I love to have people for dinner, but then go completely blank when I start planning the meal. I don't really have time for complicated...what is your favorite recipe to make for guests? Thanks, Mamas, for your help!
Look on www.allrecipes.com . Great site. Once, I was too, at a loss and I made a crusted Pork Tenderloin and from then on it became a "signature" dinner party dish. People ask me to bring it practically every time we go to a party.
Lots of ideas on there... Good luck!
Mine are nothing fancy. I usually try to go with something that has an easy prep that can be done way in advance and can serve a lot of people. The easiest one, and one that gets the most praise, is my taco bar. I'll make taco meat and keep it warm in the crock pot, have a mini crock pot of refried beans, and a mini crock pot of velveeta / rotel dip. I'll have tortillas in the tortilla warmer and taco shells. Then, I can make a buffet of onions, tomatoes, lettuce, cheese, sour cream, taco sauce, etc. to build your own taco. I also have tortilla chips, salsa, and guacamole as appetizers. What I love about this, is that everything can be done ahead of time and kept warm. I have tried mexican rice too, but I can't seem to find a recipe I really like yet. You could probably do the same thing with fajitas.
A good dinner menu for guests:
Winter Salad;
Mix a bag of baby field greens
1 diced granny smith apple tossed with lemon juice
1/2 cup craisins
Diced red onion
Feta cheese or blue cheese
toasted pecans
top with a raspberry vinigrette
Serve this with a nice grilled chicken, bowtie pasta with a lemon wine sauce and brocolli and french bread.
EASY and pretty "safe" for company - chicken is almost universally liked as is pasta...
BBQ & salads. I try not to make everything myself. It is easier on me & other people like participating too. We usually do at least two BBQ meats...a brisket & BBQ sausage or pulled pork. I often will just buy the brisket already cooked from Sam's and my husband warms it in the oven the morning of, then lathers it in BBQ sauce & puts it on the grill just long enough to caramelize the BBQ sauce (everyone raves about it). Pulled pork or sausage can both be done in the oven. Just cut it up, lather in sauce & slow bake...search Bobby Flay for some more recipes.
Potato salad, coleslaw, cabbage almond salad, baked beans, baked mac n cheese, pasta salad are all ideas for sides. I usually pick up coleslaw from Walmart (if they are not out of stock already : ), someone else might bring a side (they bring what they want...even if it is just chips &/or drinks it is a big help!) and I make whatever else myself.
