When you welcome others into your house it’s good to keep it simple. Start small and move forward from there. It’s easy to get overwhelmed and stressed out when we plan too much. What we feed the people we invite into our home can be something that overwhelms us, but it doesn’t have to be.
Lets not let the meals we serve our guest keep us from embracing hospitality. Here are a few way to keep the meals we feed our guest simple.
Meals ||
Simple Dinner: If dinners are overwhelming to you, keep them super simple. Pizza & tossed salad are a lovely meal. Everyone loves pizza, kids will be happy, and it is a casual meal that brings people together.
Pick up a prepared meal from Costco, we love the Chicken Pot Pie or their Orange Chicken. Add a couple easy sides and you are set.
Make something that you know will turn out and that you are confident sharing. Spaghetti, taco soup, barbecuing hamburgers and hotdogs, any meal that feels easy to you. It doesn’t have to be fancy, unless that what brings you joy and you are skilled in the art of hospitality. If you are starting out, keep the meals simple. Remember, it is about coming together and sharing a table, not about serving the fanciest meal.
Potluck: Organizing a potluck is a great way to share a meal. You could do this in a variety of ways. We organize appetizers for our New Years Eve party every year. We always have plenty to eat and appetizers are fun to prepare.
Barbecues are also easy to organize. You could provide the meat and have everyone else bring a side. You could do this with any meal. You could have a themed night. Everyone brings soup, or a Mexican or Italian dish, or salads and rolls. So many potluck options!
Go To Meals: Growing up my mom had a few go to meals she prepared for company. They were yummy meals that she was comfortable preparing and they were crowd pleasers. Having a list of meals that you prepare for guest is a decision you can make now so you don’t have to make it later. Here are a few of our go to meals.
Sweet Pork Tacos — Roast & Potatoes — Reuben Sandwiches — Shredded Pork Sandwiches — Chicken Salad Croissant Sandwiches — Grilled Salmon
Just Desserts: It doesn’t have to be dinner. If dinner is overwhelming, you can plan to invite your guest over for dessert. Dessert can feel a lot less overwhelming then dinner. Ice cream sundaes are always a good option, smores in the fall are always fun, or a couple favorite Christmas desserts with a hot chocolate bar would be fun in December.
You could also easily do a dessert potluck. A themed potluck, like a pie night, would be fun as well! Dessert would also be an easy item to purchase, no cooking or prepping involved.
You could also have a signature dessert that you prepare for guest. A dessert that you have perfected and make especially for your guest. Perhaps its our famous chocolate cake, a raspberry cheesecake, creme brûlée, or those perfect chocolate chip cookies with a scoop of your favorite vanilla ice-cream. At my house I have been making my moms brownies for years. I have memorized the recipe, it always turns out, and it is a crowd pleaser. Dessert is definitely a good reason to gather together. What a special and easy way to welcome guest into your home.
How do you welcome guest into your home? What do you feed your guest? How do you make hospitality simple and doable?
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