https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Fri, 05 Jun 2026 23:22:55 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/special-dinner-guests-menu#post-2253730 Mon, 03 Aug 2015 22:30:36 +0000 gingerbebe 2253730@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>If they are not okay with fish, my other go-to is Chicken Piccata. This meal comes together fast but you don't want to get all crazy trying to cook while you have guests, so the key is to have all the ingredients prepped and pre-measured and ready to go.</p> <p>Here's a solid version:</p> <p><a href="http://www.plainchicken.com/2013/03/chicken-in-lemon-butter-caper-sauce.html" rel="nofollow">http://www.plainchicken.com/2013/03/chicken-in-lemon-butter-caper-sauce.html</a></p> <p>My only change would be to use a little more lemon juice (but I like lemon) and use shallot instead of onion, no big deal. I serve with wedges of lemon on the side too. Also, I might double the sauce quantity just to stay safe because some people like more sauce than others.</p> <p>You can prep the chicken and leave it in a 200 degree oven to keep warm and then prep the sauce when its time to eat. Just t keep a big pot of water simmering and dump the pasta in just as you start making the sauce. I would drain and rinse the pasta, then toss in olive oil and chopped parsley, and then use a fork to spin the pasta into a pretty little nest for presentation. Then add the chicken cutlet, pour sauce over, and then garnish with lemon wedges and parsley. If you want to make it even fancier, you can add a can of artichoke hearts into the sauce.</p> <p>I would serve a simple arugula salad with goat cheese and golden raisins and a red wine vinaigrette as a first course to the meal - the raisins and capers in the pasta sauce work nicely together and it will give you a second to step away and boil the pasta. Have a basket of sliced baguette out on the table and serve some nice white wine (since you need it for the pasta anyway). </p> <p>Since pasta is a little more filling, I would do something strong and small for dessert. Like afogatto - a scoop of vanilla ice cream with a shot of strong espresso (decaf if its dinner) poured over the top. Just serve the components separately and let each person pour the coffee over the ice cream at the last second. Or if you like something boozier, let each person pour a shot of Kahlua or Bailey's instead of coffee. Serve with a chocolate wafer cookie or a piece of dark chocolate on the side. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/special-dinner-guests-menu#post-2253688 Mon, 03 Aug 2015 21:26:50 +0000 serenity207 2253688@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Wow, I have to agree with @JuneBugsMama - your dinner guests are lucky! All of these sound amazing and I'm drooling now.</p> <p>One if the guests isn't a huge fan of fish I know, but I'm going to bookmark the salmon idea for another time - sounds like it's a popular go-to and I love how simple it is to make.</p> <p>Do you think a Chicken Milanese served with a fresh arugula salad topping would be okay for summertime? I saw organic chicken breast on sale at the store today. </p> <p>Definitely keeping all these ideas - my favorite or the simple but fun dessert ones! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/special-dinner-guests-menu#post-2253678 Mon, 03 Aug 2015 21:05:33 +0000 hummusgirl 2253678@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My go-to is fajitas, like this: <a href="http://www.simplyrecipes.com/recipes/chicken_fajitas/" rel="nofollow">http://www.simplyrecipes.com/recipes/chicken_fajitas/</a> </p> <p>With homemade guacamole, sour cream, shredded cheese and salsa, and microwaved corn on the cob as a side: <a href="http://www.thekitchn.com/how-to-cook-corn-on-the-cob-in-the-microwave-cooking-lessons-from-the-kitchn-205204" rel="nofollow">http://www.thekitchn.com/how-to-cook-corn-on-the-cob-in-the-microwave-cooking-lessons-from-the-kitchn-205204</a> </p> <p>You could also do a homemade lemonade or sangria. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/special-dinner-guests-menu#post-2253646 Mon, 03 Aug 2015 20:27:01 +0000 yoursilverlining 2253646@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>So many fresh, lighter options in the summer! </p> <p>If you want to do multiple courses, I'd start with a chilled melon soup topped with a little creme fraiche, which you can make ahead, chill and serve. </p> <p>Salmon (sockeye if you can get it), "upgraded" salad (super tender baby green, good add-ins, very light dressing), roasted veggies (can roast ahead of time)</p> <p>or, a fancier grown-up picnic: roasted chicken (roast ahead of time), really good crusty baguette bread, selection of good cheeses + some fruit preserves + honey, couple of interesting salads, good grainy mustards, etc. Plenty of chilled white wine. </p> <p>We also grill steaks quite often - get a good cut so you don't need to dress it up, sautee up some mushrooms and onions (can do this ahead of time), grill up some veggies, green salad, done. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/special-dinner-guests-menu#post-2253573 Mon, 03 Aug 2015 19:14:51 +0000 mrsbubbletea 2253573@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Lemon-Lime: @Silva: @gingerbebe: @PinkElephant: </p> <p>I wouldn't mind getting invited to your dinner parties! