I'm having a family dinner and i don't know what to make i need some idea's?

Question

there will be about 15 people coming and i have never Hosted a "Family" dinner and i have no idea what to make for this many people. And im hosting the dinner in 2 days i need help fast......Please

Answer 1

For 15 people, I wold buy a 'Honey Baked' ham or some such close thing.  You can either make or buy potato salad.  I like to make it and all I really do is boil red potatoes, then chop with celery, onion, bread & butter pickles, salt, pepper, a little garlic powder, mayonnaise, dijon mustard and a little mayo.  Not hard, but you can buy it premade at a deli if you want.  Buy Bush's original baked beans.  For 15, you'd probably need about 5 large cans.  I add a little apple cider vinegar to the beans to cut the thickness and sweetness.  Makes them taste really good.  You could also serve corn on the cob, but that's another carb  and you don't really need it with the potatoes and beans.  For salad, I'd just slice cucumber, green peppers, and onions in a light vinagrette.  Vanilla ice cream with fresh fruit, i.e., strawberries, or blueberries for desert....so easy and good.  Or watermelon.  This is kind of a homey, almost picnic-like meal and it's easy and you can enjoy your guests and not spend all your time cooking.  I am really TRYING to get away from that myself. Good luck.

Answer 2

Chicken is cheap and always a hit. Get a few whole chicken and bake them in the oven. Like roasting them. Add seasoning to taste you prefer like maybe garlic,salt,pepper, etc. It can be served with rice or even mashed potatos and corn. For desert just get three pies and heat them in the over for about 30 minute or as directed on box and there ya go. It will be fine and Im sure it will go very well. :) Also you could serve a salad first before the meal.

Answer 3

Nothing is easier than a seafood boil to bring people together. A giant pot of the freshest seafood, dumped out on the table and eaten with your hands. It's simple, its unforgettable and clean up is a snap. Just lay out a table outside and line with news paper (alot) when the food is ready drain and dump out all food onto the middle of the table. This is so everyone can grab what they want and the best part is you dont have to dirty plates if you dont want to. This recipe usually feeds 4 but I have converted it for you to feed about 16. Also make mojitos while the seafood is cooking

1.5 oz BACARDI Rum

12 fresh spearmint leaves

1/2 lime

7 oz club soda

2 tbsp. simple syrup

(or 4 tsp. sugar)

Gently crush mint leaves and lightly squeeze lime in a cool tall glass. Pour sweet syrup to cover and fill glass with ice. Add Bacardi Rum, club soda, and stir your emerging mojito well. Garnish with a lime wedge and a few sprigs of mint.

Seafood boil

    2 cups salt

    8 eachs bay leaf

    1 cup fennel seed

    12 ozs boil spice (recommended: Zatarain's)

    1/2 cup black pepper corns

    1/4 cup red pepper flakes

    1/2 cup coriander seeds

    16 each lemons

    16 each artichokes no need to trim

    32 small boiling potatoes

    8 each onions unpeeled and ends removed

    15 whole garlic heads unpeeled

     8 (1-1/2 lbs) lobsters

    4 cups dry wine

    4 dozens clams

    4 pounds shrimp

Garnishes:

Melted unsalted butter

Sea salt, preferably gray salt

Fennel Spice Rub, recipe follows

Hot pepper sauce

Bring 4 gal of water to a boil in a large pot. When water is at a full boil, salt generously and then add bay leaves, crab boil seasoning, fennel seeds, peppercorns, red pepper flakes, coriander seeds, and lemons cut in half and squeezed. Return to a boil, add artichokes, and cover. Boil for 10 minutes and then add potatoes and onions; reduce heat to a simmer and return the cover to the pot. Simmer for 5 minutes and then add garlic and wine. Simmer, covered, until artichokes, onions, and potatoes are tender; as they vegetables become tender, remove them to a serving platter (the potatoes should take about 20 to 30 minutes, and then artichokes and onions, about 30 to 40 minutes).

After you have removed all the vegetables, add the lobsters. Cook just until they begin to turn pink, about 3 minutes. Then add the clams; after 30 seconds, add shrimp. Cook until the shrimp turn pink and begin to curl and the clams open fully, about 5 minutes.

Cut the onions in half. Cut the artichokes in half and scoop out and discard the chokes.

Serve the shrimp, potatoes, onions, and artichokes with shallow bowls of melted butter, sea salt, and the Fennel Spice Rub for dipping, and with jars of hot sauce.

Fennel Spice Rub:

This is my favorite spice mixture. There is almost nothing it doesn't taste good on or in. Use it to make spice-encrusted pork ribs, chops, or tenderloin; veal chops; chicken b*****s; duck; beef; liver; or eggplant; or add a teaspoon to lentil soup.

1 cup fennel seeds

3 tablespoons coriander seeds

2 tablespoons white peppercorns

3 tablespoons kosher salt

Put the fennel seeds, coriander seeds, and peppercorns in a heavy pan over medium heat. Watch carefully, tossing frequently so the seeds toast evenly. When light brown and fragrant, pour the seeds onto a plate to cool. They must be cool before grinding, or they will gum up the blades.

Pour the seeds into a blender and add the salt. Blend to a fine powder, shaking the blender occasionally to redistribute the seeds. Store in a tightly sealed glass jar in a cool, dry place, or freeze.

And for dessert

Double-frosted Brownies

2 sq. unsweetened chocolate (2 oz.)

1/3 c. butter

1 c. sugar

3/4 c. flour

1/2 tsp. salt

2 eggs

1/2 tsp. baking powder

1/2 c. nuts

Frosting I:

1/4 c. butter, softened

2 c. confectioner's sugar

2 Tbsp. milk

1 tsp. vanilla

Frosting II:

1 sq. chocolate

1 Tbsp. butter

Melt chocolate and butter together. Add other ingredients in bowl. Add chocolate-butter mixture. Spread in 8 x 8 baking pan. Bake at 350°F for 30 - 35 minutes. Cool slightly. Meanwhile, brown 1/4 c. butter. Blend in sifted powdered sugar, milk, vanilla. Spread over cooled brownies. Then melt chocolate with butter (Frosting, the Sequel), spread thin coat over brownies

I hope this helps you.

Answer 4

Lasagna and a salad is always good or a baked ziti.  if you like mexican food try enchilladas.