"Go To" Meal for Entertaining

A nice big salad, macaroni & cheese and stewed tomatoes. Anything one pot/dish would be easiest for you. (sheperds pie, stir fry, a rice bake) Lasagna can be made a day ahead and just add time for cooking if you take it straight from the fridge. I also love just appetizers (dips and finger foods). Dips can be made ahead and choose apps that cook at the same temp. and/or in a mini crock pot. I know that I always like to spend time with the hostess and not have her slaving away in the kitchen with cooking and cleaning!!
Good luck!

A.,

If you eat pork you can use pork but I use a turkey tenderloin. The turkey tenderloins are usually seasoned, I get the apple wood one and rinse it off and pat it dry. make small slits in the meat, just big enough to slide some garlic into them. Drizzle with lime juice, rub down with cumin & drizzle with EVOO. Place on lined cookie sheet and cook at 375. I use an internal thermometer and cook til well done. I usually make a potato ragout with this and a steamed vegetable. The potato ragout is easy. Scrub your potatoes, dice with skins on. Dice an onion and 3 cloves or garlic. Place potatoes in skillet and EVOO, resist urge to move them. Let them brown then stir them up and let them sit again and brown some more. Add onions, garlic, black pepper, & plenty of salt. Cook till onions are translucent. Add 1.5 cups chicken stock & one cup white wine. Let reduce by 1/2 & remove from heat. Add 1-2 table spoons COLD butter and mix in.

Hope you like it!! My family loves this recipe.

Hi A.!

I love to make lasagna or stuffed shells when I entertain. Both recipes feed a lot of people and are a hit. Also, sausage with peppers and onions ALWAYS goes over very well with our family and friends. I have a special way of making it, and if you would like the recipe, please e-mail me at ____@____.com and I will give it to you. Depending on what/who you are entertaining for, you can also do a theme night. We got together recently with our friends, and we set up a "make your own grilled chicken salad" night. We set all the fixings up buffet-style--grilled chicken, lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, sliced green/red peppers, onions, sliced hard boiled eggs, shredded cheese, etc. We also made 2-3 homemade dressings (so easy to do and SO MUCH BETTER!). We bought some oval shaped paper plates (like Chinet) and everyone (even the kids!) really enjoyed this! Our next get together is going to be "make your own quesadilla" night. It's a fun idea! Good luck!

I have a few that are easy, yet very 'presentable' for entertaining.

CHICKEN ENCHILADAS

4-5 cooked chicken breasts, diced or shredded
2 cans cream of chicken soup
1 cup medium salsa
1 can chicken broth
1 can diced green chilies
1 pkg frozen chopped spinach, thawed & squeezed dry
4 c. grated cheddar cheese
Flour tortillas

Combine soup, broth, salsa, spinach, and chilies in a saucepan; heat. Assemble enchiladas by placing a few tablespoons each of chicken, cheese, and sauce on flour tortillas and roll up. Place each enchilada seam-side down in a 9x13 baking dish close together. When pan is full, cover with remaining sauce and cheese. Cover and bake in a 350 oven for 30-45 min or until cheese is bubbling. Serve with lettuce, sour cream, black olives, etc.

SHRIMP FRA DIAVOLO

2lb large shrimp, peeled & deveined
2 tsp salt
2 tsp dried crushed red pepper flakes
6 tbsp olive oil, plus 1-2 tbsp
2 medium onions, sliced
2 cans diced tomatoes (not flavored)
2 cups dry white wine
6 garlic cloves, chopped
½ tsp dried oregano leaves
6 tbsp chopped fresh Italian parsley
6 tbsp chopped fresh basil leaves
2 tbsp capers

Toss the shrimp in a medium bowl with 1 tsp salt and red pepper flakes. Heat 6 tbsp oil in heavy large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the shrimp and sauté for about a minute, toss, and continue until just cooked through, about 1-2 minutes. Transfer shrimp to a large plate; set aside. Add the onion to the same skillet, adding 1-2 tsp olive oil to the pan, if necessary, and sauté until translucent, about 5 minutes. Add the tomatoes with their juices, wine, garlic, and oregano. Simmer until the sauce thickens slightly, about 20 min. Return the shrimp and any accumulated juices to the tomato mixture; toss to coat, and cook for 1-2 min so the flavors meld together. Stir in the parsley, basil, and capers; season with more salt to taste. Serve over cooked linguine noodles.

