March 2011 Moms

Anyone wanna help with my menu?

My birthday dinner party is Saturday and I'm completely clueless as to what to make.  There will be 12 of us...

Originally I was thinking about roasted meat, starch, and two veggies.  I had no ideas past that.

Then I thought of lasagna, salad, homemade bread.  But I'm not in love with that idea either.

Absolutely nothing sounds like a great idea and the thought of going through my stacks and stacks of cookbooks just sounds like an exhausting chore that will likely lead to no ideas.  So any and all ideas are welcome!

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Re: Anyone wanna help with my menu?

  • Honestly, I usually go with lasagna for a big group because its easy and you hav ea salad and some bread and its a big full meal, and typically who doesn't like lasagna!??!?! 

    I would personally do something in the crock put or something, that you can have done or cooking ahead of time, so you're not spending the whole evening in the kitchen and exahusted afterwards- i hate having people over for dinner and not being able to visit.  Good luck hon.  Sorry I'm not much more help. 

    HarLynn's mama
  • Tacos!
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  • Here is my recipe for roast pork with bacon, it is fabulous I would serve it with roasted red skin potatoes and some green beans and maybe  a salad.This recipe is to die for, so moist and delicious.

    Ingredients:

    ? 1 boneless pork loin, about 5 to 6 pounds

    ? 4 to 6 slices bacon

    ? Rub Mixture:

    ? 1 teaspoon chili powder

    ? 1/2 teaspoon paprika

    ? 1 1/2 teaspoons salt

    ? 1/2 teaspoon coarse ground black pepper

    ? 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin

    ? 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

    ? Glaze:

    ? 1 cup light brown sugar, packed

    ? 2 tablespoons flour

    ? 2 tablespoons cider vinegar

    ? 1/2 teaspoon dry mustard

    Preparation:

    Heat oven to 350?.

    Place pork loin in a roasting pan. Combine the rub ingredients and rub over the pork. Cut each strip of bacon in half crosswise and lay them over the pork loin. Roast for about 1 1/2 to 2 hours, or until the pork registers about 150?.

    In the meantime, combine the brown sugar, flour, cider vinegar, and dry mustard in a saucepan. Bring to a simmer and simmer for about 1 minute. Spoon over the pork and return to the oven. Roast for about 15 to 20 minutes longer, or until pork registers 160?.
    Serves 6 to 8.


  • Pork tenderloin is a good meat to roast. It's fairly cheap for the amount you get, it cooks up pretty quick, and you can go SO many ways with the flavors. McCormick makes a pork dry rub that is excellent on pork tenderloin. My dad uses a rotisserie cooker (wish I had one!) and it almost makes the house smell of stovetop stuffing. It's great!

    You could kill 2 birds with one stone and roast potatoes with the meat while it cooks. This is one of my favorite ways to do potatos. Cut up a bunch of yukon golds, or red potatoes, and cover them in your favorite seasoning and some extra virgin olive oil. Put them in a shallow baking dish and cook em for 45 mins to an hour. I have a garlic and crushed peppercorn rub that I use for these. It's so fantastic. I think it's salt, pepper, garlic, and an $8 price tag.. it's good though lol. I add parm to them sometimes too. I'm a big cheese fan lol!

  • Oppps, I should have added that though I started eating meat again, I still don't eat pork.

    I thought about turkey but again, I'm rather meh about it.

    image Lilypie First Birthday tickers
  • if you decide to go with lasagne, I have an AMAZING recipe
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  • Oh!  I love to cook!  Fun stuff!  What about if you do a theme and go from there?  Make your own pizzas are fun. Prepare a bunch of toppings and everyone makes their own pizza you throw on the grill.  Add a big salad and make tiramisu for dessert and you are good.

     Mexican is fun, too!  Taco bar with refried bean, guac, etc. is great as PP mentioned.  

     Asian?  Dumplings with a ton of different dipping sauces (you can cheat and get apps from the  chinese food place) and then plain ice cream and green tea ice cream for dessert. 

    You can do a roast chicken with mashed potatoes and a veg.

