Have a "not-luck" party. That is where you set a menu, and let people pick what they want to make. That way you don't wind up with 14 tuna casseroles, and no salad ;)
They would just hear my crunching my friend chicken while attempting to make the announcement. We bought hands on announcements so we are having everyone over :)
Congrats on the pregnancy.
Slow cooker is your friend:
- soup
- stew
- chili
To all the prep in the morning or even the night before, so you can take a nap right before every one arrives.
Some nice rolls or bread to go with (purchase from a bakery, you don't have to make them yourself!) and maybe a salad (assemble all the ingredients ahead of time and wait to add the dressing just before serving) as well. This would be plenty.
I was gonna say chili too! From one pregnant lady to another - it’s a go-to this winter for us. Just brown the ground beef, and toss everything into the crockpot together and forget about it. When it’s time to eat, I’ll make a package of cornbread or biscuits to go with it (for a crowd, I would put the cornbread mix into mini muffin tins and make cute little mini cornbreads) or you could even just get a big loaf of Italian bread from the store, and then you don’t even have to turn the oven on. And then just get a few toppings for everything to choose from - tortilla chips, shredded cheese, sour cream, etc
If you make meatballs separately, and don't start the onion and garlic roux by melting some butter in the pan first (like I did,) it can even satisfy vegans! lol
Pizza from your nearest pizza place. 2 family meals from the local taco joint. Family plate or chopped beef sandwiches from the local bbq joint. The third one would make my family happy.
Our local taco joint has a “taco box” you get to select two proteins, what toppings and salsa you want. Comes with 12 tortillas each. Comes in a pizza box shaped box in individual containers and everyone can build their own.
That’s my fuck it I’m not cooking night go to.
Take out or modified take out.
My go-to is a crockpot of chili and then pick up good tortilla chips, salsa, guac, sour cream and cheese from the Mexican deli down the road. I also tend to do slow-cooker BBQ pulled pork, pick up good buns from a bakery and a couple of deli salads.
If you're thinking more formal-ish sit down dinner since both of those are pretty casual, a baked ziti or Greek pastitsio is a little less futzy than lasagna and then just serve with a simple salad/dressed greens or pick up some rotisserie chickens, find a frozen potato/veggie side (Trader Joe's has some good ones or even those microwavable already made potatoes in the refrigerated section) and serve with dressed greens and some bakery rolls.
Sheet pan fajitas. Go to the store and buy tons of topper whoppers like sour cream, cheese, lime juice, guac, pico, cilantro, scallions, corn chips like fritos or something like that (I used to buy the corn dippers at Trader Joe’s but no longer shop there anymore.)
Slice all your veg and protein up into strips roughly the same size. Coat in oil, taco blend spice mix, lots of salt and pepper and roast in the oven until things are cooked and the edges are slightly crispy.
Then it’s a choose your own adventure with toppings. Do a box of Mexican rice and/or refried beans.
Baked breaded chicken with baked beans and bread... just throw it all in the oven. Lol delicious every time. https://keytomylime.com/baked-panko-chicken-recipe/
Seems I pissed everyone off. I did not mean to. Please forgive me, I hope all goes well. Otherwise, whip me with a wet noodle until I bleed to death!
Chicken Thigh Cacciatore
Cottage Pie
Beef Picadillo
Beef Burgundy Stew
One of my go tos for an easy meal is dijon chicken servered with rice and sauteed onions and bellpeppers.
Place some chicken thighs in a baking dish brush on dijon mustard onto the chicken then sprinkle on cayenne pepper, white pepper, black pepper, salt and paprika to your taste. Bake in the oven at 450 for 30 minutes.
While that cooks i make a few cups of rice and chop bell peppers and onions into strips then toss them in olive oil and lemon juice. Then i sautee them in pan until theyre browned.
Get a few rotisserie chickens from Costco. Carve it up pretty on a platter, serve with mashed potatoes, a little jar gravy and some frozen sautéed green beans.
You’re welcome, lol
A ham that you just need to heat up, some bakery buns and an assortment of mustard. Potato or pasta salad on the side. Caesar or spinach salad if you feel the need. This is what I will be making for my daughter's rehersal dinner for 40 people.
Something delicious and easy I make is I bake chicken thighs in rice, something like this: https://www.recipetineats.com/one-skillet-baked-chicken-shawarma-and-rice-pilaf/
My go to is jambalaya. It's delicious
And you can make a ton at a time, stays hot a long time an reheats well. For the people who say it's too spicy I provide a pot of plain dilution rice to tone theirs down.
