Menu ideas for a very small casual party?!
me and about 5 or so friends are going to hang out at my house in about a week!. i'm not sure what to have for dinner!. i want it to be good and inexpensive!. i don't really want to serve pizza though-so boring!. also one of my friends is a vegetarian so i need something that can work for her too!. if it's something my friends and i can make (one big thing or individual) than that would work too!. thanks! POINTS TO BEST ANSWER!
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Answers:
Have a pasta bar so everyone can pick and choose what they want!.
Cooked pasta
A red sauce and a white sauce
Cooked Italian sausage
Chopped up veggies - mushrooms, zucchini, onion, bell pepper
parmesan cheese
olive oil
Serve with garlic bread and saladWww@FoodAQ@Com
Cooked pasta
A red sauce and a white sauce
Cooked Italian sausage
Chopped up veggies - mushrooms, zucchini, onion, bell pepper
parmesan cheese
olive oil
Serve with garlic bread and saladWww@FoodAQ@Com
I have a pasta salad that a lot of people rave over and I am pretty sure it is vegetarian all the way
Cook up your favorite dry pasta until al dente, drain, and set aside!.
In a large bowl mix in the following:
shredded carrots
diced bell peppers in yellow, red or orange, and green
can of diced mild green chilies
can of diced black olives
jar of marinated artichoke hearts diced and reserve some liquid for dressing
finely diced celery
grape tomatoes cut in half
Then get your IMO which is an imitation sour cream and your favorite italian dressing and leftover artichoke juice and make a dressing- enough to make the salad pretty moist!.
Add in your pasta and dressing and salt and pepper to taste and let it sit overnight in fridge for all the flavors to marry!.
Then you can fix for those that like meat either a baked chicken breast or shrimp, but believe me this pasta salad is filling on it's own!.
Serve with a crunchy loaf of bread
Www@FoodAQ@Com
Cook up your favorite dry pasta until al dente, drain, and set aside!.
In a large bowl mix in the following:
shredded carrots
diced bell peppers in yellow, red or orange, and green
can of diced mild green chilies
can of diced black olives
jar of marinated artichoke hearts diced and reserve some liquid for dressing
finely diced celery
grape tomatoes cut in half
Then get your IMO which is an imitation sour cream and your favorite italian dressing and leftover artichoke juice and make a dressing- enough to make the salad pretty moist!.
Add in your pasta and dressing and salt and pepper to taste and let it sit overnight in fridge for all the flavors to marry!.
Then you can fix for those that like meat either a baked chicken breast or shrimp, but believe me this pasta salad is filling on it's own!.
Serve with a crunchy loaf of bread
Www@FoodAQ@Com
Baked Ravioli
Ready in: 30-60 minutes
Difficulty: 3 (1=easiest :: hardest=5)
Serves/Makes: 4
Ingredients:
1 jar (26 oz size) pasta sauce
1 package (25 oz size) frozen cheese ravioli
1 cup water
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
Directions:
Preheat oven to 375o!.
In 13 inch x 9 inch baking dish, evenly spread half of the pasta sauce!. Arrange frozen ravioli over sauce!. Pour remaining sauce and water over ravioli!. Cover with aluminum foil!. Bake 45 minutes!.
Remove foil and sprinkle with cheese!. Bake an additional 5 minutes or until cheese is melted!.
Let stand for 10 minutes!.
This recipe from CDKitchen for Oven-Baked Ravioli serves/makes 4
Serve with a salad and garlic breadWww@FoodAQ@Com
Ready in: 30-60 minutes
Difficulty: 3 (1=easiest :: hardest=5)
Serves/Makes: 4
Ingredients:
1 jar (26 oz size) pasta sauce
1 package (25 oz size) frozen cheese ravioli
1 cup water
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
Directions:
Preheat oven to 375o!.
In 13 inch x 9 inch baking dish, evenly spread half of the pasta sauce!. Arrange frozen ravioli over sauce!. Pour remaining sauce and water over ravioli!. Cover with aluminum foil!. Bake 45 minutes!.
Remove foil and sprinkle with cheese!. Bake an additional 5 minutes or until cheese is melted!.
Let stand for 10 minutes!.
This recipe from CDKitchen for Oven-Baked Ravioli serves/makes 4
Serve with a salad and garlic breadWww@FoodAQ@Com
There are several inexpensive things you can make!. First, I would start with a really good appit!. - something like little smokies/in grape jelly & BBq sauce!.!.also veg plate w/ crackers and cheese!. also make a bread bowl, and fill with artichoke/spinach dip!.!.then for your course, I would do a buffett to make their own salad, and do a nice hearty soup, or stew!. Then for dessert, ice cream and cookies!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
i agree with the first person or get a mani and pedi,then take them out for dinner!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
Why not Tacos !?
