Help! Any recipe ideas for a dinner party with the in-laws?

kris523sydney

So tomorrow night, my fiance are having a dinner party so our parents can meet each other for the first time. I have no idea what to cook. Does anyone have any crowd-pleasing, healthy, semi-easy recipes? Any suggestions would be much appreciated!!

AskingTooMuch

The last time I had a big family gathering over I did chicken breasts in the oven with salsa on them; baked potatoes; a salad with toasted nuts & goat cheese with a homemade vinaigrette dressing, a nice loaf of bread (I didn't eat any of it though) and steamed Asparagus. Loved it! For dessert I did a fruit salad with Greek yogurt, and made brownies & ice cream for them all to eat. Don't know if that sort of menu would be right for your occasion though! Good luck.

seebeachrun

I love www.allrecipes dot com. I use it for most of my meal planning. They have reviews so you can browse and see what recipes are crowd pleasers before you waste time cooking.

As for healthy dinner ideas, you're pretty much stuck with fish or chicken. If it's tomorrow night I would do a slow cooker/crock pot meal that you can prepare in the morning and let cook all day. Slow cooker meals are ridiculously easy and delicious. Plus, they are hands off until you serve making it easy for you to participate in the conversation rather than being stuck in the kitchen cooking.

Here are tow good recipes you could try but make sure you read the reviews for ideas to spice up these simple recipes. Good luck!

Slow Cooker Whole Chicken: http://allrecipes.com/recipe/baked-slow-cooker-chicken/detail.aspx?event8=1&prop24=SR_Title&e11=slow cooker chicken&e8=Quick Search&event10=1&e7=Recipe Hub

Slow Cooker Turkey Breast: http://allrecipes.com/recipe/slow-cooker-turkey-breast/detail.aspx?event8=1&prop24=SR_Title&e11=slow cooker chicken&e8=Quick Search&event10=1&e7=Recipe Hub

kris523sydney

:flowerforyou: Thanks so much ladies!

misscaligreen

Things that I make when company is coming:

Chicken Parmesan
Pasta with spicy sausage marinara.
Fish, shrimp, or carnitas tacos
Chicken stir fry
Roasted Chicken

All of these are fairly easy and healthy. Let me know if anything interests you and I will send you my "recipe". Congratulations and try not to stress out too much!

kris523sydney

I would love your chicken parm recipe!

lalalalyndsey

Check skinnytaste.com!

NoAdditives

Oven fried chicken
http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchens/oven-fried-chicken-recipe2/index.html

Zucchini and yellow squash gratin
http://www.marthastewart.com/337701/zucchini-and-yellow-squash-gratin?czone=food/produce-guide-cnt/summer-produce-recipes

Salad
chopped romaine, baby spinach, grape tomatoes, avocado, sliced mushrooms, bell pepper, sliced Persian cucumber, vinaigrette dressing

Whole wheat rolls/garlic bread (?)
butter, garlic, Italian seasoning, a little grated Parmesan. Wrap in foil, bake at 400 degrees for 15-20 minutes.

Fresh fruit salad or tart for dessert

seebeachrun

Chicken parm is my specialty but you CANNOT count the calories!

Take 4-6 chicken breasts.
Pound them down with a meat tenderizer; can use a heavy book if necessary; law school books are good for this
Set over to 350 degrees with rack in the very middle of the oven.
Pour a 26 oz jar of your favorite pasta sauce into an 11 by 13 glass baking dish making sure it coats the bottom of the dish.
Pour about 1/4 cup of Vegetable Oil into a skillet and turn on the stovetop to medium-high.
Crack two eggs and whisk with a splash of milk and place in wide dish.
Fill another wide dish with about a 1/2 inch of Italian breadcrumbs (mix in salt and pepper to taste.)
Dry off the breasts really well.
Dredge the breasts in the egg mixture then through the Italian breadcrumbs to coat both sides.
Fry the breasts in the oil for 1-2 minutes on each side.
Dry excess oil off the breasts and line up the breasts in the baking dish being careful to make sure they lay on top of the sauce.
Cover and bake for 20 minutes.
Remove foil, turn oven up to 400 degrees, and bake another 5 minutes.
Remove from the oven and serve.
Serve over pasta with the sauce in the dish; you may need another can of pasta sauce hot and ready on the side for just in case you like your pasta saucy.

So bad for you but this is the way my Southern mama learned to make it (although I am convinced she used butter or bacon grease to fry to breasts.)

kbmnurse

Try a recipe from skinny taste.com The chicken rolled up with feta/spinach delicious and easy. Throw together a salad and some brown rice and you will be a hit.

kris523sydney

Thanks so much everyone! I have never heard of skinnytaste.com.....I am going to check it out. I think I might make the chicken parm tomorrow. It sounds sooooo good. Thanks so much for taking the time to post that recipe.....much appreciated!!! :happy: