<p>What about lasagna, one with meat and one without, large salad, Italian bread. Serve cheese, olives for appetizer.</p>
<p>I like Costco’s chocolate cake.</p>
<p>Your party is close enough to new year that you should be sure to serve some black-eyed peas for good luck in 2012. Maybe serve some Hoppin’ John as a side dish salad.</p>
<p>The cilantro can be left on the side as a condiment. Some people can’t stand it, though others of us love it.</p>
<p>Oldfort, exactly what I would serve with goat cheese and cherry tomatoes, but she said no gluten.</p>
<p>And fruit salad instead of cake.</p>
<p>Or shrimp and grits…
Getting too hungry just thinking about it all…
And key lime pie (hey, that’s sort of like fruit!)</p>
<p>I know some people don’t like cilantro. They need to grow up! JK. But I have a friend who doesn’t like cilantro, and she’ll pick the tiniest bits out of everything. It’s beyond annoying.</p>
<p><em>please return to your regular programming</em></p>
<p>How 'bout Mediterranean? Hummus and pita chips, baba ghanoush (sic?). Tabbouli.</p>
<p>The Sopa de Sabores sounds wonderful! </p>
<p>One, or more than one sort of Chili. White Chicken tends to be a big hit. A vegie or meat chili. I’ve made them all for a bigger gathering. Condiments on the side. </p>
<p>Thai coconut based curry is super easy and gluten free, if you have folks that like that sort of thing. Red curry paste, cans of coconut milk, use the recipe on the jar with shrimp, pea pods and squash. Cook rice and serve some frozen steamed dumplings along side.</p>
<p>Nuts , cheeses and olives
Ina Garten had an interesting recipe for chipoltle rosemary roasted nuts that I want to try
I love bleu cheese dip served with veggies and crackers
Also , fried gorgonzola balls ( but there is some breading )</p>
<p>Youdon’tsay, go easier on your friend–cilantro aversion is a genetic thing, not just pickiness. It tastes like soap to those so afflicted, and I’m sure you’d feel compelled to pick out all the pieces of soap from a meal!</p>
<p>I think OP needs a tougher spine as much as she needs recipes-- I wouldn’t stand for that nonsense from my H for one minute! I suggest for next year: “If you invite anyone, I’ll be out for that evening. Please be sure to clean up after they leave.”</p>
<p>I have to have a meat dish, just putting it out there. But I am not invited to the party, so you are good.</p>
<p>I am the one who does this to H. He is kind of used to it by now. My friends all like to come over because H would usually cook up a storm.</p>
<p>Make a variety of soups and different crackers and breads.</p>
<p>While we love cilantro, one of our dearest friends is deathly allergic to it. (needed an epi pen at a restaurant). Most of our family is allergic to avocado. Epi pen time as well. Just saying…there is picky and then there is deadly.</p>
<p>I would go to Costco and get ALL of my appetizers, breads, sides, desserts, salads that I might serve (one stop shopping). Make a list and get in and out. Getting dips, or cheese and crackers here make the appetizers simple. I would either buy the cake, or buy a cut up tray of fruit, or some cookies and dessert is solved. As an alternative you can cut up two melons and serve as wedges (throw a fresh piece of lemon on it if you want dress up a wedge of honeydew).</p>
<p>Main course, I would consider any of the ones listed in this thead, or a roast beef (you can roll it in something spicy like pepper, cayenne or whatever you have that will give it some zip, and put it in the oven). I would probably go with a small turkey or roast beef since it is EASY. Bagged salad from Costco, on the table with the meat, and some type of startch as a side. Some dessert from Costco and the meal is done!</p>
<p>Christmas Eve we do a wonderful French Onion soup:</p>
<p>FRENCH ONION SOUP</p>
<p>1 0z Butter (2 Tablespoons)
2 Lb Yellow Onions (I use sweet), halved and sliced 1/2" wide
4 Cans (14 oz) Beef Broth & 1 can Beef Consomme (undiluted)
1/4 Cup freshly ground Romano Cheese Salt & freshly ground Black Pepper, to taste
baguettes
cheese- sliced provolone or swiss is our choice</p>
<p>serves 6-8</p>
<p>Melt the butter in a heavy-bottomed pot and saute the onions over medium-low heat until they soften and turn golden brown (keep stirring and adjust the heat so they don’t burn). Add the beef stock and simmer 10 minutes and season with salt and pepper to taste.</p>
<p>I put the grated romano into the bowls as I dish up the soup, if you add it to the pot it all sticks to the bottom.</p>
<p>To serve French Onion Soup “Au Gratin,” pour into ovenproof soup crocks. Top with toasted, sliced French bread and sliced or grated cheese (Gruyere, Mozzarella, Swiss or Parmsean, or any combination thereof). Broil untill the cheese meltes and carefully remove from the oven.</p>
<p>OR our updated buffet method to avoid burning oneself:
cut the bread into cubes & shape into bowl sized circles on a cookie sheet
top with a slice of cheese in the appropriate size & shape
broil & use a spatula to put each one in a bowl of soup</p>
<p>It’s better the next day so you can make it ahead.</p>
<p>Just plan to cook the onions nice & slow over low-medium heat so they gently caramelize.</p>
<p>Here’s my xmas menu - pretty simple</p>
<p>Baked ham
Rolls, condiments
Lettuce, tomato
Butternut squash soup
thyme roasted petite potatoes
cranberry relish
Dips - hummus, date chutney, cream cheese & chives
Assorted breads, rolls,</p>
<p>What about a taco or enchilada bar? Shells or tortillas, some beef and/or chicken filling, refried or black beans, veggies, cheese, sour cream, maybe some guacamole? Those avoiding gluten could just make a taco salad…</p>
<p>My apologies to the cilantro sufferers. It’s just that if she didn’t like it that much, then why order something containing it? She’s not allergic. And she’s a best friend so I love her anyway.</p>
<p>If you’re doing a variety of soups, here is a good one. It is not low-carb, low-fat or lite but everyone loves it and it is super easy. You can just skip the flour step if you want gluten-free.</p>
<p>Chicken Corn Chowder</p>
<p>Melt 2/3 of a stick of butter, saute a chopped onion in it then add about 1/4 cup of flour. Stir until it’s kind of cooked but doesn’t need be brown like a roux. Add 1 large can and 1 small can of chicken broth. Add 1 bag frozen southern style hash browns and 2 bags of frozen corn. Add ~6 frozen chicken breasts. Bring to a boil, reduce heat until chicken breasts are almost done. Remove chicken breasts, cut into bite-size pieces and put back in the soup. Add about 1/2 cup cream or half and half. Add plenty of salt and pepper to taste. Can garnish with chopped up green onion and red pepper for color but I don’t. Don’t boil after you add the cream and it doesn’t really freeze well because of the potato.</p>
<p>This is my go-to recipe for people who are sick, had a baby or a death in the family and have served it at many a party.</p>
<p>8 people? Order a couple of platters from Central Market. The Roasted Tenderloin one looks good. I would serve that along with a Cheese/Fruit platter and have some wine.</p>