<p>Hoping for some fresh ideas…</p>
<p>We will be having company for a week, my bil, sil and their two teenage daughters. No allergies and not terribly picky, but if I serve something they don’t like, I just plan on having sandwhich fixings they can opt for. I am in the process of planning and shopping and was wondering what is your go to meal for company? Trying to think of things that won’t keep me in the kitchen all night. Breakfast ideas would be great too. Thanks in advance!</p>
<p>Can you do a baked pasta dish/salad/garlic bread?
Pick up a couple of rotisserie chickens from Costco, mashed potatoes, steamed vegetables?
Grill hot dogs and burgers outdoors one night?</p>
<p>For breakfasts, I’d just do assorted boxes of cereal. Maybe bagels and cream cheese. You could ask what they normally do for breakfast at home, but I don’t know anyone with teenaged daughters who gets up and cooks pancakes and eggs in the morning, so they might be totally satisfied with cereal and milk.</p>
<p>I have made this recipe for lemon Chicken and brocolli from Weight Watchers a couple of times and every loves it</p>
<p>[WeightWatchers.com:</a> Weight Watchers Recipe - Lemon Chicken with Broccoli](<a href=“http://www.weightwatchers.com/food/rcp/recipepage.aspx?recipeid=143881&cid=sm_fb#sf3476807]WeightWatchers.com:”>http://www.weightwatchers.com/food/rcp/recipepage.aspx?recipeid=143881&cid=sm_fb#sf3476807)</p>
<p>Really easy and some pasta/rice and a salad.</p>
<p>Also this is our new family fav:
[Cilantro</a> Lime Tilapia Tacos | Skinnytaste](<a href=“Cilantro Lime Fish Tacos - Skinnytaste”>Cilantro Lime Fish Tacos - Skinnytaste)</p>
<p>Again really easy.</p>
<p>I’d make a marinara sauce with meatballs. (You can buy frozen meatballs - they are quite good.) This sauce, made in advance, will allow you to easily prepare spaghetti and meatballs, and then meatball subs later in the week.</p>
<p>A roast chicken. Corn on the cob. Maybe a potato dish, maybe not. Cookies and ice cream.</p>
<p>Also: Brisket. Just mix one pack Lipton onion soup mix, one can cranberry sauce, and one jar of chile sauce; pour over brisket; cover completely; bake at 325 for three hours. Serve with mashed potatoes and a salad.</p>
<p>Here’s a typical week for my family. I find it’s adaptable to having guests…</p>
<ol>
<li><p>meatloaf in the crock pot, mashed potatoes from a box, green veg, cole slaw from the store</p></li>
<li><p>chicken in a casserole (make ahead and freeze), iceberg lettuce wedge salads</p></li>
<li><p>pork tenderloin on the grill, brown rice, green veg, apple sauce </p></li>
<li><p>a pasta something (frozen lasagna is easy, but so is spag & MB), salad, bread</p></li>
<li><p>breakfast for dinner </p></li>
<li><p>leftovers</p></li>
<li><p>reservations</p></li>
</ol>
<p>We’re having people over for supper this weekend and I’m serving a chicken curry salad, along with fresh melon and greens. It’s really easy, makes a lot, and you can eat it alone or put it on sandwiches, pita, etc.</p>
<p>[Curried</a> Chicken Salad Recipe at Epicurious.com](<a href=“http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Curried-Chicken-Salad-106566]Curried”>http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Curried-Chicken-Salad-106566)</p>
<p>I suggest cutting back on the curry a bit- use 3tsp instead of 5, and add a bit of chopped celery. My family loves this recipe, and it’s really versatile.</p>
<p>It’s getting warmer…how about a main dish salad one night? Greens, veggies, cheese perhaps and a grilled meat on top? Serve it with a loaf of fresh bread.</p>
<p>Depends on your budget, but if you want time with your guest something that sits in the oven and doesn’t need too much tending or preparation is great. Since everyone around me is low carbing it, I’m not a big fan of pasta dishes. Roast chicken is my favorite, stuff it with some fresh herbs, scatter onion, garlic and or shallots in the pan and baste it with wine and butter from time to time. It’s delicious. Also super easy (but more expensive) is beef tenderloin. Brisket and pot roast are also super easy. I’m fond of ratatouille for a vegetable, but you can also just steam something or roast a vegetable in the oven for the last 20 minutes of whatever meat you are cooking. Oven baked fish is easy too. My favorite, is to put a big fillet in the oven with tomatoes, olives, garlic and fresh basil scattered on top. The splendid table’s oven version of Chicken Cacciatore is also really easy. I posted it here: <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/13701548-post6.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/13701548-post6.html</a></p>
<p>For Saturday breakfast dh always makes waffle batter, people make their own waffles when they wake up. I just have eggs and cereal, bagles or English muffins and let people take care of their own breakfast. Plenty of fresh fruit should be around too.</p>
<p>Fish tacos w mango salsa
Stuffed baked potatoes with lots of toppings plus green salad
Clam spaghetti
Chili & cornbread
My go to meal for company is grilled salmon, grilled veggies & /or salad & really good bread.
