When entertaining what do you "cheat" with

Meaning... DO you make EVERYTHING yourself or are you ok with buying sides or desserts, etc?

I am not the best cook. Certain things I do make I can make well, but don't have the LOVE for cooking. My MIL likes to bake and very good at it so never would cheat and makes everything herself. My mom is a great cook, but doesn't love so much baking so makes all the apps, dinner and just buys a dessert. We have lots of great stores buy us that makes great cakes, sides and all.

DH and I love to entertain and grill a lot over the summer. DH gets all the meats, I usually make a pasta salad and cucumber salad. My mom usually makes her guacamole and I'm fine with getting a potato salad and cookies from Costco or Wegmans along with some other sides or desserts

Re: When entertaining what do you "cheat" with

A better question for me would be what DON'T you cheat with? And what DO you make from scratch?

I love cooking, I love trying new recipes, but when it comes to a party, and a lot of people coming over, I tend to get stressed out.
I have to clean, I have to cook- it's too much.
I like to cook when I am not under stress and not cooking for a crowd.

So I keep it simple and might just make a few things on my own- like apps or ONE salad, etc.

Everything else is store bought! (or catered)

Message edited 5/19/2014 2:47:42 PM.

Re: When entertaining what do you "cheat" with

My desserts are almost always store bought. If I do make them they're box mix, which is still cheating. The only desserts I make from scratch are Christmas cookies.

I also buy store bought dips: guacamole, salsa, french onion etc.

Message edited 5/19/2014 2:50:48 PM.

When entertaining what do you

It depends on what people are coming over for...a holiday or family dinner I will make most of it or partially cater it. But that's usually no more than 10 people so I find it manageable. A bbq or larger party I would cheat on desserts definitely. Also for a bbq I have ordered heros to supplement main dishes, food for kids (mac n cheese, chicken nuggets) I'll make any pasta side because it's easy and can be done in advance but I don't make potato salad or cole slaw so I buy that too. Depending on time / amount of people I will also buy dips like guacamole, hummus, salsa. I really do try to make things easy for myself when its a large party - I've started more and more to outsource lol!

When entertaining what do you

I love to bake, but my most frequent cheat would be break and beak chocolate chip cookies! They're delicious and I try to keep a package in the fridge for when I need something last minute or just don't feel like baking. I also do boxed brownie mix and just throw in a handful of dark, milk, and white chocolate chips to make them seem more homemade.

For fancy dinners like christmas eve I cheat a little on apps. Usually shrimp cocktail, garlic herb spread, hummus, cream cheese with pepper jelly. I keep is simple so I can focus on the main meal, cleaning, and getting everything else ready.

Occasionally I also cheat with bbq's and go to the local meat market for their awesome marinated chicken, pasta salad, etc. This was a lifesaver when I was pregnant and didn't want to deal with raw meat for a while.

Re: When entertaining what do you "cheat" with

I love to try and make everything myself but certain things are hard. I usually always buy the bread instead of making it myself, unless its a special holiday then I bake the bread too. I think boxed brownies are the best so I usually just get those and add extra chocolate chips and syrup to make them even more yummy. Crackers obviously.. I think I mostly cheat on things that are very very hard or time consuming or almost impossible for me to make on my own.

Re: When entertaining what do you "cheat" with

When entertaining what do you

I no longer make my own pie crusts or cole slaw. And always bottled salad dressing unless we're doing greek dinner.

Re: When entertaining what do you "cheat" with

I like to cook and bake, so I enjoy making things when I have a party. But I definitely don't make every single thing. Even Ina Garten, the Barefoot Contessa, suggests getting some help from the store or doing some "assemble only" items, like a cheese board or antipasto platter.

I agree that how much I "cheat" with getting things from the store depends on the type of party I am hosting. For Easter, I host 40 people, and while I make a lot of the main dinner, and a couple of appetizers, as well as a specialty cocktail, I also order things like a cheese platter, antipasto platter, spinach dip, and I have people bring desserts, and I ask my mom to make lasagna. Making every single thing for a party of that size is just not do-able, unless I had a week to cook and didn't sleep!

If I am hosting a bbq, I will usually make a lot of the sides and appetizers, because DH will grill the main stuff, but even then, I will often get a carvel cake or something for dessert.

If I am hosting a dinner party, I cook a lot of things, but sometimes will get a store bought dessert or buy frozen apps from Trader Joe's. It depends on what time allows and if I am in the mood to do it all.

