having 8 for dinner... help

i'm bored of making the same dishes when i have a group of people over.

this weekend, i'm having 8 people over and i have no idea what to feed everyone.

i need ideas, please

Re: having 8 for dinner... help

What do you want to make? By that I mean, do you want to make beef, pasta, chicken, etc. Do you have a budget?

Re: having 8 for dinner... help

having 8 for dinner... help

85 ! my idea might not be great but. I made chili night once. you can make chicken, beef, vegetarian, tofu etc, have a side salad, corn bread, corn chips and fixins, keeps it simple, fun and people can serve themselves

Message edited 10/16/2017 10:24:32 PM.

Re: having 8 for dinner... help

Since it's going to be so warm I'd keep the food on the lighter side.

Do a spiral ham or a sliced fresh roasted turkey served at room temperature with an assortment of rolls and cold salads such as tortellini, fresh tomato and mozzarella, etc.

Do a pasta station where everyone can choose their own pasta, sauce topping, and add ins. I did this for Xmas Eve once and everyone loved it! I boiled two types of pasta (a penne and a thin spaghetti) which I kept in a little oil so it wouldn't stick. On the side guests were able to choose from pesto sauce, ala vodka sauce, or a classic tomato sauce. Add ins were sliced grilled chicken, fresh basil, freshly grated cheese, etc.

You can do a meal of small plates instead, like a tapas, and just have a buffet of both hot and cold choices for everyone to pick from

If all else fails, grill!!

Re: having 8 for dinner... help

I love tapas/small plates/large appetizers!!

What do you usually do? It's easier for me to pick things different if I'm given a starting point

Re: having 8 for dinner... help

having 8 for dinner... help

are there any cuban soups you can serve cold? if yes make that

having 8 for dinner... help

What about fajitas? You can grill steak and chicken and I would grill the onions and peppers in a grill basket. Have a few toppings ready, maybe a corn salad, rice and beans to incorporate one of you're usuals. Something a little lighter and not quite your usual but not that it there either.

Or you could go totally outside your norm. Sausage and peppers, lasagna, salad.

Butterfly and grill two whole chickens and serve with some cold salads like pasta salad and a tomato salad.

Pulled pork, coleslaw, rolls, mac n cheese.

Greek food. Marinated chicken kabobs, greek salad, falafel, tzatziki

Put out a bunch of toppings and let people make their own pizza to grill. Add a big salad and call it a day.

Re: having 8 for dinner... help

My husbands uncle always makes steak kabobs in the summer. Cubes of steak with thick "slices" of corn on the cob, peppers onions

Not exactly sure how he makes them
I just enjoy their magic lol

Re: having 8 for dinner... help

What about a variety of empanadas? Or is that too similar to what you usually make?

go entirely different. pick a different culture to help you "theme" it.

American- wings, different salads, baked potato skins, or a chicken dinner, like roasted chicken with some kind of potatoes and a vegetable dish.

Greek- make a greek salad, chicken or fish as the main course, pita with different dips like hummus, eggplant, tzatziki

Italian- so many choices here. eggplant or chicken parm, or pasta with different sauces (you can even do a pasta bar) or just pick your one favorite to make, salads, bread or garlic bread, different vegetables, etc. And italian themed dessert bars are always my favorite lol!

Breakfast- bagels, cream cheese and lox, egg salad, tuna salad, quiche or frittatas, muffins, coffee cake, bacon, hash browns, etc.

Mexican- quesadillas, or a taco bar, or a nacho bar.

Spanish- Arroz con Pollo might be a hit. or do tapas. so many different kinds, 100's of little dishes you can do with similar ingredients you would use for your usual cuban/puerto rican/dominican feasts. Just a different twist.

Polish- Pierogies, Kielbasa, Rye Bread, Coleslaw, etc.

I could keep going

OR choose your favorite from each of these categories and do a travels through the world theme!

Re: having 8 for dinner... help

and wait, I just saw you were making pumpkin cookies for dessert. What about a mini lighter thanksgiving theme? fall harvest type foods.

flavors like:
pumpkin
sweet potato
different squashes- butternut or acorn or spaghetti
cranberry
chicken or turkey or sausage
stuffing
a little sweet
fresh veggies- kale, string beans, mixed lettuce, tomatoes


i think that could be fun too!!!

having 8 for dinner... help

oooh, so many ideas. i'll check pinterest to compare some recipes.
i'm thinking i'll go with something i can pop in the crock pot nice and early and then just worry about the sides.

you guys are awesome.
now, i'm hungry... and yes, i'm almost always hungry

Re: having 8 for dinner... help

thank you!!

dinner was a hit!!

i made:

* pot roast
* pioneer woman's mashed potatoes
* beef gravy
* corn casserole
* honey glazed carrots

dessert: pumpkin sugar cookies

everyone raved.
my favorite was when the pickiest eater complained about his tummy ache because he ate so much.