A quick decent meal?

Question

i am making a meal for my family and my boyfriend and im looking for something good yet quick. what would you recommend? its going to be 7 people. i want to do an appetizer, meal and dessert. thanks!

Answer 1

try spaghetti and garlic bread. Some brownies or cookies after the meal. Don't want them to be too full. lol

Answer 2

Stew. It has everything in it.

Oh, apple cobbler for dessert.

Answer 3

uhm im not sure about appetizer but just keep it simple ; salad; soup

meal : lasagna ; spaghetti ; stew^^ ? ;

dessert; jello with cool whip;; yumm ; store bought pie.

Answer 4

Spaghetti. Soup. Pie. Buffalo chicken strips/wings...  

Answer 5

APPETIZER

"Pineapple Dip"

2...8 oz. pkgs. cream cheese, softened slightly by letting it set out for few minutes

1...small, flat can crushed pineapple, well-drained

Finely diced green pepper & onion to taste

Chopped pecans

1 t. LAWRY'S seasoning

Mash cream cheese with a fork.  Add remaining ingredients and stir well.  Chill until serving.  Serve with crackers and/or fresh vegetables.

MEAL--I would start this maybe an hour before guests arrive.   This is a fantastically easy dish because you mainly just have to open cans and heat it up, but the flavor is worth it...and it's different from the "normal" chili that people are used to eating.  

"White Chili"

1 can white chicken chunks (in the aisle with the canned tuna)

1 can chicken broth (in the soup aisle)

2 cans white shoe peg corn (draining or not depends on desired thickness of chili--you might try draining just one of them)

2 cans cream of chicken soup

2 cans Navy or Northern beans, undrained

1 can diced green chili peppers (found with Mexican foods)

1 finely diced small onion

1/2-1 t. ginger

Salt, pepper, chili powder, and cumin to taste

Shredded cheese (optional)...your favorite

Set out all ingredients and open all cans.  Chop onion.  Boil onions in broth in a large pot a few minutes until tender.  Add all other ingredients and heat thoroughly, stirring often.  Ready to serve!  Sprinkle shredded cheese on top of each bowl served if desired.

Serve with cornbread (I use JIFFY mixes and add about 1 tsp. of sugar to each box of mix used--then mix as directed).  For 7 people, you'll want to use 2 mixes.  Provide butter, honey, jams, maybe apple butter.  

If you don't want cornbread, a bowl of your favorite tortilla chips would be fine...you can even warm them in an ovenproof dish just before eating for an enhanced flavor (350 degrees for just a few minutes)!

Also serve with an assortment of cold pickles and chunks of cheeses.  If you have leftover crackers and veggies from your appetizer, they would also be good with the chili.

  

DESSERT

Brownies...use a mix for a 9x13 pan and prepare as directed on the package.  While still slightly warm, spread with peanut butter (creamy or crunchy).  Frost over the peanut butter with purchased chocolate frosting (in a tub) and swirl it decoratively with a knife through the peanut butter.  It may not require the entire tub of frosting--you decide.  If desired, serve each brownie alongside a scoop of vanilla ice cream which is topped with a maraschino cherry or strawberry for a pretty presentation.  

Just a timing hint for preparation...

1.  Make a shopping list for every ingredient listed in each recipe.  Remember to read the boxes of cornbread and brownie mixes for needed ingredients.  You don't want to have to run back to the store at the last minute!

2.  Get your house ready the day before.  Then you'll only have quick touch-ups on the "day of".  

3.  Get dressed for dinner (you may want to wear an apron while cooking), and your drinks made (like tea or lemonade), and your table set before you get started cooking.  You'll have to decide if you want to serve this formally or casually, but whatever you do, get that part all planned and set up first.  

4.  Allow yourself probably at least 2-3 hours for food preparation, since you're just learning and you don't want to be breathless when you answer the door!  

5.  The first food to prepare is your appetizer, including your crackers and veggies...hold all but the crackers in the refrigerator until serving time.  

6.  If you are going to serve jams, etc, place some of each in pretty little bowls.  Also prepare your pickle and cheese trays.  Keep them all chilled in the refrig until serving time, but you now have that job done.  

7.  Then prepare your brownies.  That frees up the oven to do the cornbread or chips later and they will be fine just sitting on the counter after they are frosted until you are ready to cut and serve them.  

8.  Then prepare your chili.  

While it is heating, make the cornbread, but don't forget to keep an eye on the chili and stir it so the beans don't stick!  That way your cornbread and chili will both be hot at the same time.  When the chili is done, either keep the heat under the pan very, very low or transfer it to a crockpot on low heat to hold it for serving.  If you chose chips instead of cornbread, heat them in the oven just the last few minutes before serving time.

9.  Set out your refrigerated items wherever you plan to serve them maybe 15 minutes before your guests arrive.  If they come in and ask if they can help, that is something they can do for you, as well as to put ice in glasses.  That way they are helping save you some steps, but you are still free to finish up the hot items.  And they'll be "impressed" that you have all of those cold items already prepared and ready to set out!      

10.  Have fun!!!!  If you have fun, so will your family!

Answer 6

Appetizer

TACO SOUP

it may sound funky but its good...  Plus you can add tortilla chips or make corn bread to go with it:

you will need

1 lb hamburger meat

2 cans ranch style beans

1 can corn

1 can harmony (ie white corn)

1 packet taco seasoning

2 cans diced tomatoes.. i perfer the petite cut with Garlic but you can get any kind you like

you can add anything else that you want like jalapenos or chili peppers

First brown meat and add seasoning

while meat is browning open all the cans and dump them with juices and all in large sauce pan and heat up on medium

then add all together in large sauce pan and you have taco soup

You can serve with Tortilla chips or Corn bread... it yummy and not at all expensive...