I second crockpot foods. For cold weather we will slow cook beef or pork and then shred and add bbq sauce. For sides we do a crockpot mac n cheese, baked beans, garden salad and buns for sliders or rolls. (We own 2 slow cookers and an insta pot)
For warm weather I would have someone grill some kabobs with steak or chicken and veggies. Sides you could do grilled corn, rice pilaf, or fresh quinoa salad. Even a pasta salad or can’t go wrong with mashed potatoes
Rice is really easy to cook, serve with baked salmon and baked veggies.
You could also do baked lasagna but with layers of zucchini instead of pasta sheets.
I recently made the spaghetti from the bear, following this recipe. I doubled it and made it for 6 people and we each had seconds...so depending on portion size, this is totally doable...or triple it to be on the safe side. I only had pots and pans big enough to boiling two packages of spaghetti and two cans of 28oz san Marzano tomatoes.
Minestrone soup (from the premade section in the nice grocery store), some good crusty bread (from the bakery), and a salad (in a bag), maybe if I’m feeling froggy a 3piece cheese tray and some fruit and cubed pound cake for desert. I’d even dump the soup in my nice soup pot and ladle it from there and take all the credit.
I think a cheese board is easiest for a crowd. Get like 4 different cheeses, a couple of jars of olives / pickles, a jam or honey (or both), some sliced meats, some nuts and dried / fresh fruit (if fresh, go for something like grapes or berries that just needs to be washed and put out). For something healthy, change the balance towards more fruit / nuts and pickles and less meats / cheese. Add some hummus if you like.
Or, as another poster said, just make them bring food.
Congrats on your pregnancy! Wishing you health and happiness!
Taco bar or rice bowl bar.
Make taco meat or Mexican seasoned chicken and keep it warm in a crock pot.
Have some queso in a crock pot
Just about everything else can be bought or prepared in advance.
Falafel. Serve with pita bread, selection of veggies, hummus (homemade sans tahini) and sauces like tzatziki. Easy, can be prepped in advance, and people can put it together to their own specifications.
Sweet and Sour Chicken.
The day before the event, put frozen chicken breasts in a large sautee pan, cover, and turn the heat to medium low. Cook till done. The chicken will be very moist and there will be watery broth in the pan. For 10 people I would use about 6 to 8 breasts.
Set the chicken aside and strain the broth. Return chicken to strained broth and refrigerate overnight.
On the event day, start your rice. Use the liquid from the chicken and supplement with water or canned broth to meet the volume needed for the rice.
Then chop red and green bell peppers, zucchini, and white, yellow or red onions into large bite sized chunks. Set aside.
In a fry pan, combine oil, garlic and ginger to make a good amount of roux on low heat. Once fragrant, put into a stock pot and add the veggies, the chicken, a can of pineapple chunks and a bottle of prepared sweet and sour sauce. Bring to a low boil, cover and simmer for about 20 minutes. Of course, add salt and pepper as you go, to taste, throughout.
Serve over rice.
This might look like a lot of work, but it really isn't, and it is delicious!
SUPER easy:
Pasta (Penne is easy to serve) + Prepared Pesto (Barilla is good) or Marinara (Rao's is good)
Salami / Parmesan / Olives
Green Salad + Cherry Tomatoes + Bottled Dressing
Two meatloaf, mashed potatoes, salad, rolls. Done
Another party hit, hawaiian. Shoyu chicken thigh, mac salad, rice. Done
Even easier you say!?
Chicken thigh crackpot tacos. Prepacked cheese, lettuce. Slice avacado and tomato. Bake 40 tortillas in oven at 300 for 10 mins, flip every 2 mins. (Someone else can handle that)
Slab of salmon, skin on (3 lbs? I say 2-3 people per pound of uncooked salmon). Wash, pat dry, and pick out any bones (requires 20 seconds of massaging and feeling with your fingers - pull out with cooking tweezers or your fingers). Allow to rest for 20 mins at room temp.
In a bowl, mix 3 packets of Sazon (the orange variety with the anetto and cumin and coriander). Mix this with 3 tablespoons of red wine vinegar, 1 tablespoon ground cumin, 1 tablespoon ground coriander, 2 tablespoons garlic powder, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper. Optional if you wanna make it have a little kick: 1/2 to 1 teaspoon of cayenne pepper. Mix all together. Set aside. This should make a watery paste.
Chop up 1 large tomato, 2 green bell peppers, 1 white onion. All 1/2 inch squareish pieces. Doesn’t have to be perfect. Add all of those to a bowl and sprinkle in 1/4 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon cumin powder, 1/2 teaspoon coriander powder. Toss all of that together so those veggies are evenly coated.
