Dinner inspiration needed.

[whitemerlot]

Cooking a very casual dinner for 6 adults and 2 kids tomorrow. Any ideas?

I would prefer not to do Italian or tacos.

[jennistarr1]

homemade chicken tenders, mac n cheese, and veggie?

Sloppy joes/tater tots/green salad

[tacosforlife]

You would prefer not to do tacos?

DEAD TO ME.

[mbcdefg]

We had two other couples (and two kids, but they were too young to eat with us) over for dinner recently ... I served roast beef with gravy, mashed potatoes, corn, and roasted carrots.

Other options: meat loaf, roast chicken, roasted beef tenderloin, roasted pork tenderloin, baked macaroni and cheese, pulled pork, meatball subs, French dip sandwiches, quiche and salad, homemade pizzas and wings, chili or white chicken chili with cornbread and fixins.

I've never tried this seafood gratin, but it's on my "someday" list. And it looks like you can prep them ahead of time and just pop them in the oven about 20 minutes before you're ready to eat: www.annies-eats.com/2010/05/06/seafood-gratin/

[maddiepaddy]

For big casual dinners I usually like to do some sort of casserole like baked mac with veggies and bacon and then a big salad.

Flatbread pizza or chili would also be pretty easy to make and feed a big-ish crowd.

[whitemerlot]

Jan 30, 2015 16:15:25 GMT -5 tacosforlife said:

You would prefer not to do tacos?

DEAD TO ME.

Lol. Only because I made them last time they were all here.

[tacosforlife]

I'd say LASAGNA (of course) but you said no Italian. You kill my spirit.

[crashgizmo]

Last time I did a group of 8 we did a greek theme. Greek chicken skewers on the grill, grilled mediterranean veggies, and cous cous. I made homemade tzatsiki but you could buy it.

[mbcdefg]

Could you do a big cheese plate? Various cheeses, sliced crusty breads, crackers, fruit (grapes, apples, pears, figs, dried apricots), meat (sausage, prosciutto, salami), apricot or fig preserves, mustard, toasted nuts, olives, roasted red peppers.

And green salads if you want. Although every time we do a cheese plate for dinner, it always fills me up faster than I think it will.

This would be a fun dinner if your group likes meals where they can pick at things. I'd do this more often except half the people in our usual group are incredibly picky about cheese.

[gardengal]

Lemon roast chicken, roasted carrots & mashed potatoes (or roasted if you have a big oven). Make gravy from the drippings.

Easy & home-y. I like to put apples in the crockpot for an easy dessert to go with

[h]

This chicken: www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ina-garten/parmesan-chicken-recipe.html

Slider bar with fun toppings (avocado, blue cheese, sautéed mushrooms, BBQ sauce, cheddar, etc)

Variety of homemade pizzas (oops, Italian)

Grilled salmon or roast chicken with mashed potatoes and a veggie

[Deleted]

How cold is it where you are? I often make kebobs that I can toss on the grill with a rice/orzo salad. This wouldn't be appealing if it's super cold though.

Pulled pork in the slow cooker

Soup and fancy grilled cheese

Fondue

[keweenawlove]

I made this recently
www.skinnytaste.com/2014/06/lomo-saltado-peruvian-beef-stir-fry.html
It was really easy and really good.

[whitemerlot]

Jan 30, 2015 17:25:52 GMT -5 @bonsoirlune said:

How cold is it where you are? I often make kebobs that I can toss on the grill with a rice/orzo salad. This wouldn't be appealing if it's super cold though.

Pulled pork in the slow cooker

Soup and fancy grilled cheese

Fondue

It's cold.

I'm saving this thread though!

[sweetnsour]

boneless, skinless chicken
olive oil
garlic
baby spinach
goat cheese with herbs

Mince garlic in pan and sautee with olive oil, after garlic softens, add spinach until wilted, remove and set aside

In the same pan add a little bit more olive and add chicken, I add adobo seasoning, cook the chicken

If the kids are picky, they can eat the chicken
For the adults,add piece of chicken to plate, top with spinach and goat cheese then serve. It is really good!

[Pibs]

Since I'm home sick and soup sounds good, a big ass pot of chili and also maybe chicken tortilla soup. With a bar of toppings - shredded cheese, Fritos or tortilla strips, onion, cilantro, avocado, sour cream, whatever else. And cinnamon rolls for desert. Because apparently it's an Iowa thing that when you're in elementary school and chili day that you also get cinnamon rolls, so they obviously must go hand in hand for the rest of your life.

[irene adler]

Chicken tortilla soup with tortilla chips, guac, and sour cream or chili and cornbread are my favorites when it's cold.

[h]

Jan 30, 2015 17:25:52 GMT -5 @bonsoirlune said:

How cold is it where you are? I often make kebobs that I can toss on the grill with a rice/orzo salad. This wouldn't be appealing if it's super cold though.

Pulled pork in the slow cooker

Soup and fancy grilled cheese

Fondue

Kabobs on the grill with some sort of orzo/ rice/coucous/quinoa salad thing is my go to for summer entertaining.

And now I may need DH to pick up Greek on his way home...

[purpleminion]

A baked potato bar?

[livinitup]

Jan 30, 2015 16:00:59 GMT -5 whitemerlot said:

Cooking a very casual dinner for 6 adults and 2 kids tomorrow. Any ideas?

I would prefer not to do Italian or tacos.

So? How was the dinner? What did you serve?

[whitemerlot]

It was great! I ended up doing kabobs as suggested by @bonsoirlune