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Entree

Creamy Alfredo Sauce

1- 8 ounces Cream Cheese

3/4 Cup Fresh Grated Parmesean

1/2 Cup Butter

1/2 Cup Milk

Heat in a saucepan until smooth. Serve over your favorite pasta or use as a dipping sauce for toasted french bread. I've successfully substituted half-and-half or skim milk for the milk. And sometimes I add a little olive oil in place of some of the butter. This is so thick and creamy.

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Ground Beef pie::

1 pound ground beef

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon pepper

1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese

2 eggs, beaten

1 1/2 cups milk

3/4 cup biscuit baking mix

In a skillet, cook beef over medium heat until no longer pink; drain. Press into an ungreased 9-in. pie plate. Sprinkle with salt, pepper and cheese. In a bowl, combine the eggs, milk and biscuit mix just until combined. Pour over cheese. Bake at 400 degrees F for 35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean.

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Dessert

Kalhua White Russian Brownies

2 (3 oz.) pkg. of cream cheese, softened

3 eggs

1½ cups sugar

1 1/4 cups flour

6 Tbsp. Butter

½ cup unsweetened cocoa

1/4 tsp. baking powder

1/4 tsp. salt

3/4 cup Kahlua

1/4 cup Vodka

Cream together cream cheese, 1 egg, 1/4 cup sugar, Vodka, 2 Tbsp flour and 2 Tbsp soft butter, set a side. In a separate bowl sift remaining flour, sugar, cocoa, salt, baking powder. Stir in remaining butter and 1/2 cup Kahulua, ad 1 egg at a time and mix well. Pour half cocoa mixture in a buttered and lightly floured 9" baking pan. Add cream cheese mixture and cut lightly with a knife, then add remaining cocoa mixture. Bake at 325 degrees for about 30 minutes. When cool brush with 1/4 cup of remaining Kahulua.

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S’mores Brownies

Crust:

6 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

1 1/2 cups crushed graham cracker crumbs

2 tablespoons sugar

Pinch fine salt

Brownie:

8 tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter

4 ounces unsweetened chocolate, chopped

1 cup packed light brown sugar

3/4 cup white sugar

1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

1/2 teaspoon fine salt

4 large cold eggs

1 cup all-purpose flour

Topping:

4 cups large marshmallows

Position a rack in the lower third of the oven and heat oven to 325 degrees F. Line an 8 by-8-inch square baking pan with foil so it hangs over the edges by about 1 inch.

For the crust: Lightly butter the foil with some of the melted butter. Stir the rest of the butter together with the crumbs, sugar, and salt in a medium bowl. Press the crumb mixture evenly over the bottom of the pan. Bake until golden brown, about 20 minutes.

Meanwhile, make the brownie. Put the butter and chocolate in a medium microwave safe bowl. Melt in the microwave on 75 percent power for 2 minutes. Stir, and microwave again until completely melted, about 2 minutes more. Alternatively, put the butter and chocolate in a heatproof bowl. Bring a saucepan filled with 1 inch or so of water to a very slow simmer; set the bowl on the pan without touching the water. Stir occasionally until melted. Stir the light brown and white sugars, vanilla and salt into the melted chocolate. Add the eggs and beat vigorously to make a thick and glossy batter. Add the flour and stir until just incorporated.

Pour batter into the prepared pan. Bake until the top is crispy and a toothpick inserted into the middle comes out mostly clean, with a few crumbs, about 40 to 45 minutes.

Remove from the oven and carefully position a rack about 6 inches from the broiler and preheat on low. Layer marshmallows across the top and toast under the broiler until golden, (keep an eye on it, it can go quick), about 2 minutes. Cool on a rack, gently removing the brownies from the pan using the aluminum flaps. Carefully separate any marshmallow from the foil and fold away. Cut into 12 (2-inch) squares.

Answer 7

appetizer : regular salad, macaroni salad , potato salad all these is fast.

for the meal: if you have crock pot just buy a pot roast and put seasoning and vegetable and let it cook.

for the dessert: brownie u just need to bake it or pudding.

good luck  and have a fun with your family and bf.

Answer 8

Easy, easy, easy.

Appetizer: Bruschetta

4 large tomatoes - diced

4 cloves of garlic - minced

12-13 leaves of basil - stack leaves on top of each other, roll into a cigar shape and slice into ribbons

4 tbsp of olive oil

1 tsp salt

1/2 tsp black pepper

1 crusty baguette - sliced into thin rounds and toasted in a 450 degree oven for 5-7 minutes

Mix all ingredients together except the baguette. Serve on top of the bread.

Entree: Spaghetti and Meatballs

For a super speedy version that tastes every bit as good as home made (when served nicely):

2 and 1/2 boxes of spaghetti - boil according to box directions

2 jars of spaghetti sauce

1 large package of frozen meatballs

Before your guests arrive, pour sauce into a large pot over medium heat. Add the meatballs to the pot and cover. Let it cook for at least 30 minutes to an hour on medium- low to low. Cook and drain spaghetti. Put spaghetti in a large serving bowl and spoon some of the sauce and meatballs on top of it. Then place the remaining sauce and meatballs into another large serving bowl and place on the table. Pour some grated parmesan cheese into a small bowl and place a spoon inside the bowl for an upscale looking version of grated parmesan cheese. Serve a family style pre-mixed ceasar salad along with the meal (3 bags should be fine).

Dessert: Cheesecake with cherries on top

1 frozen New York style cheesecake (Sarah Lee makes a good one)

2 cans of cherry pie filling

Thaw the cheesecake according to package directions. Slice each person who wants dessert a piece of cheesecake and top each slice with the cherry pie filling. Looks gourmet, and takes literally minutes.