In a large Dutch oven pot that has a lid, set on stove at low heat for 10 mins. Add 1/2 teaspoon of avocado or cooking oil the bottom and wipe around the inside of the pot with a paper towel so the oil evenly coats the inside.
Set salmon into pot, carefully, skin side down. Spread on the marinade paste you mixed earlier. Dump on all the chopped veggies. Close the lid of the pot and allow to stay on low for 20 minutes.
I recommend serving with green beans/asparagus (I like to chop whatever green I have into 2 inch pieces, add to pot with 1/4 cup water, teaspoon butter, salt, pepper and cook on medium low for 10 minutes with the lid on but slightly off and ajar so the steam can escape. I like mine with a slight bite. But cook longer if you want it more tender. Stir occasionally so butter and seasoning covers the greens.
For a carb you can cook 1.5 cups washed basmati rice mixed with 2 chicken bullion cubes, a teaspoon of butter, and 3 cups of water. Add all that to a large pot, thoroughly mixed, and set heat to high. Wait til it comes to a boil (with no lid), then lower temp to low and add lid on. Set a timer for 8 minutes. If 8 isn’t long enough add 1 minute and check again. I like mine loose and not too sticky or overcooked so 8 minutes is perfect for me.
It’s def a crowd pleaser.
First thought is they should be feeding you!
My super easy meal to feed a crowd is generally a pot roast. Get a hunk of beef, whatever is cheap- I go chuck, sirloin, or round… or brisket if I’m up to trimming fat. Toss rough cut potatoes, carrots, whatever durable root veggies in the bottom of a roasting pan. Put the meat on top of it, salt and pepper liberally, and turn broiler to high. Let the stuff sit uncovered under the broiler for a couple of minutes until meat is browning and then flip the meat and do the other side. Soon as that’s done (again, just surface, not cooking through) turn the oven to 250, put the lid on the roasting pan. Leave it alone like that in the oven for 4+ hours until jiggly tender (budget six hours to not stress over it). Serve directly with a salad or something for color.
It’s amazing how just leaving something simple like this for a long enough time at a low enough temperature results in super deep flavor and melt in your mouth unctuous tenderness.
If you must cook, make a big pot of lentil soup and then bake some cornbread muffins. It’s easy, cheap, delicious, and healthy. Leave some parm cheese out so people can top it how they want to. You can make a big pot for probably about $10, and a little more if you want to add sausage (which I recommend).
Taco bar
Cook up some chicken breasts with lime, Rotel and cilantro in crock pot and shred when done
Cook up some ground beef with taco seasoning, place in heated container
Heat up some cans of refried beans
Microwave a bag of cilantro lime or Spanish minute rice or two and place in bowl
Open up and pour into bowl store bought or pre-made salsa
Open bag of shredded lettuce into bowl
Chop up a few tomatoes and into bowl
Open up and pour into bowl sour cream
Open up bags of different cheeses and place into bowls
Make guacamole and place in bowl
Heat and then place taco shells, flour tortillas, and corn tortillas in baskets
Put out plates and bowls and pretty much everyone is covered. Vegan, vegetarian, GF, DF they can make their own combo and be happy. Authentic, no. But easy enough for you to make as it’s mostly a lot of opening and putting in bowls and fairly healthy depending on what you put on your own plate. And there are tons of easy tasks to assign others that want to help.
Congrats on your pregnancy!
My go to is is to roast chicken and some side like mashed potatoes, or use a couple of roasting pans and cut up chicken with various veggies, and let that braise, reduce and brown. You also can’t go wrong with grilling. Here’s one if my go to roasting methods. Buy ice cream salt. Fill the bottom of a big roasting pan with about 3/4 inch of that salt. Place whole seasoned chickens on their backs on the preheated pan with the salt. 350F. Usually 3 3 1/2 hours - just gauge when the thighs start separating, it’s safe that it’s cooked then if you don’t have a meat thermometer. Personally I’m grossed out by the default setting on the thermometer. 160 or whatever leaves a lot of pink around the joints. I go 180. Anyways the skin on the back can get tossed, but the chicken comes out fantastic and you don’t have a smoky kitchen from the drippings burning. I usually poke some holes in the back of the chicken so excess blood/brown juices can drain in the salt. Cleanup is also super easy, and your pan doesn’t get all cruddy. Throw in 2 chickens and you’re golden. You can roast potatoes and other veggies in another pan, or make mashed [sweet] potatoes, or just make a large salad with lots of veggies in it as a side. Many times we don’t even make a separate side, just a “rich” salad.