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/special-dinner-guests-menu#post-2253487 Mon, 03 Aug 2015 16:55:22 +0000 Silva 2253487@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I like summer meals to feel a little casual, like you could linger over them for hours while enjoying the breeze. I served this once and it was a big hit:<br /> Bruschetta as an app., maybe with some local cheeses and berries<br /> A summer soup: I believe I did a zucchini soup, I could find the recipe if you are interested. But a fresh corn chowder would be delicious too<br /> A big salad: local greens, quinoa, almonds, strawberries, goat cheese, nasturtium flowers, chives, and some kind of protein on top (grilled chicken, steak, fish, whatever), served with a simple vinaigrette<br /> Serve with some warm, fresh crusty bread</p> <p>Dessert could be a simple cobbler, or homemade vanilla ice cream topped with berries </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/special-dinner-guests-menu#post-2253448 Mon, 03 Aug 2015 15:56:16 +0000 gingerbebe 2253448@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Go to Costco and get a whole side of wild salmon. They have the sockeye right now! I use this recipe but use double the panko mixture on top and added lemon zest:</p> <p><a href="http://www.marthastewart.com/336014/herb-crusted-salmon-with-roasted-lemons" rel="nofollow">http://www.marthastewart.com/336014/herb-crusted-salmon-with-roasted-lemons</a></p> <p>Just bake it on a big cookie sheet and if you don't want to risk breaking it while transferring to a serving platter, just surround the fish with lots of greenery to cover the sheet pan, like big bunches of dill or kale with lemon strewn about ( I don't bother with the roasted lemon and just serve it with lemon wedges). Show the big salmon, ooh and ahh, and then carve servings out, leaving the skin behind.</p> <p>I serve this with quinoa cooked in seasoned chicken broth, thyme, and butter with fresh chopped parsley thrown in at the end.</p> <p>For veggie I would just do a simple salad. Try a mix of baby greens and baby arugula, fresh blueberries or figs, crumbled goat cheese, and toasted almond slivers. A simple vinaigrette should do you.</p> <p>Dessert keep easy and breezy - a slice of pound cake from the grocery store bakery, a scoop of good vanilla ice cream, and strawberries and peaches tossed together before the guests arrived with a spoonful of sugar and chilled in the fridge. Or even just vanilla ice cream, warmed hot fudge, and a handful of raspberries. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/special-dinner-guests-menu#post-2253354 Mon, 03 Aug 2015 14:44:31 +0000 PinkElephant 2253354@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Lemon-Lime: I love the idea of dong a watermelon/feta salad and the figs as skewers! Fun!!</p> <p>We always always grill for guests in the summer, but you could adapt one of our faves - mexican - for indoors.</p> <p>Apps (can buy everything at whole foods if you don't want to prep):<br /> Chips, Salsa, Guac, and Queso (from the deli/chilled section - not jarred stuff</p> <p>Drinks: fresh fruit mojitos - have lines/mint cut and in bowls, and make a fruit slurry by chopping and sugaring strawberries or raspberries in advance to make muddling easier</p> <p>Mains:<br /> Marinade chicken and/or beef to grill or broil - slice after cooking and serve with various types of tortillas, cheese, sour cream, cilantro, etc. I make this Rachael Ray salad which is good alone<br /> Or on tacos! <a href="http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/rachael-ray/black-bean-and-corn-salad-recipe.html" rel="nofollow">http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/rachael-ray/black-bean-and-corn-salad-recipe.html</a></p> <p>Or if slow cooker recipes are more your style, do pork carnitas as a filling instead.</p> <p>Dessert:<br /> Varies - sometimes I bake, sometimes I buy. Pies and vanilla ice cream always go over well even if they don't match the cuisine. If I were sticking to the theme is bake or buy tres leches cake in this case though! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/special-dinner-guests-menu#post-2253335 Mon, 03 Aug 2015 14:31:57 +0000 Chillybear 2253335@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Fish - Salmon - Make Foil Packets lemon slices, Salmon skin side down, pats of butter, salt, pepper, minced garlic - wrap up and cook 400* for about 30 minutes</p> <p>Chicken Caccitore/Sausage scallopine - both can be done in the crock pot (chicken breast, legs/thighs or italian sausage- pan sautee and slice down) then add sliced bell peppers, onions, mushrooms, garlic, crushed red pepper, 1 large can tomato sauce cook 6-8 hours on low and serve on rice or pasta. </p> <p>Chicken Parm with pasta - make it fancy add spinach and eggplant</p> <p>Turkey or roast chicken </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/special-dinner-guests-menu#post-2253334 Mon, 03 Aug 2015 14:31:33 +0000 Mrs. Lemon-Lime 2253334@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Hmm...<br /> Start-<br /> Cubed watermelon with feta cheese &amp; mint skewers and Bacon wrapped stuffed blue cheese fig skewers. Drizzle balsamic on both.</p> <p>Main-<br /> Broil a slab or two of herbed salmon. Make a knock off Panera Bread Mediterranean Quinoa salad with extra quinoa or orzo to make it heartier.</p> <p>Dessert- sliced peaches and strawberry with vanilla extract on top to create a little syrup. Then gently whip together marscapone cheese + cool whip. Then crumble ginger snap cookies on top. For extra fun you could slightly warm the fruit before serving.</p> <p>Drink- white wine or this cocktail: lemonade+ vodka + shredded mint leaves + muddled frozen blueberries (I had something similar, but this is it with 3-4 less ingredients and probably will taste just as good.) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/special-dinner-guests-menu#post-2253323 Mon, 03 Aug 2015 14:21:31 +0000 Alivoo01 2253323@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I was going to suggest grilling some steaks and all the yummy sides that come with a steak. Instead of grilling it outdoors, maybe you can cook it on the stove top instead? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/special-dinner-guests-menu#post-2253283 Mon, 03 Aug 2015 13:57:57 +0000 serenity207 2253283@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>What do you make when you have special dinner guests (i.e. not family or people you see regularly) and you want to impress? This would be for a meal in the summertime but would prefer not grilling for a number of reasons. Also, nothing too difficult to make!</p> <p>Recipes welcome! </p>