Crock pot meals. If you haven't yet, look for on line or in the store for books on crock pots ideas. I have done meatballs with a three cheese sauce and I have also gone to the local pretzel depot and order a pretzel tray. Something different. Think out side of the box. Anything goese and sometimes a good time to try new recipes.

Baked ziti it's easy and you can make a lot at one time.

Depends on crowd, of course, and amount of time I have to prepare, but here are my faves:

Poppy Seed Chicken (an easy crowd-pleaser)

Chili

Smoky Sweet Potatoe and Chicken Stoup (a Rachel Ray recipe) easy and SO delicious!!

Loaded and Stuffed Baked Potatoes (I let the guests each bring a filling and I bake the potatoes) Easy and everybody has something they like.

Build-Your-Own Nachos or Taco Salad or Fajitas(same principle as above, I provide the meat part and drinks, the guests bring the rest)

Hope that helps,
L.

For a meal, I love to do Baked Ziti. There is a great recipe for it right on the box. I forget which brand has the recipe but it is really good. Easy to bake it while entertaining guests because there is nothing to tend to in the kitchen. Make a big salad (can do ahead also) and get some good crusty Italian bread. Nice homey meal! My favorite salad lately is romaine lettuce, naval oranges sliced in small pieces, dried cranberries,a little red onion and slivered almonds, tossed and served with some peppercorn ranch dressing. AWESOME. Have a great night!

Pot roast
Spaghetti, rigatoni, ziti
BBQ pork or beef sandwiches (simmered in a crock pot)
Veggie trays, fruit, cheese and crackers

One time I roasted ham, turkey, and beef for sandwiches for a large family dinner. We had a variety of breads, toppings and gravies as well as salads. It wasn't as time consuming as I thought it would be - partly because I don't make everything from scratch (use bagged lettuce, shredded cabbage, prepared gravies, etc). I am a SAHM so I cooked one meat a day about a week before the dinner, cut them (love my electric knife) and froze them. It made peparation on the day of the dinner a breeze.

Baked ziti. It's so easy and you can make a couple trays if needed. I usually throw in ground turkey to make it a bit more substantial and add some protein. I also use whole wheat pasta (again, makes it a bit more substantial).

I usually make a pasta (baked ziti or pasta carbonara) or pulled beef or pork in the crock pot and serve with fresh cloverleaf egg rolls and a salad. When I make stuffed shells I use half ground beef and half bulk hot sausage for a little zip.
Or if you want a nicer presentation for a sit down dinner, I like chicken bundles made with crescent rolls, if you would like the recipe pm me w/your email and I will send you the recipe!

A.,

I've read lots of yummy suggestions on here (thanks, Ladies :)

But if you're looking for some "elegant" but easy ideas along the lines of the chicken breasts wrapped in bacon, I have several, and I try to make them as healthy as possible, but also have more indulgent recipes!

I make my living by offering simple meal & entertaining suggestions using Tastefully Simple's unique, economical seasonings, marinades, dressings, drinks, desserts... there are thousands of recipes online, and I enjoy the search feature, where you can type in slow cooker, casserole or an ingredient in the bottom search bar, & pull up recipes.

A few favorites:

Heather's Vidalia Chicken
Portabella & Brie Blossoms (easy appetizer)
Southwest Crab Cakes
Pomegranate Chipotle Pot Roast
Sweet Orange Roughy
Chicken Cordon Bleu Casserole
Merlot Filet
Pasta Carbonara

All our products are very potent, so a little goes a long way... let me know if you have questions! You can order right from my website, but enter my name as the host at checkout for lower, same-as-party shipping. tastefullysimple.com ID# 15230

I like to make vegan tofu lasagna the best.