I do love entertaining, but if I only had people over when I was in a position to make everything from scratch, then I would never (or rarely) do it. I would rather have people over more often, and be more relaxed myself, than kill myself in the kitchen. And I've learned over the years that there's no shame in taking some help from the store. If I dazzle them with one or two homemade things, I am fine with taking some help with the other things. A good hostess provides plenty of food and drink (regardless of whether it's homemade) and is relaxed enough to set the tone for a fun party or dinner. And it's not always possible to do that if I insist on doing it all myself!

Re: When entertaining what do you "cheat" with

I don't bake so either people bring dessert or I buy it.

Re: When entertaining what do you "cheat" with

Fruit platters are definitely a cheat for me.
You will spend a fortune in fruit, then have to prep it all. Spend $15 in Costco for a huge and yummy platter and its all done for you.

Re: When entertaining what do you "cheat" with

Posted by NervousNell

Posted by BaysideForever

I love to try and make everything myself but certain things are hard. I usually always buy the bread instead of making it myself, unless its a special holiday then I bake the bread too. I think boxed brownies are the best so I usually just get those and add extra chocolate chips and syrup to make them even more yummy. Crackers obviously.. I think I mostly cheat on things that are very very hard or time consuming or almost impossible for me to make on my own.

You mean you don't make your own crackers?
OMG how lazy can you get?
Next thing you know you will say you buy store bought Tortilla Chips for salsa too!
And store bought cheese!

Re: When entertaining what do you "cheat" with

I tend to cheat on apps. I love making desserts & meals.

Re: When entertaining what do you "cheat" with

I almost always buy dessert if I'm hosting.

Hummus and salsa...even though they're both so easy to make, I buy a couple of varities of each.

Sometimes I buy frozen appetizers from TJs, sometimes I don't. Depends on my mood and available time.

Oh and the pre-cut tray of cheeses from TJs...I love that!

Re: When entertaining what do you "cheat" with

I always do apps myself b/c I like to do that type of stuff .....

If there's a big 'meal' involved that doesn't include the grill ......I usually cheat w/ that -
Heroes, Pizza - the only thing I really cook for a large group for a DINNER is pasta .....b/c I can do the sauce/meat ahead of time and don't stress over it -

I usually bake though

When entertaining what do you

Honestly, nothing. I make it all.
People always ask what they can bring, I will say apps or dessert, but even if they did not I have everything covered.
I am always being told that I go over the top when I entertain. But I LOVE doing it and it's my thing. Thanksgiving takes 2 weeks of prep for me. I am hosting Father's Day this year and the menu is already planned and it will all be from scratch.

Re: When entertaining what do you "cheat" with

I used to make everything from scratch...like literally everything....including frosting, gravy, breads, and dough (I don't own a breadmaker). After my mom had her stroke, I stopped...I felt like she was the one who appreciated it the most, and now she can't leave her nursing home.

I am trying to get back into it more. I did ENJOY doing it, so I'm working toward it...not fully there yet, but I hope to be back in stride within a couple of years.

BTW, I don't think there's anything wrong with "cheating" with whatever. I just used to enjoy all of the prep.

Message edited 5/20/2014 4:40:53 PM.

When entertaining what do you

If we are having a big party then the caterer is my friend : ). I might still make desserts though because I like making cakes and trying out little cute bites for the kids.

If it is just my immediate family, about 10, I usually make it all myself.

Re: When entertaining what do you "cheat" with

It depends on the season and how many people we gave over. I used to cater 50% for large parties it holidays but now because we gave a lot if allergies in the family I make everything from scratch, except bread.
Desserts I have my SIL and MIL make something because they are good at that. I enjoy baking, but it takes time.

I would make everything, including dessert if I had a second fridge. That is the hardest part for me. So I can't really cook to much in advance.

Re: When entertaining what do you "cheat" with

I'll buy shrimp cocktail and hummus and dips to have with chips and crudité. Except for salsa, I always make that. But the other stuff people pick on and they usually work out well as appetizers.

I also make cheese and charcuterie plates. Very simple to put together and people always love it.

Message edited 5/30/2014 1:03:00 PM.

When entertaining what do you

hummus, salsa, cold dips (TJs has a great spinach/kale dip), pie crust, bread/crackers/chips. and brownie mix, though I always doctor it up.