https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sat, 02 May 2026 18:56:41 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-serve-for-dinner-when-you-have-guests#post-2469693 Mon, 22 Feb 2016 07:13:58 +0000 honeybear 2469693@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Thank you, everyone! This thread was super helpful. I went with veg lasagna, salad, cheesy garlic bread, and mock tiramisu this weekend. I appreciate all the ideas! I'll definitely be referring back to this thread in the future. I think a roast chicken would be a hit with some of our regular dinner guests. :) </p> <p>These two recipes were outstanding. I have eggplant-averse people in my family, so I did all zucchini and summer squash for the roasted vegetables in the lasagna. I've made the mock tiramisu before, so I knew it would be good! </p> <p>Veg lasagna: <a href="http://www.thekitchn.com/recipe-ina-gartens-roasted-vegetable-lasagna-recipes-from-the-kitchn-217155" rel="nofollow">http://www.thekitchn.com/recipe-ina-gartens-roasted-vegetable-lasagna-recipes-from-the-kitchn-217155</a> </p> <p>Mock tiramisu: <a href="http://www.frenchinosathome.com/stories/jacques-ppins-mock-tiramisu" rel="nofollow">http://www.frenchinosathome.com/stories/jacques-ppins-mock-tiramisu</a></p> <p>If anyone else wants to chime in on dinner party favorites, I'm all ears! ;) Thanks again! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-serve-for-dinner-when-you-have-guests#post-2469014 Sat, 20 Feb 2016 22:28:41 +0000 Mrs. Pink 2469014@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>we do a lot of tacos/nachos when people come over... we don't do fancy dinners at all (I kind wish I did though) </p> <p>Typically it's making shredded pork in the crock pot- and having all of the fixings (including homemade guacamole, because easy) out for people to make their own and head to the table!</p> <p>Spaghetti is another easy option </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-serve-for-dinner-when-you-have-guests#post-2468984 Sat, 20 Feb 2016 21:20:35 +0000 Truth Bombs 2468984@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>If it's casual and people are just coming over to hang out then we do one of three things: grill out, taco bar, or meatball subs and salad. For a more formal actual dinner party my go to is Beef Tenderloin, Parmesan mashed potatoes, home made spanakopita, and roasted brussel sprouts. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-serve-for-dinner-when-you-have-guests#post-2468972 Sat, 20 Feb 2016 21:07:14 +0000 Foodnerd81 2468972@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@sarac: did you mean to include a link? Because that sounds good from your description! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-serve-for-dinner-when-you-have-guests#post-2468939 Sat, 20 Feb 2016 20:26:42 +0000 hocuspocus 2468939@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Rocker2014: I do the same a veggie lasagna and a meat lasagna, garlic bread and a green salad. Super easy :happy: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-serve-for-dinner-when-you-have-guests#post-2468925 Sat, 20 Feb 2016 20:16:03 +0000 Mrs. D 2468925@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>If it's informal, I like to make Whistle dogs and home baked oven fries.</p> <p>Slowcooked Chili with fresh baked rolls.</p> <p>One time ONLY I made homemade Donairs for a crowd. That's a lot of work, but the crowd liked it.</p> <p>For a more formal occasion, I like to make a ham in my slowcooker with oven roasted carrots and potatoe cubes. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-serve-for-dinner-when-you-have-guests#post-2468385 Fri, 19 Feb 2016 23:21:23 +0000 sarac 2468385@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I serve this sometimes because it is delicious, interesting, and really easy to make. I do it in a crock put and just let the meat simmer in the spices all day. The last time I served it, my daughter's friend (4 years old) turned to her and said 'your mommy makes really good chicken'. Kind of the greatest thing ever. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-serve-for-dinner-when-you-have-guests#post-2468314 Fri, 19 Feb 2016 21:04:58 +0000 Tanjowen 2468314@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My family trademark is tacos, and it's usually our standard meal (and most people request it). I'm happy with it because I can do a lot of it beforehand and then hang out with guests, and it's good party food that involves chips, salsa and beer. Everybody wins!