15 lasagna noodles boiled and rinsed with cool water for handling
2 packages of non GMO extra firm tofu, squeeze it so you get all the liquid out and mix it with one or two teaspoons of lemon juice, some garlic, oregano, and black pepper
1 can of Contadina puree and one jar of Newmans Own marinara, add some garlic and oregano mix and heat
pkg. of Follow your Heart vegan mozzerella
Layer it as you would any lasagna and bake for 35 to 40 min at 400 degrees

You can find all this stuff at your local Wegmans. If you don't have a Wegmans, you can get what you can't find at your grocery store at a health food store. It's totally worth it, and so good and healthy. If you aren't used to soy products, it may take a little getting used to, just like with any other food. Once you get a taste for it, you can't get enough. :D

One of our favorites for entertaining is Nachos. I make a batch of chili in the crock pot and add velveeta cheese. I serve it with scoops chips. It seems to always be a hit.

Of course there are the standards: cheese and crackers, veggie trays, fresh fruit trays, assorted bread and spread items, dessert type items, etc.

Depending on the event particulars, I try to always offer something healthy and a variety to suit many different tastes and possible allergies.

I hope you have a wonderful party!

Oh, I just remembered, another idea especially good for kids events is to make finger sandwiches, like Peanut Butter and Jelly, and then cut out a particular shape with cookie cutters. We make star sandwiches and animal sandwiches, etc. Enjoy!

Thanks to all the ladies for these great ideas! When I am asked to bring a dish to a party, I usually bring spinach dip inside a round pumpernickel bread. The recipe is on the Knorr soup package. I like to pretend that it is good for you lol. It is really easy to make and everyone loves to eat it!
:)
N

Baked BBQ Chicken...SOO EASY!!

I take boneless, skinless chicken breasts (usually the frozen ones that come in a 3lb bag), defrost in the microwave, then...

Before anything, preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
Pour 3T of EVOO (Extra Virgin Olive Oil) in a glass 9x13 baking dish.
Season both sides of each thawed chicken breast with season salt, salt and pepper.
If desired, cut up 1 small onion in slices and place on top of oil before placing chicken in dish - place remaining onions on top of chicken when all placed.
Place chicken in dish after seasoning.
Cover chicken liberally with your favorite BBQ sauce (we use Kraft).
Cover with foil and bake for approx. 45 minutes.
Remove foil and bake for another 7-10min to crisp chicken a bit.
Serve with SteamFresh veggies and buttered rice! So easy, and all done in under an hour with easy clean up!!!

A. R there are loads of good recipes here, but I have to add one.

Italian Turkey Chili
I use canned beans to get done quick

1 pound of turkey browned
1 whole clove of garlic chopped
1 small onion chopped
2 cans of white beans (canollini)
1 can of chic peas,red kidney beans, dark red kidney beans or any kind of bean you can think of
1 bag frozen Italian style beans
1 can of Italian style diced tomatoes
1 large can of crushed tomatoes
1 bag of shredded cheddar cheese add after done cooking or let each person add there own
Hot sauce, salt and pepper to taste

good luck J.

If the meal is a casual dinner, all our guests love our Turkey Tacos.

We use ground turkey meat and cook and season it with Taco seasoning and a bit of cumin.

We then finely dice some tomatoes, iceberg lettuce, onion and then grate some cheese. (Combining montery jack and sharp cheddar really packs a good kick in the taco).

We also put out sour cream and low-fat sour cream so people can choose between the two.

Everyone fills their own tacos and puts what they want in.

Really simple but every one loves it.

For a more complicated, formal meal, I pound out some chicken breasts (one for each guest), bettween two sheets of wax paper. .

I place about three strips of bacon underneath the flattened chicken breast and then I spread ranch dressing on and basil. (Fresh basil chopped up is the best but dried will do.)

I then cut some lengths of unwaxed string under the whole thing and then wrap it up and tie it securely into little parcels. You can use toothpicks too but string works best.

I cook all the parcels in pan until the chicken juices run clear.

I serve the chickne on a bed of tagliatelle nests (you could use those egg noodle nests too.) and serve with a fresh salad and some crusty bread.

Good luck.

Take too picky foods here are: a platter w/ a warm Brie, watercracker's & grapes.
a 7 layer bean dip and tortilla's
a spinach dip and Kona bread
a whole pinapple with speared cubes of cheese stuck to it