What’s your go to show stopper dish for company?

[Tenacious E_rivals41982]

I’m going with steak pinwheels, which I’m making tonight celebrating the first full day of empty nesting while both kids are in college:

• butterfly flank steak and pound thin
• Season one side with garlic powder, salt, and pepper
• Lay on top of that layers of baby spinach, roasted red pepper, and pieces of goat cheese
• Start at one end and roll it so that it becomes like a tube with layers of each filling and steak
• Season the outside with with salt and pepper
• Either tie it closed with butcher’s twice or pin it tight with toothpicks
• Can cook it several different ways. I am doing sous vide at 132 for several hours, and then will finish with a sear to get a crust.
• Then cut into slices that look like pinwheels.

End product looks something like this:

 

[hawkeyetraveler]

My very best meal is probably a sous vide prime steak. (I cook similar to you…130 for 2 hours then sear and butter baste with rosemary and thyme to finish) with loaded twice baked potatoes (tons of butter, sour cream, bacon, cheese, etc) and grilled asparagus with lemon and Parmesan.

If you aren’t obese when you sit down to the meal you will be when you stand up.

 

[Tenacious E_rivals41982]

My very best meal is probably a sous vide prime steak. (I cook similar to you…130 for 2 hours then sear and butter baste with rosemary and thyme to finish) with loaded twice baked potatoes (tons of butter, sour cream, bacon, cheese, etc) and grilled asparagus with lemon and Parmesan.

If you aren’t obese when you sit down to the meal you will be when you stand up.

I also make something very similar to that…

 

[AFM22]

Hot dogs cut like octopus

 

[Tenacious E_rivals41982]

Hot dogs cut like octopus

With extra ketchup…

 

[fatpiggy]

Country Captain Chicken is a good dish to serve with guests.

Bing Videos

 

[AFM22]

With extra ketchup…

Of course

 

[St. Louis Hawk]

I usually make a chicken parm, garlic bread, and a Caesar. Pretty safe dish - breaded and pan fried chicken cutlet keeps it from being too dry.

Or if I have time and it’s a hang out with family or friends type day, I’ll make a short rib pasta.

 

[Tenacious E_rivals41982]

Of course

Dijon ketchup!

 

[Hawkedup]

I’m going with steak pinwheels, which I’m making tonight celebrating the first full day of empty nesting while both kids are in college:

• butterfly flank steak and pound thin
• Season one side with garlic powder, salt, and pepper
• Lay on top of that layers of baby spinach, roasted red pepper, and pieces of goat cheese
• Start at one end and roll it so that it becomes like a tube with layers of each filling and steak
• Season the outside with with salt and pepper
• Either tie it closed with butcher’s twice or pin it tight with toothpicks
• Can cook it several different ways. I am doing sous vide at 132 for several hours, and then will finish with a sear to get a crust.
• Then cut into slices that look like pinwheels.

End product looks something like this:

View attachment 1404414

That looks amazing. But, more importantly, how are you feeling as a newfound empty nester? This is coming for me in the next couple years and am not sure how I will handle it. Sorry to hijack the thread.

Back on topic. You guys have some fancy dishes. Usually, if we are having people over it’s for a kids birthday or the superbowl or something like that so nothing fancy. Chicken tortilla soup or tacos or something like that for several people. So, lame but tortilla soup is delish.

And I have heard sous vide is a great cooking method. I’ve never tried it.

 

[Tenacious E_rivals41982]

I usually make a chicken parm, garlic bread, and a Caesar. Pretty safe dish - breaded and pan fried chicken cutlet keeps it from being too dry.

Or if I have time and it’s a hang out with family or friends type day, I’ll make a short rib pasta.

My BIL - who is a **** cook - has one Italian chicken dish which is pretty killer - chicken saltimbocca. This is not the recipe but close. It tastes 10x better than it should.

Chicken Italian Style Saltimbocca Recipe - Food.com

simple fast, and tasty. Ingredients always in the house...

www.food.com

 

[PW Herman]

I brought Party Potatoes once and @McLovin32 shid all over them, but I caught him eating 4ths in the Men's Restroom. I'll go with those

 

[Tenacious E_rivals41982]

That looks amazing. But, more importantly, how are you feeling as a newfound empty nester? This is coming for me in the next couple years and am not sure how I will handle it. Sorry to hijack the thread.

Back on topic. You guys have some fancy dishes. Usually, if we are having people over it’s for a kids birthday or the superbowl or something like that so nothing fancy. Chicken tortilla soup or tacos or something like that for several people. So, lame but tortilla soup is delish.

And I have heard sous vide is a great cooking method. I’ve never tried it.