Make it fir the meat lovers and Vegetarian here 2 recipes
Veggie Taco
Ingredients
Cooking spray
1 cup chopped green bell pepper (about 1 medium)
1 cup chopped onion (about 1 medium)
1 (12-ounce) package meatless fat-free crumbles (such as Lightlife Smart Ground)
1 (7-ounce) can chipotle chiles in adobo sauce
1 (15-ounce) can pinto beans, rinsed and drained
1 (14!.5-ounce) can diced tomatoes with basil, garlic, and oregano, undrained
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
8 cups baked corn tortilla chips (6 ounces)
2 cups shredded romaine lettuce
1 cup diced peeled avocado (about 1 medium)
3/4 cup vertically sliced red onion
3/4 cup (3 ounces) shredded sharp cheddar cheese
6 tablespoons fat-free sour cream
Preparation
Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium heat!. Coat the pan with cooking spray!. Add bell pepper, chopped onion, and crumbles; cook 5 minutes, stirring occasionally!. Remove 1 chile and 1 tablespoon sauce from can; reserve remaining chiles and sauce for another use!. Chop chile; add chile, sauce, beans, and tomatoes to pan!. Cover, reduce heat, and simmer 5 minutes!. Remove from heat; stir in cilantro!. Arrange 1 1/3 cups chips on each of 6 plates!. Top each serving with 1 cup bean mixture, 1/3 cup lettuce, about 2 1/2 tablespoons avocado, 2 tablespoons onion, 2 tablespoons cheese, and 1 tablespoon sour cream!.
Meat Taco2 tablespoons olive oil
1 1/2 cups onion, finely chopped
3 tablespoons minced garlic
3 tablespoons ground cumin
2 pounds ground beef
1 teaspoon ground chipotle pepper
1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
2 cups beef broth
1/4 cup tomato paste
12 to 16 taco shells or warmed soft tortillas, as desired
Grated Monterey Jack or Cheddar, for garnish
Diced tomatoes, for garnish
Minced jalapenos, for garnish
Sour cream, for garnish
Shredded iceburg lettuce, for garnish
Guacamole, recipe follows, for garnish
Salsa, recipe follows, for garnish
Chopped red onion, for garnish
Set a 12-inch saute pan over medium heat and add the olive oil!. Once hot, place the onions in the pan and saute until translucent, 3 to 4 minutes!. Add the garlic and cumin to the pan and continue to saute until fragrant, about 1 minute!. Add the beef to the pan and cook, breaking the pieces up as they cook, until the meat is browned, about 8 to 10 minutes!. Season with the chipotle pepper and the salt!. Add the beef broth and tomato paste to the pan and bring to a simmer!. Cook the meat, stirring occasionally until most of the liquid has evaporated, about 20 minutes!. Remove from the heat and serve with the garnishes for guests to assemble their tacos
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Make it fir the meat lovers and Vegetarian here 2 recipes
Veggie Taco
Ingredients
Cooking spray
1 cup chopped green bell pepper (about 1 medium)
1 cup chopped onion (about 1 medium)
1 (12-ounce) package meatless fat-free crumbles (such as Lightlife Smart Ground)
1 (7-ounce) can chipotle chiles in adobo sauce
1 (15-ounce) can pinto beans, rinsed and drained
1 (14!.5-ounce) can diced tomatoes with basil, garlic, and oregano, undrained
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
8 cups baked corn tortilla chips (6 ounces)
2 cups shredded romaine lettuce
1 cup diced peeled avocado (about 1 medium)
3/4 cup vertically sliced red onion
3/4 cup (3 ounces) shredded sharp cheddar cheese
6 tablespoons fat-free sour cream
Preparation
Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium heat!. Coat the pan with cooking spray!. Add bell pepper, chopped onion, and crumbles; cook 5 minutes, stirring occasionally!. Remove 1 chile and 1 tablespoon sauce from can; reserve remaining chiles and sauce for another use!. Chop chile; add chile, sauce, beans, and tomatoes to pan!. Cover, reduce heat, and simmer 5 minutes!. Remove from heat; stir in cilantro!. Arrange 1 1/3 cups chips on each of 6 plates!. Top each serving with 1 cup bean mixture, 1/3 cup lettuce, about 2 1/2 tablespoons avocado, 2 tablespoons onion, 2 tablespoons cheese, and 1 tablespoon sour cream!.
Meat Taco2 tablespoons olive oil
1 1/2 cups onion, finely chopped
3 tablespoons minced garlic
3 tablespoons ground cumin
2 pounds ground beef
1 teaspoon ground chipotle pepper
1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
2 cups beef broth
1/4 cup tomato paste
12 to 16 taco shells or warmed soft tortillas, as desired
Grated Monterey Jack or Cheddar, for garnish
Diced tomatoes, for garnish
Minced jalapenos, for garnish
Sour cream, for garnish
Shredded iceburg lettuce, for garnish
Guacamole, recipe follows, for garnish
Salsa, recipe follows, for garnish
Chopped red onion, for garnish
Set a 12-inch saute pan over medium heat and add the olive oil!. Once hot, place the onions in the pan and saute until translucent, 3 to 4 minutes!. Add the garlic and cumin to the pan and continue to saute until fragrant, about 1 minute!. Add the beef to the pan and cook, breaking the pieces up as they cook, until the meat is browned, about 8 to 10 minutes!. Season with the chipotle pepper and the salt!. Add the beef broth and tomato paste to the pan and bring to a simmer!. Cook the meat, stirring occasionally until most of the liquid has evaporated, about 20 minutes!. Remove from the heat and serve with the garnishes for guests to assemble their tacos
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