What is your favorite recipe to make when having company?

Question

We frequently have another couple over for dinner, but I don't want to constantly bore them with my "signature" dishes. I also don't want to have to spend the entire evening in the kitchen cooking OR cleaning up when I should be entertaining my company! What are your favorite easy recipes when cooking for 4 or more adults?

Please Note: We do not eat seafood!

Answer 1

Make this...Casserole for a Crowd....
1 package of noodles...I like Rigatoni or Cavettilli(corkscrew)
1 1/2 lbs of lean ground meat
1 large onion
1 small can of sliced mushrooms (optional)
1 small can of black olives sliced or chopped
1 can of whole kernel corn (drained)
1 16 oz tub of sour cream with chives
1/2 package of softened cream cheese
2 tablespoons of diced garlic
salt and pepper to taste and any other herbs or spices you like
2 16 oz bags of shredded cheese of your choice...I use 1 bag of cheddar and then like a 4 cheese mexican blend.
Cook the pasta and drain
Cook the ground meat, garlic, onions and salt and pepper until browned....Drain meat for lower fat content
In large bowl or pan..mix pasta and meat mixture then add all the other ingredients together. ONLY USE ONE BAG OF CHEESE IN THE MIXTURE. After the mixture is mixed well place in the casserole dish top with the remaining bag of shredded cheese and bake in a 350 degree preheated oven until cheese is bubbley and casserole is heated thru.

Garnish with chopped up chives or chopped green onions.

YUMMY!!!!!!!!!!!

You can substitute any of these ingredients like the meat can be ground turkey or pork.
You can add canned diced tomatoes, canned peas...Use your imagination.
Make it your own.
It is really quick and simple
ENJOY!!!

Answer 2

Right... if ur guests dont mind a wee bit of smelly breath...

3 or 4 large baking potatoes/cooking potatoes
8-14 sausages of your choice (depending on apetite)
1- 1.5 large red onion
2 cloves of garlic
mixed peppers
4 tomatoes

Olive oil
Black pepper
Rock salt
Rosemary
Red wine
Passata/tomato based pasta sause - third of a jar/ 150ml
Cheddar cheese


Sautee some potatoes... thin slices, laid on a greased baking tray,
brush some olive oil over the top, sprinkle some chopped fresh rosemary, and also rock salt and black pepper.
Chuck this in the oven for half an hour at about 190/200 degrees.

Meanwhile, cook some sausages, and then slice into little pieces.

Take the Passata/pasta sauce, mix with 200 ml of red wine.
heat on a low temp for about ten mins.

Fry some onion, chopped tomato, and mixed peppers with some garlic, and add this too the sausages in a wok.
Add the sauce (just so the consistency is "sticky" - dont add too much sauce! this dish isnt meant to be saucy!!!)

Mix it up!

then, remove sauteed potatoes, fill a baking dish with the sausage and sauce mixture, and then cover with the slices of potato.
sprinkle a good layer of chedder over the top, and bake for 20 mins (until cheese is golden and crispy) at about 210 degrees.

i call it "saucy sausage" ! my own personal signature dish, my girlfriend adores it - its a perfect mix of texture, and the tastes really compliment one another.

good luck with it!
x

Answer 3

Swedish meatballs with either pasta or garlic mashed red potatoes and salad. This is easy to make ahead and then just rewarm. That way I am out of the kitchen when my guests arrive and can enjoy them. Jambalaya is a beautiful dish to present and can be made ahead. In place of seafood, use chicken and sausage.

Answer 4

You have some good answers here already.
I have some simple things that are easy and tasty that I have used several times for guests. The first is Toasted Ravioli. This is great served with a pasta dish and a salad.

1 egg, lightly beaten
2 TBS milk
3/4 c italian seasoned bread crumbs
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 pkg frozen meat filled ravioli, thawed
veg oil
grated parmesan
spaghetti or pizza sauce for dipping

Combine egg and milk in small bowl. Place breadcrumbs and salt in separate bowl. Dip each ravioli in egg then breadcrumbs. Deep fry in oil 350 1 min per side until golden brown. Drain on paper towels. Sprinkle with parmesan and serve immediately with sauce for dipping.

(you can even buy these frozen and already breaded, but this really is better)


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If you go mexican, make white rice and red beans, and stuff for tacos, they can all make their tacos how they want. give them choice between hard or soft shells, and of course all the condiments. Serve with salad. (only problem is all the bowls used to serve the condiments causes more to clean...)