</p> <p>My other favorite for winter time is a white chicken chili with toppings and a large mixed green salad and bread. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-serve-for-dinner-when-you-have-guests#post-2468175 Fri, 19 Feb 2016 17:03:16 +0000 gingerbebe 2468175@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Well I've got a casual group coming over tomorrow and half the guests are vegetarian-ish, so I'm making a big pot of this curry with a pot of basmati rice:</p> <p><a href="http://www.thekitchn.com/heres-a-simple-curry-that-130340" rel="nofollow">http://www.thekitchn.com/heres-a-simple-curry-that-130340</a></p> <p>I'll cook some frozen shrimp on the side and any meat eater can throw some into the curry if they want.</p> <p>I'll serve it with some frozen veggie spring rolls from Costco.</p> <p>I was debating between this meal or making a big minestrone with a bowl of cooked frozen meatballs or sliced sausage on the side that people could add to their bowls. Hunks of bread and salad on the side.</p> <p>I almost always have a fruit salad - kids like it.</p> <p>Someone is bringing dessert, but I usually serve ice cream. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-serve-for-dinner-when-you-have-guests#post-2468157 Fri, 19 Feb 2016 16:45:22 +0000 PawPrints 2468157@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I opened this thread thinking, well, the vast majority of the time when we have people over, everybody just orders delivery (sometimes coordinated with each other, but not always!) ... Clearly I run with a pretty casual group. </p> <p>If I'm going to cook for people, I like to do Indian dishes (dal or saag paneer usually) or like a curry or couscous/veggie type thing. People always love a nice pan-seared salmon when it's in season, with grilled veggies. I've also done grilled mini-pizzas where people pick their own toppings, and that's fun during the summer months.</p> <p>ETA for a side, I get asked for the recipe for this one almost every time: <a href="http://cookieandkate.com/2014/spicy-kale-and-coconut-stir-fry/" rel="nofollow">http://cookieandkate.com/2014/spicy-kale-and-coconut-stir-fry/</a> </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-serve-for-dinner-when-you-have-guests#post-2468151 Fri, 19 Feb 2016 16:39:00 +0000 Modern Daisy 2468151@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I normally do my fave - spaghetti with meatballs and a side salad. Otherwise I order pizza! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-serve-for-dinner-when-you-have-guests#post-2468150 Fri, 19 Feb 2016 16:37:41 +0000 fussygal 2468150@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I like to do pork tenderloin with some roasted potatoes and a vegetable like green beans. Something like lasagna or a one-pot pasta dish is always nice, too. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-serve-for-dinner-when-you-have-guests#post-2468133 Fri, 19 Feb 2016 16:17:09 +0000 youboots 2468133@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Usually I grill something and serve a couple sides. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-serve-for-dinner-when-you-have-guests#post-2468131 Fri, 19 Feb 2016 16:16:12 +0000 Pumpkin Pie 2468131@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think grilling is the easiest, so we'll grill some meat, have a salad, and sides. I love roasting asparagus and brussels sprouts, but anything else would work. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-serve-for-dinner-when-you-have-guests#post-2468058 Fri, 19 Feb 2016 15:28:38 +0000 Pancakes 2468058@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Cherrybee: I want to be your dinner guest! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-serve-for-dinner-when-you-have-guests#post-2468039 Fri, 19 Feb 2016 15:17:01 +0000 Cherrybee 2468039@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Pan fried duck breasts is our go-to dish. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-serve-for-dinner-when-you-have-guests#post-2468015 Fri, 19 Feb 2016 14:57:36 +0000 sslm 2468015@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>This: <a href="http://allrecipes.com/recipe/60096/maple-curry-chicken/" rel="nofollow">http://allrecipes.com/recipe/60096/maple-curry-chicken/</a></p> <p>Double the sauce part of the recipe :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-serve-for-dinner-when-you-have-guests#post-2468007 Fri, 19 Feb 2016 14:50:52 +0000 Rocker2014 2468007@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I like to do Italian, as many things can be made ahead of time. Depending on the crowd, I'll do meatballs cooked ahead of time and kept warm in sauce in a crock pot, or stromboli/calzones, which can be prepped before and just popped in the oven during the party. Lasagna is great too! Sides usually include garlic bread and salad (garden or caesar), and sometimes caprese salad also. </p> <p>For a totally different type of crowd, I'll sometimes do a hearty soup (minestrone, chicken tortilla or chilli) with homemade beer bread or cornbread, and garden salad. All make ahead items also! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-serve-for-dinner-when-you-have-guests#post-2467980 Fri, 19 Feb 2016 14:28:09 +0000 chopsuey 2467980@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>For larger groups I'll do lasagna + salad + rolls.<br /> When we have just a few ppl over I'll set up a Korean bbq spread. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-serve-for-dinner-when-you-have-guests#post-2467943 Fri, 19 Feb 2016 14:04:02 +0000 tofuwad 2467943@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I like to do a big roast chicken (or two) surrounded by roasted root vegetables. And I typically pair it with a big acidic salad and some rolls. </p> <p>That way all that I do is basically spend 20 minutes prepping the food going into the oven and maybe ten minutes making a salad. I usually do potatoes, shallots, garlic, carrots, beets, parsnips, and kohlrabi. Chop (I usually scrub them well and leave the peels on) and make a bed of those on a rimmed baking sheet. Prep the chicken and put in on the veg and bake for 1.5-2 hours depending on the size/number of the chicken. I've done two chickens in a large roasting pan or one each in an aluminum pan. If you don't carve the chicken right away it'll stay warm for over an hour after it has come out of the oven. </p> <p>If you want to go all out you can pour off the grease and drippings and make gravy. This is my go-to and it's easy and delicious and looks harder than it is. :silly: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-serve-for-dinner-when-you-have-guests#post-2467941 Fri, 19 Feb 2016 14:00:14 +0000 LuLu Mom 2467941@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I always do Pioneer Woman's lasagna with a salad, garlic bread, and dessert. If it's nice out our group of friends usually grills with roasted veggies, potatoes, ect. for sides. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-serve-for-dinner-when-you-have-guests#post-2467922 Fri, 19 Feb 2016 13:46:50 +0000 Raspberry 2467922@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I like to serve baked salmon or chicken with a salad so that all the prep can be done before guests arrive. While the main is in the oven I can hang out instead of cook. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-serve-for-dinner-when-you-have-guests#post-2467921 Fri, 19 Feb 2016 13:46:04 +0000 erinbaderin 2467921@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I like lasagna because you can make it earlier in the day and then you're not rushing around trying to cook while you have company. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-serve-for-dinner-when-you-have-guests#post-2467916 Fri, 19 Feb 2016 13:37:20 +0000 lovehoneybee 2467916@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I like doing fondue with a variety of dippers (bread cubes, pieces of cooked pork or steak, barely cooked asparagus, raw veggies like bell peppers and broccoli, etc...) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-serve-for-dinner-when-you-have-guests#post-2467911 Fri, 19 Feb 2016 13:28:24 +0000 Pancakes 2467911@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>This pork ragu is fabulous over egg noodles, served with a green salad. Very easy to prep.</p> <p><a href="http://www.dinneralovestory.com/instant-dinner-party/" rel="nofollow">http://www.dinneralovestory.com/instant-dinner-party/</a> </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-serve-for-dinner-when-you-have-guests#post-2467906 Fri, 19 Feb 2016 13:24:35 +0000 honeybear 2467906@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I need your recommendations for good dinner party dishes for a small, informal dinner party. My chief requirement is that the meal not include shrimp, scallops, eggs as a main ingredient (a one-off egg is okay, but I would prefer not to do quiche, for example), or mushrooms. If you've got a side dish/veg that you like with your main, please let me know that too! </p> <p>What do you like to serve? </p>