While you say you’re “having a cocktail party” or “entertaining,” does it conjure up photographs of tablecloths and cheese boards and perhaps flowers and journeys to the wine retailer the place it’s a must to take into consideration issues like “Does this Syrah go nicely with salmon?” I’m not saying I thoughts all this — actually, I can get into it — however a wierd factor occurred a number of years in the past. An outdated good friend of mine who I hadn’t seen shortly texted me he was going to be on the town and I simply dashed off a textual content again to him saying, “Come over for some meatballs!” And for no matter cause, the best way it was phrased arrange the evening to be a lot extra about cooking for a good friend versus entertaining them, if you understand what I’m saying. I’ve since tricked myself into entertaining with ease numerous occasions. In that spirit, a number of choices for methods to finish the part “Come over for…”
Come Over for…Good Humor Night time One in every of my core childhood reminiscences is taking part in boxball (aka Foursquare) after dinner with half the neighborhood, listening to the ding-a-ling of the ice cream truck approaching a number of blocks away, then all of us dropping all the pieces to beg our mother and father for cash. Since this was the ’70s, it was generally known as the Good Humor Truck, and we obsessed over the Chocolate Eclairs, Strawberry Shortcakes, Toasted Almond Bars, ice cream sandwiches, and rocket pops. I’m nonetheless ready for somebody to duplicate this expertise in 2023, together with the boxball, and it might need to be me.
Come Over for…Lasagna At all times a crowd-pleaser, lasagna is straightforward to make vegetarian, and a full satisfying dinner when merely accompanied by a inexperienced salad. You may even make it collectively (or with a bunch of children) if that’s one thing your folks can be into.
Come Over for…Soup When the mercury climbs, nobody needs to prepare dinner, which is the place gazpacho is available in. That soup — as straightforward to make as a smoothie — with a hunk of fine bread and a inexperienced salad is A-plus excellent and all I’d ever want or anticipate from a weeknight dinner invitation. On different nights, there’s zucchini soup or baked beans or, the perfect, when the climate will get cooler: hen soup with or with out matzo balls.
Come Over for…Burgers and Canines What, pray inform, is less complicated (or tbh, higher) than an old style cookout with burgers and sizzling canine, plus perhaps a potato salad thrown in for good measure? Add plant-based burgers to the line-up (or make it completely vegetarian) for the veg-forward squad.
Come Over for…Brownie Sundaes Make a batch of boxed brownies; choose up a number of pints of vanilla, chocolate, and strawberry, plus some fixings (say, crushed peanuts, maraschino cherries, strawberries, pineapple chunks, sizzling fudge, whipped cream); stack up a pile of dessert bowls, and let ’em at it.
How would you full the invitation “Come Over For…”? I’d like to know.
P.S. The best way to host a chaotic brunch, and come over for a drinks occasion!
