Post # 1

Member
4693 posts
Honey bee
My family is coming over for dinner this weekend, and I need suggestions for what to cook! There will be about 13 people plus my SO and myself.
What do you make when you want to make something impressive?
Post # 3

Member
7975 posts
Bumble Beekeeper
Hahaha, I never try to be impressive with that many people! I go for easy and customizable – like, taco salad where you can just put all the fixing on the table in separate bowls, and people can make their own however they like it.
Maybe that comes from having so many friends who are picky and allergic to everything though. ๐
Post # 4

Member
4693 posts
Honey bee
@ddw: My mom hosts dinner for all of us every weekend, and it’s always amazing food! She’s having her kitchen remodeled, so I volunteered to host dinners in the meantime. It’s intimidating because I don’t want it to be a let down!
Post # 5

Member
6572 posts
Bee Keeper
For big meals I would normally do a brisket with potatoes.
Post # 6

Member
5496 posts
Bee Keeper
Do you have a favorite recipe you like to cook? I would pick something that is a favorite of yours! I’m sure they’ll love whatever you choose. I generally serve lasagna because it’s easy and I love my lasagna. ๐
Post # 7

Member
7975 posts
Bumble Beekeeper
Post # 8

Member
1205 posts
Bumble bee
A roast with a few simple, traditional sides always seems to go over well. We’ve had great success with roast chicken w/ herbed potatoes, roasted veggies, and a spinach salad…a pork tenderloin is always pretty, too (we don’t really eat much pork/beef, but will occasionally).
Risotto is pretty and something most people can/will eat…I’ve also made 101 cookbooks’ lasagna tart for a crowd (served with a big green salad) and that went over well–it’s simple fare, served in a new (prettier) way. http://www.101cookbooks.com/archives/lasagna-tart-recipe.html
Pretty desserts go a long way, too! Tarts, pies, or something like a layered mousse or panna cotta (sorry, I don’t know if I’m spelling that one right). Apple or plum galettes are surprisingly simple and so pretty.
Post # 9

Member
7975 posts
Bumble Beekeeper
Here’s a totally different idea:
http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Addictive-Sweet-Potato-Burritos/Detail.aspx sweet potato burritos
spanish rice (I cheat and make rice in the rice cooker ahead of time, and then stirfry it with a can of those diced tomatoes that have the jalapenos in them, can’t remember what they’re called – 1c rice (before cooking) to 1 can is a good ratio)
a veggie like corn or asparagus
and a dessert like http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Creamy-Caramel-Flan/Detail.aspx flan
Post # 10

Member
2090 posts
Buzzing bee
Here’s what I usually cook for large dinners, people seem to be impressed but the meal is still very easy:
1. First Course: Penne all’ Amatriciana
Penne pasta in a spicy red sauce with pancetta. The sauce takes like 10 minutes to make, toss in the pasta and serve immediately.
2. Main Course: Tuscan “hunter’s style” pork loin
Very tender, slow cooked pork loin. Once its cooked, slice up very thinly. You cook the pork with some veggies and liquids, and you make a simple sauce from the cooked veggies/liquids (just blend in a blender).
Sides: serve with braised sweet onions and fennel (you can do this ahead of time, and just warm when ready to serve).
You can cook the loin so thats its done by the time your guests arrive, then you just blend up the sauce, heat the onions/fennel, and make the pasta.
Let me know if you want the recipes, they are easy, but they are old Italian grandmother recipes, so everything is like “a cup” of this “a handful” of that, so if you are more comfortable with highly structured recipes it might not be a good fit.
Post # 11

Member
4693 posts
Honey bee
Thanks everyone! I think I’m going to go with the baked slow cooker chicken, garlic mashed potatoes, baby carrots and brussel sprouts, and a basic green salad.
Still deciding what to do for dessert!
Everyone’s suggestions sound awesome, I’ll definitely be coming back to this thread next time they come over. ๐
Post # 12

Member
1221 posts
Bumble bee
when ther eis alot of people we usually bbq carne asada make some rice & beans.. or bbq some ribs potato salad