It was tougher dropping off our first a few years ago. He’s a senior now and she’s a freshman also at Iowa, so it’s comforting having big brother there. But frankly, she was ready to get out of ankeny and experience new experiences. Older son is a dog and she’s a cat I guess. As for me, I’m digging the free time and lack of pressure to have full meals all of the time. I have a business trip coming up next week and don’t feel guilty about it and such. I guess also it’s not that big of an impact on me because I know we’ll see them in Iowa city a bunch for football games and such.

 

[BelemNole]

Typically I’ll smoke something. Brisket, ribs, pork shoulder. Easy and people are impressed.
Wife says my best dish is my pan fries chicken parm. It’s pretty good, but is pretty easy as well.

 

[lonestar50]

Chicken Marbella with rice pilaf

Chicken Marbella Recipe

Chicken Marbella is the classic baked chicken recipe from the famous Silver Palate Cookbook! The combination of capers, prunes, olives, and herbs create an easy-to-make masterpiece!

www.themediterraneandish.com

 

[alaskanseminole]

It's strangely a simple dish; Procutto Tortalini. Now, my BIG dish, is only made on Christmas Eve. It's a Mexican Spaghetti and I make the sauce 100% from scratch. Takes about 2 hours to prep, then I stir every 30 min for over 6 hours. Been making it for about 30 years. It's a close friend's grandpa's recipe. Supposedly, I'm the only "gringo" who has it...my friend's Mexican SILs don't even have it. So, I'm kinda hated in her family. LOL

 

[Tenacious E_rivals41982]

Typically I’ll smoke something. Brisket, ribs, pork shoulder. Easy and people are impressed.
Wife says my best dish is my pan fries chicken parm. It’s pretty good, but is pretty easy as well.

If we’re hosting a game watch smoked ribs will be served.

 

[BelemNole]

It was tougher dropping off our first a few years ago. He’s a senior now and she’s a freshman also at Iowa, so it’s comforting having big brother there. But frankly, she was ready to get out of ankeny and experience new experiences. Older son is a dog and she’s a cat I guess. As for me, I’m digging the free time and lack of pressure to have full meals all of the time. I have a business trip coming up next week and don’t feel guilty about it and such. I guess also it’s not that big of an impact on me because I know we’ll see them in Iowa city a bunch for football games and such.

Our oldest is graduated and working and our youngest is gonna be a SR this fall and is only home for a few weeks a year.
We’re traveling a lot more now. In fact we flew to phoenix yesterday to catch some ballgames.

 

[The_Joker13_rivals]

@McLovin32 makes a mean party potato mash I’m told. For me, my go to is Cocaine. Never disappoints.

 

[Tenacious E_rivals41982]

@McLovin32 makes a mean party potato mash I’m told. For me, my go to is Cocaine. Never disappoints.

Now that you mention it I feel picking up a new vice is a good idea. I got coke - what do you think else I should try, meth or or heroine?

 

[St. Louis Hawk]

It's strangely a simple dish; Procutto Tortalini. Now, my BIG dish, is only made on Christmas Eve. It's a Mexican Spaghetti and I make the sauce 100% from scratch. Takes about 2 hours to prep, then I stir every 30 min for over 6 hours. Been making it for about 30 years. It's a close friend's grandpa's recipe. Supposedly, I'm the only "gringo" who has it...my friend's Mexican SILs don't even have it. So, I'm kinda hated in her family. LOL

What’s the basics of Mexican spaghetti - a mole or Mexican sauce rather than a tomato based sauce?

 

[jedhawk77]

That looks amazing. But, more importantly, how are you feeling as a newfound empty nester? This is coming for me in the next couple years and am not sure how I will handle it. Sorry to hijack the thread.

Back on topic. You guys have some fancy dishes. Usually, if we are having people over it’s for a kids birthday or the superbowl or something like that so nothing fancy. Chicken tortilla soup or tacos or something like that for several people. So, lame but tortilla soup is delish.

And I have heard sous vide is a great cooking method. I’ve never tried it.

I saw on GMA this morning one of the new fads is an empty nest party. Your kids surprise you with all sorts of your favorite little snacks with balloons and all that jazz. @Tenacious E_rivals41982 Were you thrown an empty nest party?

 

[alaskanseminole]

What’s the basics of Mexican spaghetti - a mole or Mexican sauce rather than a tomato based sauce?

we'll, it has 2lbs of Bacon in it.

 

[RollingballofButcherKnives]

Country Captain Chicken is a good dish to serve with guests.

Bing Videos

That does look good…

 

[Tenacious E_rivals41982]

I saw on GMA this morning one of the new fads is an empty nest party. Your kids surprise you with all sorts of your favorite little snacks with balloons and all that jazz. @Tenacious E_rivals41982 Were you thrown an empty nest party?

I was not.

