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LINewbie
Tigger the the Rescue!
Member since 8/08 5647 total posts
Name:
LB
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Please help me plan a meal - first time DH's family will all be over at once!
Ok, I need some help.
In a few weeks, I'll have 10 to 15 of my husband's relatives here for his grandpa's birthday. I've never had them all over for a full meal before.
I'm an all right cook (much prefer to bake) The stuff I make usually taste good but doesn't look so great. 
I was thinking of something like lasagna or baked ziti (never made those before). Some sort of one dish type thing that wouldn't be too hard to make. Any suggestions? For that or any main dish? Or would I need more than 1 dish for that many people?
And what about side dishes? I will make a salad. I was thinking baked potatoes (if I made a less starchy main dish than pasta). A veggie, of course. My MIL also volunteered to make a side.
Dessert is pretty easy, my almost SIL will be making a cake, and I'll make some cookies.
I just want this to go really well, and the thought of cooking such a meal for all my new relatives is scary!!!
Any main dish and sides help would be sooo sooo appreciated!!! 
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Posted 8/29/09 4:54 PM  |
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Long Island Weddings
Long Island's Largest Bridal Resource |
Mommy2Boys
My Boys!!!!
Member since 6/06 14437 total posts
Name:
C
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Re: Please help me plan a meal - first time DH's family will all be over at once!
What about BBQ marinated steaks and making sides?
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| Posted 8/29/09 6:33 PM |
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LightUpOurLife
Totally in love
Member since 8/06 12785 total posts
Name:
Bonnie-Jean
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Re: Please help me plan a meal - first time DH's family will all be over at once!
The only thing I can suggest is to make everything ahead of time and make nothing on the spot. You will be SOOOO busy with everything else.
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| Posted 8/29/09 6:36 PM |
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Holly
Prayers to those who need them
Member since 5/05 6631 total posts
Name:
Holly
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Re: Please help me plan a meal - first time DH's family will all be over at once!
I think Ziti or lasagna or stuffed shells are the easiest to do...
For sides, you can do meatballs and sausage in sauce, garlic bread, and salad.
Or, chicken parm is simple to do and sooo good! 
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| Posted 8/29/09 7:17 PM |
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rojerono
Happiest.
Member since 8/06 13803 total posts
Name:
Jeannie
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Re: Please help me plan a meal - first time DH's family will all be over at once!
Posted by Holly
I think Ziti or lasagna or stuffed shells are the easiest to do...
For sides, you can do meatballs and sausage in sauce, garlic bread, and salad.
Or, chicken parm is simple to do and sooo good!
Pasta is always easy and good for a crowd. And it's so simple to dress up and make it look nice.
You can start with a shrimp cocktail appetizer. Put the shrimp on a platter with some lemon slices and some nice basil leaves as decoration. Put some pretty little bowls out with your cocktail sauce. Also put out a cheese board - just a few wedges of cheese with a knife.. I wouldn't slice them up. Offer flatbreads on the same board - standing up in a decorative cup or cylinder.
For the main course - just as Holly suggests - a casserole with meatballs, a plate of sausage and a nice pasta dish as the centerpiece. Don't forget a big salad.
Good luck! You'll do great!
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| Posted 8/29/09 9:09 PM |
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strongisland
All you need is love
Member since 8/07 2474 total posts
Name:
T
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Re: Please help me plan a meal - first time DH's family will all be over at once!
i agree w/the above posters!
shrimps and cheese...maybe some sort of dip too
salad and veggie
italian bread
lasagna or stuffed shells or manicoti or baked ziti (all are very easy to make) i would go to an italian market and buy shells or manicoti and also buy their sauce...then you heat everything=real easy!!!)-my kinda cooking!!! ...lasagna and ziti would be more work but not hard..
and chicken cutlet parm. (i cheat again! i buy already breaded chick. cutlet and add sauce and mozzarella, then bake=easy!)
good luck and have fun! you'll do fine! :)
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| Posted 8/30/09 8:57 PM |
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LINewbie
Tigger the the Rescue!
Member since 8/08 5647 total posts
Name:
LB
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Re: Please help me plan a meal - first time DH's family will all be over at once!
Thanks for the ideas! I might do ziti and chicken parm - I have made that before!
Just salad and veggie (I'll have MIL bring that) and garlic bread... sounds easy enough LOL
That shrimp app sounds good too!!
You girls rocck.
Thank you so much!!!!
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| Posted 9/2/09 6:52 PM |
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Blu-ize
Plan B is Now Plan A
Member since 7/05 32475 total posts
Name:
Susan
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Re: Please help me plan a meal - first time DH's family will all be over at once!
I agree with some of the PP..
shrimp cocktail, cheese, maybe some fancy chips and a dip?
Pasta is easy and you can make a simple sauce and fry or bake some meatballs and/sausage. If you feel like grilling add some flank steak or skirt steak.
Good luck!
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| Posted 9/2/09 6:59 PM |
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