     OMG I am so hungry now... Have a great bday dinner whatever you make! 

     

  • Maybe chicken pie?  If you put veggies in it then it turns into a complete meal.  Chicken is usually a welcomed meat by most people.  I also have this awesome (easy) recipe if you want it, for chicken broccoli alfredo that you can make ahead of time and put in the fridge.  You just sprinkle some parmesan cheese ontop and brown it a little.  It's great for a crowd!
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  • Oh my!

    Perhaps lasagna would be the best way to go.. or stuffed shells if lasagna isn't exciting enough. Another kinda easy idea keeping with the kind of.. Italian theme is chicken parm meatball subs. It's a rachael ray recipe, and I've made it a few times. It's so effortless I just can't even believe how yummy it comes out. You bake off the meatballs and make the sauce while they're cooking. They only take 15 mins to cook. You can find the recipe if you google it. I found it in her 2,4,6,8 cookbook and I think the recipe is written for 6 people.

  • imagelovesBup:

    Oh my!

    Perhaps lasagna would be the best way to go.. or stuffed shells if lasagna isn't exciting enough. Another kinda easy idea keeping with the kind of.. Italian theme is chicken parm meatball subs. It's a rachael ray recipe, and I've made it a few times. It's so effortless I just can't even believe how yummy it comes out. You bake off the meatballs and make the sauce while they're cooking. They only take 15 mins to cook. You can find the recipe if you google it. I found it in her 2,4,6,8 cookbook and I think the recipe is written for 6 people.

     

    I'm gonna look up that recipe it sounds so yummy! I love rachel ray! And its actually something dH would eat!  He's so picky!!!  This baby better not follow after his food choices! lol 

    HarLynn's mama
  • Pork enchiladas with salsa verde ;D NOM! then a corn/tomato salad on the side and re-fried black beans :D I use the recipe from everydayfood.com and they always go over nicely.
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  • sorry - didn't see the anti pork comment. Sub Chicken :D
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  • For my b-day last year, I did a fondue party. 

    First we did a cheese fondue with bread and veggies for dippers.

    Then we did an herb broth fondue and dipped chicken, beef, shrimp, and mushrooms. I made roasted potatoes and a salad as side dishes.

    For dessert, we did a chocolate fondue and dipped fruit, pretzels, and marshmallows.

    It was a lot of fun and pretty easy to put together! I have one fondue pot so I borrowed a couple others from friends.  

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  • i like the taco bar idea, it would be easy and yummy. or you could make enchiladas . definitely something that you can make alot of fairly quick and easily.
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  • Lasagna would be so yummy right now! Do it up with grilled veggies (zucchini, summer squash, eggplant) Everything is so fresh and gigantic this time of year it is the perfect meal for a group!

     or.... one of my favorites when we have a bigger group is creole food (but make sure everyone likes spicy...) 

    A pot of etouffe or gumbo and then you can adjust to make as meaty/meatless as you like. 

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  • imageEmandChris08:

    For my b-day last year, I did a fondue party. 

    First we did a cheese fondue with bread and veggies for dippers.

    Then we did an herb broth fondue and dipped chicken, beef, shrimp, and mushrooms. I made roasted potatoes and a salad as side dishes.

    For dessert, we did a chocolate fondue and dipped fruit, pretzels, and marshmallows.

    It was a lot of fun and pretty easy to put together! I have one fondue pot so I borrowed a couple others from friends.  

     

    I LOVE Fondue!!!! 

    HarLynn's mama
  • For the meat, it's so fancy but oh so easy to make:

    Pound out a turkey breast for each person, spoon in a tablespoon worth of cream cheese mixed with chopped green onion. Wrap breast around the mixture until it forms into a sort of ball. Wrap a piece of bacon around and secure with a toothpick if needed. Broil for 30 minutes, flipping every ten.

    It looks and tastes sooooo fancy but only uses four ingredients and is very simple to make! Happy birthday!

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    EDD 1/31/13, MC May 17. EDD 3/31/13, MC July 26. I miss you so much already my angel loves

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