An informal dinner, need advice!

[Ramen]

My boyfriend and I are having another couple over for the evening, and I will be serving dinner. Nothing formal, but I am aiming higher than Hamburger Helper.

I've never really cooked for anyone but the two of us (except for Thanksgiving, and that's fancier than I want to go).

Finger-type food would be good, just nothing too messy. We're probably going to play computer games, so a snack that could keep fingers clean (not necessarily part of the actual dinner) might be a good notion.

They are not vegitarian, so meat is ok, and it doesn't have to be overly "light", you guys were just the best resource that I could think of. :^)

We usually just order pizza, or chinese.

[chefbec]

Might I suggest something that can bake for awhile. This way you're not stuck in the kitchen doing a lot of prep work.

Go through any cookbooks you have and find a good lasagna or other casserole. If you have Moosewood Cookbook, that lasagna recipe is excellent. Or just buy lasagna noodles and there is usually good recipe right on the box (meat and meatless versions). Same thing for stuffed manicotti or stuffed shells. All can be prepared way ahead and then baked. Serve this with a nice salad and some French bread, then a yummy dessert.

Another one of my favorite dinners is chicken parmesan. I take frozen, breaded chicken tenders (I buy at Sam's Club) and put some spaghetti sauce in the bottom of a pan, then the frozen chicken, then some grated mozzarella, then cover with sauce, then top with grated Romano cheese. I bake this at 450 degrees for 20-25 minutes (covered) then remove the cover and broil to brown. This is great once again with salad and bread.

If you want to serve an appetizer, I like to put out light tortilla chips and salsa, and baby carrots with bean dip that I buy at the market. Very simple! Good luck!! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

[Ramen]

chips & salsa and the dipping veggies are a done deal - thanks!

chicken parm sounds excellent (and easy), just what I was looking for. Sounds like I could serve that on a bed of some kind of noodles maybe, for a one-dish meal? Ooo, and I'll make some garlic bread.

[MrsReber]

We had some friends over for an informal get together last year. Here's what I made:

Spinach Artichoke Dip
Black Bean Taco Salad
Pizza
Ooey Gooey Brownies

My husband also bought some shrimp and three frozen lobster tails (I don't eat seafood). Then we just sort of picked (and drank) all evening. They raved about the food. Turns out my friend's husband is a taco salad freak! Lucky guess on that one.

[clairea]

I almost always make lasagna for these types of gatherings. It is so easy, can be done ahead, and it can be different every time depending on what you put in it. Just add some crusty bread and a good salad and you are all set.

If you want another appetizer idea, I served CL's Asiago Dip recently and everybody raved about it.

[SusanMac]

one of my favorite appetizers is shrimp cocktail. It's low fat, good for you and unbelievably easy (I definitely spend the extra money for precooked/peeled/deveined) And, for whatever reason, it comes across as somewhat fancy (I guess because most people expect chips, not "real" food) And it's also not heavy, so there's plenty of room left for the main course.

BTW...keep us posted on how it goes. Hopefully you'll get hooked on dinner parties. I find it completely fun. You're right -- it doesn't have to be formal, and it's much more fun to stay at home drinking wine with a few friends all night than getting dressed up and dealing with traffic.

[chefbec]

Originally posted by Ramen:
chips & salsa and the dipping veggies are a done deal - thanks!

chicken parm sounds excellent (and easy), just what I was looking for. Sounds like I could serve that on a bed of some kind of noodles maybe, for a one-dish meal? Ooo, and I'll make some garlic bread.

Yes, over pasta is great!!

[BarbaraL]

This is a really easy recipe that tastes great! I've given quantities for 4 or 8 people (first number serves 4). The sauce also makes a great gravy.

Chicken in Wine

Skinless, boneless chicken breasts - 4 or 8
Dried onion soup mix (like Lipton's) -- 1/2 or 1 package
Cream of mushroom soup -- 1 or 2 cans
White wine -- 1/2 or 1 soup-cans full (measure using the empty mushroom soup can)

Brown chicken. Sprinkle dried onion soup on bottom of baking dish or uncovered casserole. Heat mushroom soup on the stove; add wine and stir. Place chicken in baking dish and cover with mushroom soup and wine. Bake uncovered at 350 degrees for 1 to 1 1/2 hours. (I've found one hour is plenty).

Serve with rice.


[This message has been edited by BarbaraL (edited 04-14-2001).]