Grilled steak & baked potatoes & corn on the cob- plan for enough left over steak to make
Steak salad with citrus ( grapefruit is good) , spinach & hazelnuts.</p>
<p>Thanks for all the inspiration! Great ideas!</p>
<p>I am about to make this for a vegetarian friend who is coming for dinner tonight–
[Goat</a> Cheese Bread Pudding Recipe at Epicurious.com](<a href=“http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Goat-Cheese-Bread-Pudding-243014]Goat”>http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Goat-Cheese-Bread-Pudding-243014)
With it we’ll have roasted asparagus (locally grown and couldn’t be easier) and the spinach and strawberry salad (also local, so happy for spring and the farmers’ market!). She’s bringing dessert. :)</p>
<p>Leftovers are good for a lazy Saturday breakfast.</p>
<p>Baked fried chicken, do extra that can be served cold for snacks–or cook it up ahead of time and serve cold with picnic type side dishes.
Lasagna, make ahead freeze and bake.
pulled pork for sandwiches (that’s in the crockpot around here)
stir fry–I buy the packets of sauce mix, or just sort of throw it together. For real rush days I resort to frozen vegtables for stir fry–defrost in micro, drain, toss into hot pan.</p>
<p>Breakfast lately has been potato latkas from Trader Joes, D loves them and she has been taking IB tests. She also makes up a baked custard/quiche mix in a french roll. She loves it hot or cold.</p>
<p>As more summer fruit comes in, try fruit kebabs. You can buy small wooden sticks about 6 to 8 inches long. Gather up some strawberries, blueberries, grapes, melon. Place bite size pieces on each stick. You can make a platter of these for snacks or as a side or light dessert. They always disappear around our house!</p>
<p>Fruit kebabs are a great idea! For family breakfasts on the weekends I usually make muffins, pancakes or coffeecake. I like to make them at night (except for pancakes) and then reheat in the morning with some fruit</p>
<p>I like to serve things that can be made ahead of time so you aren’t spending the time cooking. Exception for me is paella, a great dish for company as you can put lots of different things in it</p>
<p>The last time we had a big family do at my house, we went to the Safeway deli for roast chicken and sides. I think they enjoyed having a hostess who was much less stressed than usual. :)</p>
<p>Pulled pork sandwiches, frozen Alexa spicy baked sweet potato fries, baked beans and a veggie is an easy and popular meal at my house.</p>
<p>I usually make a big batch of brownies, a big pasta salad and a big fruit salad when we have over night guests. Pasta salad can be pulled out at lunch or dinner. The fruit salad can be used at all three meals. </p>
<p>I make muffins and buy pastry, bagels and cream cheese for easy make your own breakfasts. I also make sure I have hummus and veggies and crackers and cheese for snacking. I get ice cream and a couple of toppings and Klondike bars or some other kind of “special treat” ice cream novelty for an easy dessert night.</p>
<p>I like to have over night visitors but it wears me out so the more I can do ahead of time, the better.</p>
<p>I have found easy and inexpensive different recipes at the Pillsbury website.</p>
<p>[Easy</a> Cooking Recipes and Easy Cooking Ideas from Pillsbury.com](<a href=“http://www.Pillsbury.com%5DEasy”>http://www.Pillsbury.com)</p>
<p>Easy stuff to make and enjoyable for kids too. Look up the recipe for jumbo hamburger cups…I just happen to be trying that one tonight.</p>
<p>You have some good suggestions here, but I saw many posted that I would not be able to eat…a couple due to allergies, but more sensitivities…migraine triggers…,stuff like that. I know I have a lot of foods that I avoid…but I don’t try to name them all to potential hosts…so if you just have a variety let people know what is in things, they can decide for themselves…also if they are flying in…make sure they have an opportunity to go to the grocery so they can pick up some of their favorite snacks, etc.</p>
<p>This chicken dish is always a big hit. Easily made ahead and baked just before mealtime. Leftovers are great for lunch. Freezes nicely as well…</p>
<p>Chicken Orient</p>
<p>Stewed Chicken, cubed (4 chicken breasts or a rotisserie chicken from Grocery)
1 Box Long Grain and Wild Rice, made according to directions (I use Uncle Ben’s)
1 Small Can Sliced Water Chestnuts, Drained
1 Can French-Cut Green Beans, Drained
¾ C Mayo (I use low-fat mayo.)
1 small onion, diced
Small jar diced pimento (I usually omit this—not a family favorite, but it adds color)
¾ C sliced/slivered almonds</p>
<p>Combine all ingredients, except almonds, in large bowl. Spray 10 x 13 inch casserole dish with Pam and transfer chicken mixture to dish. Top with almonds and bake, covered, at 350 for 30 minutes. Remove lid last 10 minutes of cooking to slightly brown almonds.</p>
<p>This makes an excellent one dish meal—add a green salad and you’ve got a meal.</p>