~~~Dinner party thread~~~

stoneycakes

We're hosting my family for Christmas this year.  Can we have an idea thread for party food?  We don't sit down at the table or anything, but we eat both main dishes and apps.  It's a potluck and I try to make something substantial so that it doesn't really matter what everyone else brings.  

stoneycakes

Last year we did a ham, but I wasn't super impressed with the quality and I don't know that I want to spend $75 on a really good one.  I was thinking maybe a lasagna or baked ziti this year?  With All. The. Garlic. Bread.

stoneycakes

ovenrack said:

This is a good idea.  It turns out I'm cooking for my husband, H, my sister, and my FIL.  The addition of my FIL throws everything out of whack.  No burritos for Christmas dinner.  I need ideas.

LOL.  I wish my extended family like Mexican food.  I can rock out a Mexican spread like no one's business.  

stoneycakes

I'm totally making Meesh's cucumber salad cups! I'll make Caesar style if we do Italian stuff.

unaveragejane

I made lasagnas one year for Christmas dinner. Everyone was tired of turkey and ham by then, so it was great.

If I could have cheese, I would totally figure out how to do a hearty Mac and cheese with bacon.

stoneycakes

Does this happen on Christmas day, @Stringy813?  What time should I swing by?

stoneycakes

unaveragejane said:

I made lasagnas one year for Christmas dinner. Everyone was tired of turkey and ham by then, so it was great. If I could have cheese, I would totally figure out how to do a hearty Mac and cheese with bacon.

Mac and cheese sounds pretty awesome, Jane. 

stoneycakes

@stringy813, our go to apps are stuffed mushrooms and an antipasto plate with asst Italian deli meats, Provolone cheese, olives, fresh fennel, roasted red peppers.  I'll give you the mushroom recipe if you're interested.  I've posted it here before.  It's always a big hit.

stoneycakes

stringy813 said:

stoneycakes said:

Does this happen on Christmas day, @Stringy813?  What time should I swing by?

It used to always be Xmas eve. Now it will be the saturday after xmas in NJ. My family is too spread out to win actual xmas day at this point.

Well crap.  That's too far to travel for appetizers

stoneycakes

@stringy813, the mushrooms are really easy.  You de-stem 2 pkgs of mushrooms and lay them out on your baking sheet.  Pour a couple of drops of your favorite vinaigrette into each cap.  Then crush one sleeve of Ritz crackers and add one stick of melted butter and a stick of Cabot sharp cheddar cheese, shredded.  You don't have to use Cabot, but I know those sticks are the right size and I always forget how many ounces they are.  Mix together, fill the mushrooms and bake at 350 until they're golden brown on top and the mushrooms are cooked.  About 35-45 minutes.  

They are really rich and you could probably use less butter and still get a good result.

My DH makes them really kickass by mincing up the stems with finely chopped onion and garlic, sauteeing it, and adding it to the filling.  I always make them the lazy way, haha.

bumpuser9353653

My dad makes these awesome meatballs in a crock pot. It's just frozen meatballs with Chili Sauce and Grape Jelly. That's it. I think the ratio is 2:1 chili sauce: jelly

stoneycakes

ovenrack said:

That's it.  I'm making mushroom caps this year!

Sometimes, when DH isn't home, I make them for myself for dinner.  That's how much I like them.

TJ1979

Mushrooms are vile.

stoneycakes

TJ1979 said:

Mushrooms are vile.

But if you had to eat a mushroom, wouldn't you want it marinated in dressing and filled with cheese, butter and crackers?  You know you would.

TJ1979

ovenrack said:

Oh TJ.  I agreed with you for the first eighteen years of my life.  

I have no idea whether to love tit this or not.  I'm so confused!

stoneycakes

ovenrack said:

My husband won't be home for dinner for the next two nights.  Hmmmmmmm...

You should probably do a test run just to make sure the recipe is good.  I'm on my own for dinner tonight, too.  Stuffed mushrooms and ice cream is looking like a distinct possibility.   