 

[fatpiggy]

That does look good…

I tend to leave the currants out, but the rest of it is delicious.

 

[TJ8869]

Dijon ketchup!

Obviously we’re all pretty wealthy here. But let’s be honest, none of us has Dijon ketchup money.

 

[BrianNole777]

Obviously we’re all pretty wealthy here. But let’s be honest, none of us has Dijon ketchup money.

Speak for yourself...

 

[tarheelbybirth1]

Maybe pork tenderloin with cherry sauce.

Boil 0.75 cup balsamic vinegar, then cook on low heat until reduced. It'll make the house smell like boiling balsamic.

Stir in the 0.75 cup cherry preserves (low sugar) and cook for a minute until it thickens slightly. Remove from the heat and stir 2 tsp fresh thyme.

Combine 1.5 tsp garlic powder, 1.5 tsp kosher salt, and 0.25 tsp pepper and rub over 2 1lb tenderloins (after slicing off that silver skin).

Brown the tenderloins in a cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat.

Spoon half of the cherry sauce over the meat, saving the rest for later.

Bake the pork at 400°F for 10 to 15 minutes, depending on the thickness. Cook to an internal temp of 145°F.

Loosely cover the skillet with foil and let the pork rest for 5 minutes before slicing. Serve with remaining cherry sauce.

It's good with spicy brussels sprouts.

 

[Aardvark86]

I honestly don’t know if I have a go to for stuff like this. Sometimes it’s informal and works in volume — a series of pizzas, or lasagna, or Stromboli. Beyond that usually conventional - steaks, salmon or the like.

but holidays I do well. I never leave my house on Thanksgiving and always have a ginormous turkey. Peanut soup, huckleberry sauce, sausage stuffing, multiple pies. I have only eaten thanksgiving at a place other than my home once. Xmas - go full tenderloin or go home, with “death by cauliflower”, homemade bernaise, roasted honey Brussels sprouts, etc.

FYI - death by cauliflower involves cauliflower, a shitton of heavy cream, a shitton of prosciutto, a shitton of Parmesan, a shitton of garlic and some cayenne.

 

[Jonathan Assbutt Jr.]

Probably either Detroit or NY Style Pizzas. Also have gotten pretty good at knocking out authentic Italian Lasagna.

 

[BrianNole777]

Probably either Detroit or NY Style Pizzas. Also have gotten pretty good at knocking out authentic Italian Lasagna.

Pics of pizzas?

 

[Aardvark86]

Probably either Detroit or NY Style Pizzas. Also have gotten pretty good at knocking out authentic Italian Lasagna.

I used to love to make multiple trays of lasagna for my cycling team training camp.

 

[fatpiggy]

I honestly don’t know if I have a go to for stuff like this. Sometimes it’s informal and works in volume — a series of pizzas, or lasagna, or Stromboli. Beyond that usually conventional - steaks, salmon or the like.

but holidays I do well. I never leave my house on Thanksgiving and always have a ginormous turkey. Peanut soup, huckleberry sauce, sausage stuffing, multiple pies. I have only eaten thanksgiving at a place other than my home once. Xmas - go full tenderloin or go home, with “death by cauliflower”, homemade bernaise, roasted honey Brussels sprouts, etc.

FYI - death by cauliflower involves cauliflower, a shitton of heavy cream, a shitton of prosciutto, a shitton of Parmesan, a shitton of garlic and some cayenne.

What ya got for peanut soup? Don't think i have heard of that one.

 

[JWolf74]

Typically something on the smoker. If it's a game watch, I'll often do ribs and wings served with smoked Mac and cheese and often smoked baked beans (with a bunch of bacon, seasonings, onions, etc added). Smoked chili, chicken tortilla soup, etc are also really easy to do to feed a crowd.

I think I'm really good at Thanksgiving, too. Smoke the bird and usually bake the yams on the smoker while the bird is resting. Really like my cranberry sauce as well. I start prepping the week prior by making stock. It's my holiday to work this year and then we're heading to Iowa City that evening. So not sure what dinner will look like this year. If it's my wife/MIL doing the cooking, probably canned yams and boxed stuffing. I'll still make cranberry sauce. I refuse to eat that canned crap.

 

[BrianNole777]

OP's Mom

 

[JWolf74]

Country Captain Chicken is a good dish to serve with guests.

Bing Videos

1. That looks delightful
B. Who the hell uses Bing?

 

[TJ8869]

Speak for yourself...

Who are you, Brian Rockefeller?

 

[Rahskie]

Smashburgers & Low Country Boil....just did both with guests in town this weekend.

 

[NDallasRuss]

Homemade guacamole, everything fresh and from scratch.

It's a lot of effort, but you'd have a hard time finding better.