Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
Breakfast. We can put on a great pancake, hash brown, bacon, toast, juice, bloody mary, made-to-order omelet spread, fresh fruit and berries...this is what we treat all our overnight guests to.
Ditto to above post about how friends (and I am the same way) seem to just be happy someone is making them dinner. I make a couple of nice Thai dishes with bok choy and various sauces. There's a cheesy, saucy chicken that everyone loves...from scratch coffee flan was a giant hit, as well. But even a simple spaghetti with ground turkey meat sauce is fan-flavor-tastic.
Usually if I've got company I make something that I know will turn out well, but not something so fussy that I have to be in the kitchen the entire time messing around. Chili and lasagna are usually good, or something like roast chicken and vegetables.
Well...regular guests I don't need to impress but if there's an occasion that requires a great impression then I go simple with the best produce and ingredients I can find depending on the budget level the event calls for. Homegrown tomatoes if they're in season for sure, for a caprese salad. Seafood pretty simply poached in a saffron liquid, and then have saffron rice with almonds. A terrine of grilled vegetables, done in advance so I can test how it's turned out; otherwise, something like asparagus with a nice nut oil to dress it. My pie crust is pretty reliable so some kind of simple tart of sausage, goat cheese and fig for an appetizer that doesn't need to, or even shouldn't, be piping hot. Prosciutto wrapped figs with almonds and different cheeses for an easy pre- or post-main course dish. A cheesecake or tiramisu for dessert--again, made ahead.
There are few occasions for breaking out the good china but I guess that would be my approach, mostly keeping it pretty straightforward so I can concentrate on presenting everything well. Choice of champagne or a pilsner too. Cognac or liqueur with dessert. I'm not a coffee drinker but coffee's a given, with almond/orange zest butter cookie crisps on a platter (a recipe I got off this site ). You know, since I'm not a coffee drinker I think out of everything that needed doing I'd be most nervous about making the pot right. I tend to go too strong, I think, since I'd hate to disappoint with weak coffee for a meal's end.
Living where good Italian gravy is thought of as store bought and my being from NYC/NJ-it's usually as SXM says-Sunday gravy and that could be done with pasta, lasagne, ziti's, stuffed shells. Also another is shrimp scampi.
Back east when having guests I would make anything from osso bucco, paella to grilled burgers,homemade salads.
Crab stuffed shrimp - it takes time to peel the shrimp/pick through the crab meat so I only make this on special occasions.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