stoneycakes

rugbymama said:

My dad makes these awesome meatballs in a crock pot. It's just frozen meatballs with Chili Sauce and Grape Jelly. That's it. I think the ratio is 2:1 chili sauce: jelly

I have had something similar with Kielbasa and a sauce of 1/2 ketchup and 1/2 grape jelly.  I bet it's better with chili sauce.  I think I added chili powder last time I made it.

Kelly11235

We make sausage rolls for most parties/potlucks.

This is the recipe we use, but we use whatever mustard is in the fridge.  Bake at 400F.

Usually we use two boxes of pre-made puff pastry, and one tube of sausage.

https://allrecipes.co.uk/recipe/6768/mark-s-sausage-rolls.aspx

stoneycakes

ovenrack said:

stoneycakes said:

ovenrack said:

My husband won't be home for dinner for the next two nights.  Hmmmmmmm...

You should probably do a test run just to make sure the recipe is good.  I'm on my own for dinner tonight, too.  Stuffed mushrooms and ice cream is looking like a distinct possibility.   

H also is loving mushrooms lately.  Maybe I can prep them during nap time and we can eat dinner together.  I love eating dinner at 5pm... it means second dinner at 7pm can be ice cream!

Jealous.  Mine picks mushrooms out of things and says "yuck."  

TJ1979

Kelly11235 said:

We make sausage rolls for most parties/potlucks.

This is the recipe we use, but we use whatever mustard is in the fridge.  Bake at 400F.

Usually we use two boxes of pre-made puff pastry, and one tube of sausage.

https://allrecipes.co.uk/recipe/6768/mark-s-sausage-rolls.aspx

TJ1979

stoneycakes said:

TJ1979 said:

Mushrooms are vile.

But if you had to eat a mushroom, wouldn't you want it marinated in dressing and filled with cheese, butter and crackers?  You know you would.

Assuming I COULD eat those things... yes.  But I can't, so I'll go hungry when I come to your house.  Gawd you're a terrible hostess.

TJ1979

OMG Stringy, I was talking to MH about you last night too!

stoneycakes

Oh @TJ1979, if you came to my house, there wouldn't be soy, milk, gluten, nuts, olives, bananas, or mushrooms in sight.  Did I get it all?  I'm the hostess with the mostest.

TJ1979

I told him I did my push ups naked and in the closet, much like a younger imaginary friend Stringy.

TJ1979

Did that cross the line?

TJ1979

stoneycakes said:

Oh @TJ1979, if you came to my house, there wouldn't be soy, milk, gluten, nuts, olives, bananas, or mushrooms in sight.  Did I get it all?  I'm the hostess with the mostest.

Well that's just about enough reason to come visit you.

Kelly11235

TJ1979 said:

Kelly11235 said:

We make sausage rolls for most parties/potlucks.

This is the recipe we use, but we use whatever mustard is in the fridge.  Bake at 400F.

Usually we use two boxes of pre-made puff pastry, and one tube of sausage.

https://allrecipes.co.uk/recipe/6768/mark-s-sausage-rolls.aspx

Pervert.

What would *you* call it then?  Bulk ground sausage meat?

TJ1979

Kelly11235 said:

TJ1979 said:

Kelly11235 said:

We make sausage rolls for most parties/potlucks.

This is the recipe we use, but we use whatever mustard is in the fridge.  Bake at 400F.

Usually we use two boxes of pre-made puff pastry, and one tube of sausage.

https://allrecipes.co.uk/recipe/6768/mark-s-sausage-rolls.aspx

Pervert.

What would *you* call it then?  Bulk ground sausage meat?

A tube of sausage is EXACTLY what I would call it.  Then I would giggle.

stoneycakes

TJ1979 said:

stoneycakes said:

Oh @TJ1979, if you came to my house, there wouldn't be soy, milk, gluten, nuts, olives, bananas, or mushrooms in sight.  Did I get it all?  I'm the hostess with the mostest.

Well that's just about enough reason to come visit you.

Start shopping for plane tickets.  I'll make fish tacos with homemade corn tortillas and beergaritas.  

jess9802

My family's traditional Christmas dinner is a standing rib roast. It is so, so, so, good, and is great even at more casual parties. My mom always roasted hers in the oven, but DH and I use a rotisserie cooker, and it turns out AMAZING.

