Cooking/ Entertaining for a Group- ideas

[awkwardturtle]

I love the what's for dinner threads, it's always good to have new ideas in the recipe book. 

My question is, what are things you normally cook for a group of people (family, friends, co-workers, etc.)? So, things other than everyday dinners..

I like to do an appetizer for when people arrive.  My go to is normally bruschetta because it's super easy to do.  I always struggle with mains because I don't want to be prepping everything and cooking while people are visiting.  When the weather is nice, DH will grill so we can prep everything beforehand. I also like to do a dessert I can make before, so banana bread, a pie, or lemon posset (recipe from my English MIL). 

Also if you have any other bits you like to do, please share! I like to have some fresh flowers on the table when we have guests


Lemon posset recipe here: www.redonline.co.uk/food/recipes/lemon-posset-with-warmed-blueberries?img=1

[27alex]

Buffalo chicken dip is always a hit here, people usually request it. During the summer we always grill when we have people over. Taco/fajita bar is another go too. Beef, chicken, and a variety of toppings. Best part is I can prep most of it before hand.

[rablissful]

Brie en crout is my favorite appetizer to make. It has literally never not been a hit. I get asked to make it all the time!
m.allrecipes.com/recipe/151596/holiday-brie-en-croute/

Dinners depend on who is coming. I obviously prefer bbq because it's easy. I've also done crock pot meals and homemade chicken pot pie. Crock pot is awesome since you can prep beforehand. I've done whole chickens, pot roasts, and even corned beef in my crock pot.

My go to dessert is always cupcakes. I've also done raspberry lemonade bars and pie.

[requiressnacks]

The last dinner party I hosted, I cooked a filet tenderloin. It is one of those set it and forget it type of meals that really impresses! The only downside is the cost.

[rablissful]

Jun 17, 2015 18:29:03 GMT -5 27alex said:

Buffalo chicken dip is always a hit here, people usually request it. During the summer we always grill when we have people over. Taco/fajita bar is another go too. Beef, chicken, and a variety of toppings. Best part is I can prep most of it before hand.

+1 for buffalo chicken dip! I actually will make that for my SO and I for dinner once in a while, particularly during football season!

[emilie]

I like to cook for groups of friends and have a few go to menus. The slow cooker and side salads are usually my key to sanity, as I can use both to cook ahead and people can serve themselves.

Mexican: get a bunch of flour and corn tortillas. In the slow cooker, some sort of meat (carnitas, carne asada, mole chicken). Taco fixins on the side (tomatoes, onions, avocado, cheese, etc.) Maybe sauteed mushrooms as a filling if there are veg people coming. A couple Mexican side dishes (rice and beans, spicy corn salad).

Meatballs and sides: Make mini turkey, lamb, or beef meatballs and bake them, and then put them in slow cooker with sauce. Make a bunch of yummy side salads - usually pasta, lentils, and various veggies.

Grilling: Obviously, this one is not slow cooker, but you can marinate a bunch of meat or chicken, or make skewers ahead of time, and throw them on the grill, and serve a bunch of easy side salads along with them.

[shadesofgold]

I love this thread! Will definitely be checking in for ideas.

My husband makes bomb.com lasagnas - meat or veggie. It takes time to prep, but is great for groups. Ditto tacos. I also like making a few pizzas with different topping combos - prosciutto with mushrooms, spinach and roasted garlic with ricotta, margarita, etc.

These sorts of events are the only chance I seem to get to try out all the Smitten Kitchen dessert recipes I bookmark!

[PepperPottsJ]

Apps on my brain now..

Figs grilled with goat cheese drizzled with honey or wrapped in prosciutto
Deviled eggs
Devils on horseback (I make them with manchengo)
This dip was fabulous with chips in the evening and bagels in the morning

In addition to fresh flowers I also try to have a signature cocktail coordinated with the theme or flavors

This is what I did for New Years brunch

The Bloody Mary bar added great decor, I also think based on size of gathering, having 1 little piece of do it yourself allows for evening out the main course prep time? I probably get a little carried away with making sure the theme extends throughout the event.

I LOVE to entertain, unfortunately my apartment isn't as conducive as I'd like.

ETA Shrimp individually placed in the little plastic shot glasses (or if you are that fancy real ones) with cocktail sauce in the bottoms - huge hit, or oyster bloody mary shooters (I personally will not serve raw fish because I am terrified of making someone sick no matter how clean and fresh it is) and that pic was HUGE sorry

[PepperPottsJ]

Jun 17, 2015 18:31:59 GMT -5 rablissful said:

Jun 17, 2015 18:29:03 GMT -5 27alex said:

Buffalo chicken dip is always a hit here, people usually request it. During the summer we always grill when we have people over. Taco/fajita bar is another go too. Beef, chicken, and a variety of toppings. Best part is I can prep most of it before hand.

+1 for buffalo chicken dip! I actually will make that for my SO and I for dinner once in a while, particularly during football season!

Buffalo chicken dip served in a bacon bowl! This is how I know H will never leave me haha!!

Edit letters words

[madamewaffles]

I tend to do a lot of finger foods for parties, rather than serving courses. Most of these things can be made ahead of time and kept warm or in the fridge until serving time so you can enjoy your time with guests!

For the last party I hosted I made:
Mini Beef Wellingtons
Shrimp Cocktail (I made it pretty by placing dry ice in a large bowl and setting another smaller bowl inside that, layered with mixed greens and then arranged the shrimp in a fan pattern with lemon wedges),
Salad Caprese on a Stick (grape tomatoes, chunks of fresh mozzarella and a couple leaves of basil pierced through a skewer, drizzle of balsamic)
Burger Sliders with fixings
Roasted Onion Dip with crudites

For desserts, I made mini custard fruit tarts

[Andrea]

For apps:
-my go to is goat cheese, bacon & walnut balls served with apple slices.
- bacon wrapped mini potatoes & spicy dip
- chicken buffalo dip/spinach artichoke for more casual affairs
Main dishes:
During the summer I love grilling. Last week we smoked a couple of Boston butts; that is always a crowd favorite. I also loved making bbq chicken (I bake it in beer first, then finish it off in the grill). Beer butt chickens are also cheap & easy. For nicer dinners filet tenderloin (looking at you requiressnacks) is amazeballs.

And as for sides you can always grill any seasonal veggies with corn & a fresh garden salad.


For dessert chocolate chess pie or Apple crumb


Now I wanna have a dinner party.

[pinkcat]

All I have to say is I'd like to be invited to all of your next dinner parties, ok? all of these sound delicious!

[emilie]

Also, fruit crumbles are really easy desserts for a group. You just put a bunch of fruit in a baking dish, make a topping out of butter/brown sugar/sometimes oats/whatever and bake for a while. Get some ice cream and some whipped cream (or make your own if you're feeling fancy).

[shadesofgold]

Dear PepperPottsJ,

Yes, I will come to your next party. Thanks so much for the thoughtful invitation.

See you soon,
Shades

[Andrea]

Jun 17, 2015 19:09:02 GMT -5 shadesofgold said:

Dear PepperPottsJ,

Yes, I will come to your next party. Thanks so much for the thoughtful invitation.

See you soon,
Shades

Seconded, you had me at goat cheese!

[awkwardturtle]

Wow these are all amazing ideas! I can see I need to step up my appetizer game for sure.

--runs to grab notebook to write all of this down--

[wannabmama]

I love to do pulled chicken or pork in the slow cooker for a crowd!

I also do tons of apps and sides. The dips already mentioned, and a specialty of mine is spicy nuts and cheese platters.
I'm with you awkwardturtle on the bruschetta, I cook fresh bread (the kind in a can...I cheat) but then the house smells so good and mix up bruschetta topping for folks to put on themselves.
We are having a cookout/clambake next month and are doing trays of steamers simmered in wine and spices that we can grill throughout the day, mini lobster roll sliders, and smoked chicken...with potato salad, coleslaw and corn sides. A lot of stuff we can prep ahead and cook in batches!
For family get togethers...lasagne. I do a meat and an eggplant (we have some veggie only people but everyone loves that lasagne for some reason).
Oh I love to entertain and have parties!!

[onesweetworld]

I love this thread.

My signature appetizer is my stuffed mushrooms.

Last Christmas I made these delicious Caesar salad bites in phyllo cups. (Chopped and dressed salad and filled the cups with a mini piece of bacon on top)