WWYD In laws (Long, sorry)

BubbleJ

I realise this is really no big deal but FI and I can't agree so P and E get to break the tie.FI's parets are coming over for dinner next week. This is the first time they have visited as FI only moved in a few months ago.We can't agree whether to go all out and cook something new and amazing for them or to go with an old favourite that we love. On one hand we want to be good hosts but on the other we don't need to impress them, they know money is tight. Either way the food will be good (tootin my own horn, I'm a good cook).So, WWYD, cook and old fave or something new and exciting meant to impress.

kkchisholm

I am always into old faves.. But mine and his family would laugh at us if we tried to be fancy.

aimerzkd214

I would go with old favorite.  I would be to worried that since i have never maid it i would mess it up and not impress.

ffmaid

Eat in and cook something Do you have something that is not an old favorite but that you have made at least 3 times? Basically, I think new recipes are not great for when you are having a dinner party but if you have impressive things that you have done a few times that is a great option. ( i default to warm chocolate flourless cake for this)

Hello Sunshine

The great thing about family is that you don't need to try and impress them. If money is tight and the new/exciting meal is going to cost a fortune, then the "old favourite" gets my vote. You could always get a bit creative with the 'old favourite' to give it a 'new' twist or something.

crfische

Make whatever you want. Just be sure to serve wine. That'll fix anything. But you did just say, we don't need to impress them, but then closed with or do we cook something to impress.So, I'm voting old favorite, lots of wine.

BubbleJ

Thanks ladies, I feel better knowing you are on my side. I was voting old fave and he was voting new and amazing. I thought I was going to be a crappy host just cooking pasta etc like I usually do

Nebb

Tell him if he wants new and amazing, he can cook it!

BubbleJ

Nebb, he cant cook! Beans on toast and chilli is about his lot, anything else confuses him.

tidetravel

IMO - Entertaining guests is not the time to go with an untried, fancy recipe.  Go with something amazing that you know you can cook well.

HRodriguez

I wish I was confident enough with my cooking to cook for other people.

sarabellam

Old fave for entree, impressive for dessert. And lots of wine.

kmmssg

As a mom, I'd be kinda ticked if you invited me for dinner, money is tight, and you made me a meal meant to impress me.  I wouldn't want you spending any extra money for dinner! You could serve tomato soup and grilled cheese and I'd be happy.  I enjoy going to my kids' houses for dinner. Keep it simple and yummy and skip impressing them and spending any extra money.  It's Fall - that's comfort food time!

aMrsin09

sarabellam is wise.

kmmssg

And no - that wasn't a suggestion on the soup and sandwiches.  Just saying I don't want to be impressed, I want to enjoy my time with the kids.

BubbleJ

kmmssg, I'm glad that is the way you feel, so hopefully his parents will be the same.FI is very concerned with what people think of him, and I am very not, but for some reason this was weighing on my mind...Silly FI, lucky he's so cute.

Nebb

What are the old faves youre thinking of making?

mwhitson14

Old favorite. And to impress, dress up the table! The dollar tree has the cutest fall decorations and plates that could make a really cute table! My mom has cranberry colored dishes paired with their fall themed glass bowls, a small pumpkin, sage placemats, and ivory cloth napkins tied with pumpkin colored twine. Add is a pretty centerpiece (got time to trace and carve a design on a pumpkin?) And you'll have a beautifully set table, all from the dollar store!

ffmaid

HRod- If you are not confident enough to cook for others practice a recipe a few times then invite a good friend or two over for dinner and have them try it. Entertaining a few good friends over dinner is such a nice way to spend an evening and gets easier every time you do it. It is well worth slowly practicing by feeding close forgivng friends. You will learn that it is not all that hard to hostess a great little dinner party. Ones you get one great appatizer ( spinach artichoke dip is easy ) one solid main dish ( stuffed shells?) and a yummy dessert( cake) Even for your first dinner party you can do a chhese and crackers tray for apps and ice cream for dessert and then only have to focus on the main dish . Please try it. It is a shame more folks do not host dinner parties.

kmmssg

A pot of homemade soup or stew, some really good bread, a salad, and dessert would rock.  I am a comfort food junkie in the Fall, and that would impress my socks off. And, yes, your FI is cute!  You guys are a very nice looking couple.

vicmo5

I agree-old fave.  I get nervous cooking something new for company.

ffmaid

How about chilli and corn bread Cheap and easy Chilli- Brown 1 lb ground beef + 2 chopped onions with red peppar flakes, drain fat, add 2 cans hunt diced tomatoes, 1 can tommato paste, some chilli powder, a few dashed chillula( hot sauce), 2 cans dark red kidney beans, and 2 cups water. stir Cover and simmer 20 min Corn bread - jiffy corn muffin mix follow the side that says corn bread. If you want to be fancy take jalapeno pepper slices and place on top prior to baking Dessert- apple pie, pumpkin pie, carrot cake something like that

SwedishChick2011

Go with an old favorite.  That way you can't go wrong.  Well, I guess you could, but it's much less likely.

BubbleJ

Nebb - I recently discovered I make rocking gnocchi from scratch, so probably that with a bolognaise sauce. Whit - Good idea dressing up the table...I have been wanting a table cloth, I'll see if I can pick one up cheapkmmssg - Thanks!

aMrsin09

One pot luck I threw was a "new dish" theme.  Everyone brought a dish that they had been wanting to try, but were too afraid to make it for a dinner party.

BubbleJ

ffmaid - Thanks for the suggestion, but chilli is the only thing (besides beans on toast, and thats cheating) that FI can make and I can't stand it! Otherwise he would be doing a lot more cooking in the bubble household

vicmo5

BubbleJ, do you have this rocking gnocchi recipe with Bolgnese sauce on paper?

kmmssg

Gnocci recipe would be good.... I have a new Italian son-in-law and should probably learn to make that.  Share?

BubbleJ

Not paper, I'd never find it again. I found it on a website, have made it a grand total of once and liked it very much. The bolognaise is a regular, just mince and sauce from a jar.

tenofcups4me

If it were me, I'd go for the middle ground -- something "impressive" that I know is easy and that I've made before. "Impressive" doesn't have to be expensive, just interesting and/or really good. This might just be me, but in the past, I've tried out new recipes in advance of having people so I know if it works. So, in this case, I'd probably try something this weekend for the two of us and if it worked out nicely I'd make that next week for the parents. Or just choose one aspect to impress with -- if they love chocolate, serve up a super-rich chocolately cake; if bread is their thing, get or make a freshly prepared loaf to serve with the meal, etc. There are lots of ways to "impress" that don't have to be expensive.

BubbleJ

kmmssgGo to http://www.bitchincamero.com/mel/2008/09/how-to-make-homemade-gnocchi/I got the recipe off here, but I baked the potatoes instead of boiling. I heard it was better for the texture or something simliar