stoneycakes

Mapleme said:

TJ1979 said:

stoneycakes said:

Oh @TJ1979, if you came to my house, there wouldn't be soy, milk, gluten, nuts, olives, bananas, or mushrooms in sight.  Did I get it all?  I'm the hostess with the mostest.

Well that's just about enough reason to come visit you.

Start shopping for plane tickets.  I'll make fish tacos with homemade corn tortillas and beergaritas.  

I'll be right over

LOL.  I will make them for you, too!

stoneycakes

jess9802 said:

My family's traditional Christmas dinner is a standing rib roast. It is so, so, so, good, and is great even at more casual parties. My mom always roasted hers in the oven, but DH and I use a rotisserie cooker, and it turns out AMAZING.

I have always wanted to try one of these.  They are so festive!  I've never made one, though, and I'm afraid to do much experimenting when entertaining. And they're also expensive, so I never want to do a dry run.  So basically, I'll never make one, LOL.

jess9802

stoneycakes said:

I have always wanted to try one of these.  They are so festive!  I've never made one, though, and I'm afraid to do much experimenting when entertaining. And they're also expensive, so I never want to do a dry run.  So basically, I'll never make one, LOL.

Don't be afraid! They're pretty easy to make, I swear. If you know someone with a rotisserie cooker (like the infomercial Ronco Showtime Rotisserie cookers), borrow it and give it a shot. The last time I made one I was pregnant with DS and couldn't keep bread/sweets down, but I DEVOURED that roast. Yumm. Trust me - your guests will love you. :-)

candlequeen

TJ1979 said:

Mushrooms are vile.

You're killing me smalls!

stoneycakes

ovenrack said:

stoneycakes said:

Mapleme said:

TJ1979 said:

stoneycakes said:

Oh @TJ1979, if you came to my house, there wouldn't be soy, milk, gluten, nuts, olives, bananas, or mushrooms in sight.  Did I get it all?  I'm the hostess with the mostest.

Well that's just about enough reason to come visit you.

Start shopping for plane tickets.  I'll make fish tacos with homemade corn tortillas and beergaritas.  

I'll be right over

LOL.  I will make them for you, too!

I've got the car running.

Well if the car's already running then we're having stuffed mushrooms, ice cream and beer for dinner.  I wasn't expecting company.  I hope that's okay.  Now you know my secret solitary dining shame.

stoneycakes

ovenrack said:

That sounds amazing. Any tips on what to do with this baby? Because he sure ain't coming with me.

It's pretty frowned upon to leave them home alone at that age.  So I guess it's a sitter, or we'll have to share the mushrooms with him.

Kelly11235

stoneycakes said:

jess9802 said:

My family's traditional Christmas dinner is a standing rib roast. It is so, so, so, good, and is great even at more casual parties. My mom always roasted hers in the oven, but DH and I use a rotisserie cooker, and it turns out AMAZING.

I have always wanted to try one of these.  They are so festive!  I've never made one, though, and I'm afraid to do much experimenting when entertaining. And they're also expensive, so I never want to do a dry run.  So basically, I'll never make one, LOL.

Super easy!  We did one the Christmas before last using Alton Brown (Good Eats) method/recipe.  It was insanely tasty.

If you want to do a test run, you can get a smaller and much less expensive roast that's only two or three ribs.

Mandmeesh

Kelly11235 said:

stoneycakes said:

jess9802 said:

My family's traditional Christmas dinner is a standing rib roast. It is so, so, so, good, and is great even at more casual parties. My mom always roasted hers in the oven, but DH and I use a rotisserie cooker, and it turns out AMAZING.

I have always wanted to try one of these.  They are so festive!  I've never made one, though, and I'm afraid to do much experimenting when entertaining. And they're also expensive, so I never want to do a dry run.  So basically, I'll never make one, LOL.

Super easy!  We did one the Christmas before last using Alton Brown (Good Eats) method/recipe.  It was insanely tasty.

If you want to do a test run, you can get a smaller and much less expensive roast that's only two or three ribs.

I was going to suggest Alton's recipe too