help with menu for dinner shower

[kathy123]

Hi Everyone

We are having a shower next weekend. The bride wanted it to be a dinner party.

I've planned
green salad
garlic bread
Barefoot Contessa five cheese pasta

However, I need easy to prepare additional item incase some one does not like the pasta. What do you suggest? I am drawing a blank.

Thanks

[wallycat]

HOw could someone not like cheese and pasta :D :p

I'm wondering if something protein would be OK--not sure what your budget is for this...incase there are Atkins/South Beach people who don't want to do a garlic bread AND a pasta.

An easy chicken dish?
Maybe meatballs?
I'm also wondering if a poached cold salmon dish would work...

hope someone else more creative posts :)

[VitaBrevisEst]

looks like you've got us all stumped. i saw your post last night and sat there for a full 5 minutes coming up with...nothing! i know that recipe well, i kept thinking, "what would Ina do?" how many people are you having? barring vegan diets or food allergies, i agree with wallycat, who doesn't like pasta and cheese? but i'm also going to post the question on the BC board i usually frequent, maybe the folks there will have some ideas...

[stefania4]

Perhaps have some chicken sausage prepared in marinara, so that people can have it with their pasta or as a stand-alone?

[VitaBrevisEst]

re-hi kathy. the good folks at the BC board have been replying... it falls into three groups: 1. ham -- a lot of people mentioned this. 2. shrimp scampi (ditto) 3. some kind of sausage casserole. here is one in particular:

posted January 10, 2004 12:02 PM
This would go really well with it as a second entree. It can be made with either turkey or pork Italian sausage links, and both entrees would go well with a tossed salad & bread. It's a recipe from one of my mother's dearest friends, who died many years ago, and was a featured selection at many parties.

Mrs. Bureau's Sausage Casserole

Brown:
2 lbs. sweet Italian sausages
1 lb. hot Italian sausages
2-3 bell peppers, sliced or cut in chunks
2-3 onions, sliced or cut in chunks

Pour off fat. Cut sausages into chunks. Put sausages & veggies in a casserole dish and add in:

1 - 2 cans mushrooms, drained
28 oz. can tomatoes in puree
salt & pepper to taste
garlic powder to taste
1 tsp. oregano
2 tsp. sugar
1/4 cup mozzarella, shredded

Cover casserole & bake at 350 degrees for 1 1/2 hours.

The mix of hot & sweet sausages really makes the dish!
From: Connecticut

i like the idea of ham because it's not much more work for you and can stand on its own with the salad and bread, or else could take the pasta as a side. otoh, the sausage casserole concept is appealing, too. and it's the rare person who doesn't like shrimp.
if anything else comes along i'll let you know.