<p>Yes, it is frozen food and fully cooked teriyaki chicken meatballs, I believe. My brother has brought them and lettuce leaves for lettuce wraps! It’s great–moist and tasty without TOO much sauce.</p>
<p>I have two “go-to” dishes that I’ll make for an informal dinner party. If most of the folks I’ve invited don’t eat meat, but will eat fish (which tends to be many of my friends), I’ll make a fish stew. The recipe I use is from Giada De Laurentiis;
<a href=“http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/giada-de-laurentiis/ligurian-fish-stew-recipe.html”>http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/giada-de-laurentiis/ligurian-fish-stew-recipe.html</a> ( I substitute vegetable broth for water in this recipe.) </p>
<p>If I have meat eaters, I’ll make The Silver Palate–Chicken Marabella–an oldie that people seem to love. I sometimes use all chicken thighs instead of a whole chicken.
<a href=“Silver Palate | Chicken Marbella”>http://www.silverpalate.com/recipe/store-favorites/chicken-marbella</a></p>
<p>If I have vegans–I call my daughter and she usually has good ideas. </p>
<p>We are also low-carb eaters thus the crockpots of meatballs and platters of salad 
</p>
<p>We do the appetizer/dessert buffet for Christmas eve and it’s always a hit. Desserts can be bought at Costco–cheesecakes, cream puffs or whatever else they have. You can also buy apps there too or make your own. Some of the things I can think of that has been served are: brie cheese with crackers/grapes, antipasto platter, obligatory shrimp cocktail, bacon wrapped water chestnuts, hot artichoke dip with crackers, tenderloin on baguettes with horseradish, veggie tray, deviled eggs…</p>
<p>Jambalaya is one of my favorites for company. Like lasagna, it comes out of the oven ready to go. Red beans can be made for a vegetarian option. This is one recipe: <a href=“http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/jambalaya#main-content”>http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/jambalaya#main-content</a> I have a similar version. With salad and a variety of appetizers, lots of choice. </p>
<p>If you go with pasta or pizza, be sure to have salads and such that diabetics and other low carb people can eat. My husband is starting to hate eating at open houses and get togethers.</p>
<p>Yep, you really don’t want to have to watch dh eat the toppings off pizza or looking for the meat in the lasagna.</p>
<p>Super easy: Honeybaked ham, a bag of those Costco dinner rolls, salad, and a hearty soup (i.e. potato, butternut squash, split pea etc.). The soup can be vegetarian if you have guests that don’t eat meat. </p>
<p>My aunt and uncle give us a Honeybaked ham every year. It’s great with soup or homemade baked macaroni and cheese or penne alla vodka.</p>
<p>Our sons and s.o.'s will be here on the 21st to decorate the tree and eat and have fun. I am going to get a honey baked ham and make mac’n’cheese,corn pudding, potato salad, sweet potato casserole, green beans,deviled eggs, salad and rolls. What else goes with it that I’m missing?</p>
<p>^^A pie served with ice cream or some other dessert! </p>
<p>IMO, oven baked salmon is easy-peasy to make and tastes great! Pescatarians, gluten freed, carb avoiders etc. will be happy with that choice. For sides, a green salad, some mashed potatoes, veggie platter, cheese platter, and some nice bread. </p>
<p>VaBluebird, you need to invite me. Then you’ll be all set. 
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<p>Do you have a Whole Foods nearby? They have delicious flatbread pizzas. If you don’t want to cook at all, you can buy delicious prepared food of any type, and people will have no idea that you didn’t cook it.</p>
<p>I would love to do the honey baked ham menu, but I know that the people we are entertaining are having an early Christmas the next day since they are from out of town. No doubt ham will be on that menu. I wish I could make a decent lasagne, that’s a go-to for many people, just not us. We are a family of German/Irish descent and never mastered the art of good Italian cooking. Our sauce comes from a jar, and you don’t realize how bad that is until you’ve had the real thing!</p>
<p>I’d like that stomboli recipe if the poster is still around…or maybe just cooking lessons in general!</p>
<p>Thanks for all of the great ideas.</p>
<p>I use frozen bread/pizza dough for making stromboli. Thaw it, roll it out not too thin, not too thick into an oval or rectangle. Fill the middle with pizza type goodies - pepperoni/sausage/ham (your choice), sauteed mushrooms/onions/peppers (your choice) and shredded mozzarella. Add a LITTLE pizza sauce. Fold dough over and pinch edges REALLY good. Cut a couple small vents in the top of the dough. I usually then let it rise for a couple of hours in a warm spot. Bake at 400 till nicely browned - probably 20-30 mins. You can brush with egg white or melted butter part way through cooking. Serve with warm pizza sauce for dipping. </p>
<p>You can also use the Pillsbury refrigerated pizza dough but it’s a little “soft” and gooey for folding over, etc. You need to work fast! </p>
<p>Also recommend baking it on parchment paper on a cookie sheet - in case any of the goods seep out - makes for easier clean up!</p>
<p>Another thing we have done in the winter is a soup, and salad buffet. We had a couple of different soups, salad with bunch of assorted toppings and dressings, and a nice baguette or rolls.</p>
<p>Soups in the crock pot…borrow a second one from friends!</p>
<p>^^^ I think this is a winner. Soup is/can be very simple. Do two if you like - a cream based one and a broth based one. (so one “heavier” soup, one lighter). Two crock pots. Heavier: Chili, White Chicken Chili, Chicken Noodle, Chowder. Lighter: Chicken Tortilla, Tomato Basil, Vegetable. Pair it with a nice salad, fresh bread/rolls and a plate of Christmas cookies you might have already baked. Voila. </p>
<p>We’re going to my brother’s house. He’s doing a Low Country Boil.</p>
<p>^^I agree with Thumper & Abasket: a soup & salad bar is excellent. People can then choose what they want and what toppings they want. This is a great way to let people help themselves. I agree that depending on how many people you’re feeding, you can have two soups and a chili or one soup and one chili. (or two soups and no chili!)</p>
<p>You can also make a basic salad, and serve little dishes of toppings next to it so people can help themselves ie; mushrooms, cherry tomatoes, carrots, cut up citrus fruit, roasted beets, chick peas, cucumbers, etc.,etc.,etc. </p>
<p>I’ve been to these types of gatherings before and they’re fun! Plus if you have tall mugs for the soup, people can walk around with their mugs & spoons while talking to others…</p>
<p>PackMom what is a low country boil???</p>
<p>We have lots of friends with dietary restriction either for health or religious reasons so offering just one entree is tricky. One dish that I’ve had success with is make your own burritto. I offer a choice between a shredded chicken and a shredded fish (something like cod works well) have rice (you can find the recipe for Chipotle’s rice online) tortillas, beans, guac, romaine lettuce, pico de gallo, sour cream, cheese…Everything is made ahead and the guests help themselves so you can relax and enjoy the party.</p>