Servings:Scaled to 8
Original recipe makes 4 (change)

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INGREDIENTS:
2 cloves garlic
2 (1 pound) loaves Italian bread
2 cups chopped tomatoes
2 cups cucumber - peeled, seeded and chopped
2 cups chopped red onion
2 cloves garlic, minced
4 cups chopped fresh basil
1/4 cup chopped fresh thyme
1/2 cup olive oil
1/4 cup balsamic vinegar

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DIRECTIONS:
Rub a peeled clove of garlic around a wooden salad bowl.
Pull apart or chop the bread into bite-size pieces.
In the prepared salad bowl, combine the bread, tomatoes, cucumbers, red onions, garlic, basil and thyme. Add enough olive oil and vinegar to lightly coat, toss and serve.
http://salad.allrecipes.com/az/MidSummerItalianBreadSalad.asp

Mediterranean Pasta(Dinner)
"A quick delicious vegetarian dinner recipe made with olives, mushrooms, and sun-dried tomatoes."
Original recipe yield: 2 servings.
Prep Time:5 Minutes
Cook Time:20 Minutes
Ready In:25 Minutes
Servings:Scaled to 8
Original recipe makes 2 (change)

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INGREDIENTS:
2 (8 ounce) packages uncooked spaghettini
2 cups sun-dried tomatoes, packed without oil
1/4 cup olive oil
2 cups chopped red onion
12 cloves garlic, sliced
2 cups sliced fresh mushrooms
1 cup sliced green olives
1 cup Italian seasoned bread crumbs
freshly ground black pepper to taste

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DIRECTIONS:
Bring a medium pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until al dente; drain. Place sun-dried tomatoes into a small pot, and add water to cover. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, and cook for about 5 minutes, or until tender. Drain, chop, and set aside.
Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-low heat. Fry onion and garlic in the oil until onions are transparent, about 5 minutes. Add the mushrooms and sun-dried tomatoes; cook over low heat for about 5 minutes. Throw in the spaghettini, and toss to coat. Mix in the green olives. Serve hot with bread crumbs and lots of black pepper on top.
http://pasta.allrecipes.com/az/milysMditrrnnPst.asp

Italiann Bread(on the side)
Italian Bread Baked on a Pizza Stone
Submitted by: Destiny
"Delicious Italian bread made in the bread machine and then baked on a pizza stone. Wonderful!"
Original recipe yield: 2 - 1 pound loaves.
Prep Time:20 Minutes
Cook Time:40 Minutes
Ready In:3 Hours
Servings:Scaled to 16
Original recipe makes 20 (change)

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INGREDIENTS:
2-1/3 cups and 1 tablespoon unbleached flour
2-1/2 teaspoons light brown sugar
1 cup and 1 tablespoon warm water (110 degrees F/45 degrees C)
1-1/4 teaspoons salt
1 tablespoon and 1/2 teaspoon olive oil
3/4 (.25 ounce) package active dry yeast
3/4 egg
2-1/2 teaspoons water
1 tablespoon and 1-3/4 teaspoons cornmeal

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DIRECTIONS:
Place flour, brown sugar, warm water, salt, olive oil and yeast in the pan of the bread machine in the order recommended by the manufacturer. Select dough cycle; press Start.
Place pizza stone in oven and preheat to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Oven must be preheated at least 30 minutes before baking.
Deflate the dough and turn it out onto a lightly floured surface. Form dough into two loaves. Place the loaves seam side down on a cutting board generously sprinkled with cornmeal. Cover the loaves with a damp cloth and let rise until doubled in volume, about 40 minutes.
In a small bowl, beat together egg and 1 tablespoon water. Brush the risen loaves with egg mixture. Make a single long, quick cut down the center of the loaves with a sharp knife. Gently shake the cutting board to make sure that the loaves are not sticking. If they stick, use a spatula or pastry knife to loosen. Slide the loaves onto the pizza stone with one quick but careful motion.
Bake in preheated oven for 30 to 35 minutes, or until loaves sound hollow when tapped on the bottom.
http://bread.allrecipes.com/az/ItlnBrdBkdnPzzStn.asp

Red Wine Sangria(drinks)
Sangria always looks perfect on a holiday table. Red wine and carbonated beverages are garnished with fresh orange slices in this phase 2 beauty."
Original recipe yield: 12 cups.
Servings:Scaled to 16
Original recipe makes 12 (change)

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INGREDIENTS:
1-1/3 orange, sliced, for garnish
Ice cubes
1-1/3 liters club soda, chilled
1-1/3 orange, zested
2-3/4 (750 milliliter) bottles dry red wine, chilled
2/3 cup diet orange soda
1-1/3 (12 ounce) cans diet lemon-lime soda

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DIRECTIONS:
Put the orange zest and orange slices in a pitcher, add wine and a few ice cubes and stir. Add the club soda, diet lemon-lime soda, and diet orange soda. Serve in wine glasses.
http://drink.allrecipes.com/az/78475.asp

Panna Cotta(Dessert)
"A traditional, easy, and delicious Italian custard. I had a difficult time finding a good and easy recipe on the internet, so I made up my own recipe. It tastes just like the panna cotta served at Italian restaurants. Serve with warm hot fudge sauce and fresh raspberries on top. This keeps well for several days in the refrigerator."
Original recipe yield: 6 servings.
Prep Time:5 Minutes
Cook Time:10 Minutes
Ready In:4 Hours 15 Minutes
Servings:Scaled to 8
Original recipe makes 6 (change)

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INGREDIENTS:
1/4 cup and 3 tablespoons skim milk
1-1/3 (.25 ounce) envelopes unflavored gelatin
3-1/3 cups heavy cream
2/3 cup white sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla extract

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DIRECTIONS:
Pour milk into a small bowl, and stir in the gelatin powder. Set aside.
In a saucepan, stir together the heavy cream and sugar, and set over medium heat. Bring to a full boil, watching carefully, as the cream will quickly rise to the top of the pan. Pour the gelatin and milk into the cream, stirring until completely dissolved. Cook for one minute, stirring constantly. Remove from heat, and pour into six individual ramekin dishes.
Cool the ramekins uncovered at room temperature. When cool, cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 4 hours, but preferably overnight before serving.
http://dessert.allrecipes.com/az/72567.asp