Dinner guests ask for leftovers to take home...
claire_de_luna
17 years ago
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carla35
17 years agosudiepav
17 years agoRelated Discussions
Going to dinner as a guest tonight
Comments (21)I am a hostess that does not want guests to bring anything other than a bottle of wine (as long as they do not need me to open it right then as I have my drinks planned). I really do not like flowers as I have my table and such set and then need to cut and vase the flowers and too often they are from Trader Joes and are half dead. I hate any guest to do the dishes. I am a really really nice person and am grateful if anyone serves me anything at all at their home as they wish--paper plates/unseasoned food/whatever. Does not bother me at all and most often I take many dishes because they want me to and I do not mind at all. But! when I am the hostess I just want to run the show and really do not want to put other's food into the mix....See MoreReceiving 20 guests for Christmas dinner, advice needed pls
Comments (12)I think the trick is to do as much ahead of time as possible, stick with fairly simple recipes and have one or two Martha-y touches. And as others have mentioned - decor is a good place for the Martha touches, since you can do that way ahead of time. Mashed potatoes are a great option since they fill up a big bowl on the table, most people eat them and they are a snap to make. Why not use vegetable stock and a bit of roasted garlic instead of dairy products? (I know that chicken stock is the generic substitute for butter with dieters, but I think that vegetable stock has a bit more flavor) I'd serve a simple veggie that can be steamed or blanched at the last minute - broccoli, asparagus, green beans - whatever your family likes. Add a bit of lemon or margarine or olive oil to keep the dairy out. (another big bowl on the table with minimal effort) Fruit salad was a great idea. A green salad would be good too. You should be safe with almost any oil-based dressing. Throw in some star fruit or pluots or something to make it seem fancy shmancy. Breads and rolls were my favorites as a kid - and certainly what I see being snatched up at the kid's table at our family gatherings. Bread doesn't need to contain dairy - you could ask what kind of bread the kids normally eat or call your local bakery. Since they are more likely to use real ingredients rather than chemicals, they'll be able to tell you what's safe. Or if wanted to be kind of Martha, you could make your own bread - not a big deal if you have a bread maker or make the dough the day before and slow the rise in your fridge until the day of the party. You've got pies coming. If you want another dessert, there is a great recipe for oatmeal chocolate chip cookies that the kiddos would like in The Garden of Vegan. Vegan or kosher recipes are good ways to keep the dairy out. A veggie tray or hummus and pita bread or some spiced nuts are super easy things for guests to nibble on until dinner is ready. I think we forget how delicious things can be with simpler flavors or just a few ingredients. If you fill your menu with stuff like that, you will have more time for one or two knock your socks off details and more time to spend with your guests....See MoreGuest brought me restaruant leftovers
Comments (41)wow I thought I miss understood your post title but I guess not LOL. That is just weird...you handled it well but I would have my DH tell the guy not to do that next time. THE only way I would ever do this is a best friend who has teenagers around who might want it for a late nite snack BUT I would check w the friend while at the restaurant to see if their kids might want it. I have a GF who has 3 teenagers and is a single working mom barely making ends meet, she does take things like this along w my meal leftovers when I make a bunch of chili/soup/lasagna etc...I actually feel better giving stuff like that away, than throwing it out. The wine mentioned above I think is different if it's handled like..."I don't like this instead of dumping down the drain would you like it?". Amoung friends I think wine shared is always appreciated LOL! ~ liz...See MoreDinner guest has a question for you.
Comments (47)My group of friends and DH's family all have some no-no's for personal tastes, and/or also, for scary deathly allergies so here's what we do: everybody brings a dish that they can/want to eat/share as potluck and tapes a paper to it with the ingredients listed. A variety of ordinary soups, salads, breads, coffee and drinks are laid out, buffet-style, for those who don't want to get involved. Over time we have gotten pretty creative for the names of our dishes so it adds an element of fun and it's also a great ice-breaker for those parties where we don't know the guests all that well (but of course some of them go roll their eyes and are too snobby to laugh). We tell everyone coming that food is fun and to laugh because it is good for their health (a truism). Some examples: Samoan Ski's (grilled, lengthwise-cut, bananas with butter, maple syrup and toasted coconut), Dead Beans and Dice (classic cooked red beans and rice with diced onions), Parma-plant (eggplant Parmesan), Road Chicky (stuffing in a pounded-flat chicken breast with a delicate gravy so as to not cause any more aggravation), Great Gooey Gratin (potato gratin with lots of cheese), Incited Eggs (egged-on rolls), Bred and Bored (bed and breakfast coffee cake), Slain Slaw (finely shredded cabbage mix with a "to die for" sour cream dressing), He-Man Stew (just like it sounds - all the fat, calories and chest-pounding real manly beef), and Sticky Fishy (baked fish with a garlic, sugar, and ginger marinade), to name a few. Obviously we don't plate food - that is so '50's for us. I do remember that then, only those with "staff" plated. Although, I do love dcarch's presentations - but I don't think any of them were made for one person - but maybe so - just my perception, and, none of my guests would appreciate so fine a presentation anyway - they'll be off laughing at the dish names. Nancy...See Moregraycern
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