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Or for spice night, you can make some hot wings(can cook all day in slow cooker), french fries, favorite beer, and maybe some cheesy breadsticks. (slow cooker saves on mess, ang use paper plates to serve)

Hot Wings
25 whole chicken wings (@5lb)
1 12oz bottle chili sauce
1/4 c lemon juice
1/4 c molasses
2 TBS worcestershire
6 garlic cloves, minced
1 TBS chili powder
1 TBS salsa
1 tsp garlic salt
3 drops hot sauce

Cut wings into 3 sections and discard wing tips. Place wings in 5 qt slow cooker. In a bowl, combine remaining ingredients; pour over chicken. Stir to coat. Cover and cook on low 8 hours or until chicken is tender.


Basil Parmesan Bread -

1/4cup margarine or butter melted
2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
1 tablespoon fresh basil or 1 teaspoon dried basil
1 clove garlic minced
1/8 teaspoon pepper
1 16-ounce loaf unsliced French bread
To make the spread in small mixing bowl combine margarine or butter, cheese, basil, garlic and pepper.

Cut bread into 1 inch thick slices. Try not to cut through the bottom crust. Spread the cut surfaces with the pre-made spread. Place bread in center of 48x18 inch piece of heavy foil, which has been folded in half. Bring up the two opposite edges of foil and seal with a double fold. Fold the remaining ends, leaving space for steam to build.

Grill bread on the rack of an uncovered grill directly over medium coals for 15-20 minutes. Turn bread once halfway through.

Answer 5

Okay, well I would reccomend going with pasta. That is easy to make and takes no longer than 20 minutes. It is also easy to clean up. If you want to impress them try making a fancy sauce or just butter and basil. You could then serve it with garlic bread, and have that cook while making the pasta. Either way, you can have fettucine, bowtie, penne, etc.

Answer 6

I make steak and gravy in the crock pot: you will need:

1 lean flank steak, cooked till just brown but still very pink in the middle.

2 cans of cream of mushroom soup or 1 large family size can

1 can of sliced mushrooms

1/2 cup of milk

2 pkg.of egg noodles or rice your choice... i prefer egg noodles

1/2 tsp ground nutmeg and salt and pepper to taste...

1 tsp of dried thyme..

directions;

cook meat till brown but still very pink in the middle, and cool on a plate... u can do this the night before if u want and let it set til the morning..

combine soup and mushrooms and dice up the steak and add to the crock pot and mix well, u will have juices from the steak on the plate go ahead and add it to the crock pot, add the remaining ingredients and stir ..

cook on low 6-8 hours or on high for 4 hours and it is sooooo good...

before u are ready to serve cook up egg noodles or rice and serve steak and gravy over the noodles or rice...

for sides make your favorite veggie and biscuits or corn bread... this is a hearty and filling dish and your guests will love it and so will u... have a good day and weekend...

Answer 7

I cook a rump roast in the crock pot with some onions, au jus seasoning packet, water and white wine for 8 hours on low.
Then I toast some French bread with melted mozzarella and make French dip sandwiches. The meat is so tender that it falls apart. Yummo! (and easy too)

Answer 8

Roast with potatoes, celery, carrots, onions..cooked in a bag

This is an awesome Recipe:
1-16oz. sour cream
1 can chicken broth
1 can cream of chicken soup
minced onion
salt, pepper
chicken breasts, or any part you like
1. Cook chicken in a chicken cooking bag
2. Combine rest of ingredients in skillet. When chicken is done add juice and chicken to skillet.
3. Serve over rice, or noodles....anything you want!

Answer 9

My mom's Spag. Stuff

Elbow Mac, partially cooked
Spag Sauce of your choice
Canned MRs
Green Pepper, diced
Ground Hamburger or Sausage, cooked

Throw it all in crock pot and heat. Prior to serving throw some prov. or mozz. on the top, let melt and stir.

Yummy and Easy. Serve with salad and or bread.

Answer 10

i like to make lasagna for guests. its one pan and alot of people like it. you can choose to make it with beef, turkey, sausage, or meatless. i don't really have a recipe, but 1 box lasagna noodles 1 jar of your favorite pasta sauce (usually marinara) 1lb lean ground beef 16oz whole milk mozzerella 16oz whole milk ricotta cheese parmesian italian seasoning garlic first brown the beef and season (s&p, garlic) to taste. take the 3 cheeses and mix them together with an egg add seasoning and garlic. empty jar of sauce into large bowl and add about 3/4 cup water (reserve 1/2 cup sauce mixture for top) in large casserole or lasagna pan coat bottom with sauce combine the rest of the sauce with the meat layer noodles, meat, cheese, noodles (change direction), meat, cheese, noodles (usually 2 or 3 layers). always end with noodles. poor remaining sauce on top cover with aluminum and put it in the oven at 350 for at least an hour. if i have extra mozz, i put it on top of the sauce just to make it pretty. everything is already cooked so all you're really doing is heating it so that the cheese in the entire dish is melted and hot. serve with fresh garlic bread and a green salad