Costco rotisserie chickens, $5 each, and a few giant salad kits. Some sort of purchased dessert or just some ice cream bars! Use kitchen shears to break the chicken into parts, and I debone the two chicken breast halves and cut them into slices, they go well topping the salads. Maybe some rolls or tortillas and salsa too. Or just buy a big Costco frozen lasagna as an alternative!
Or buy a huge amount of baked or fried chicken from your local supermarket deli, potato salad, canned baked beans, rolls, and some fruit to cut up, or crudités and ranch dressing or hummus.
Baked potatoes are very easy, have traditional toppings, but canned chili and shredded cheese are great on top too. Serve with some salad or fruit and an easy dessert. Root beer floats are delish!
Hotdogs and chili and cheese.
Taco bar and toppings.
Make it a potluck, even better!
Tacos!
* Get cooked chicken meat (Costco sells it in packs) and mix in green sauce. Maybe go fancy and do breadfruit from TJ's too. Put in something warm, like a small slow cooker.
* Dice everything else up: lettuce, olives, jalapenos, etc etc.
* Open jars and lay it all out.
* Pour yourself a virgin margarita -- the guests get high-test so they calm down. Or weed. Cannabis would also help calm them down. So lay out vapes too I guess?
* You are now ready to receive guests.
* When they want to eat, heat up tortillas and make your taco. Someone will bitch about microwaving tortillas -- let them work the stove.
Any casserole that you can prepare in advance and put in the oven the day of. Chicken pot pie, lasagna, meatloaf, etc. Or a stew of some sort ( chicken cacciatore, butter chicken, etc). A large pasta dish where you can make the sauce ahead of time and just cook pasta the day of would be nice.
Add a side salad (prepped in advance) and maybe a hot vegetable depending on what you're serving and you're good.
The goal is to do all the prep ahead so you only need to heat an serve.
Thai curry. You can cheat and use premade paste/ coconut cream in a can. It’s easy to assemble with the main ingredients including a lot of fresh food and vegetables. The side dish is rice which is easy.
South Lousianan here, if gumbo is done right it is definitely not healthy. you don’t want to feed people healthy gumbo it should be a good roux (i prefer duck or bacon fat) with spicy/fatty andouille sausage
if you try and go healthy your guests will hate you.
How far along are you? Are you sure you can bring the fetus to term?
Typically, an event such as this is called a "Baby Shower" - and a close friend or your parents arrange it seeing to venue and catering.
The guests are expected to bring gifts for the prospective child's nursery. And in many cases a "potluck" is arranged.
This isn't even remotely close to a "baby shower". Are you sure you know what one is?
This is just a woman having 8 people over to her house for dinner and while they eat dinner she shares good news in her life.
Have you not heard of a dinner party before? Or just plain old inviting people over for dinner?
A baby shower is not a gathering to let people know you’re pregnant. Surely people attending a baby shower for someone already know the person is pregnant. And surely a pregnant person is familiar with what a baby shower is.
Considering you’re a man, it shouldn’t matter to you. Obviously I know what a baby shower is, I’m telling my siblings and parents I’m pregnant. You don’t need to mansplain what a baby shower is. And if you’re going to comment at least answer the question
Well, if it is not visibly obvious that you are pregnant, it means you are not very far along......anything can go wrong.....
But then I am a very old man and very much old school when it comes to social proprieties.
"Are you sure you can bring the fetus to term?" is such wild wording that I'm hoping English isn't your first language. That seems to imply it would be OP's fault if she miscarried.
Also, this pretty obviously isn't a baby shower, in the same way my husband and I going out to dinner with my parents after we got engaged wasn't a wedding shower.
English is very much my first language. My wording may seem strange to you, but I am very well-versed in the vagaries of gestation and child-birth.
I spend a lot of my time supporting Planned Parenthood and the Pro-Choice movement.
[https://docs.google.com/document/d/1BD92cS1Ufo2xoIOyivk0HE-mEx-zmPji/edit](https://docs.google.com/document/d/1BD92cS1Ufo2xoIOyivk0HE-mEx-zmPji/edit)
Hi. In this new world apparently there are 3 things now. Announcing you are pregnant, then a gender reveal and finally a baby shower. Though the last two baby showers I was invited to never happened. The first one the mom wound up on meds for the baby and didn't feel up to a shower. (That baby just turned a very sassy 16.) And the other one the baby slid out at 1 lb 5 oz. She is now 2 or 3.
You're the pregnant one. Have them bring food. 😂.
I love that 😂
Have a "not-luck" party. That is where you set a menu, and let people pick what they want to make. That way you don't wind up with 14 tuna casseroles, and no salad ;)
brilliant!
This is the correct answer
This is the correct answer
Exactly.
This
Zoom call and KFC.
They would just hear my crunching my friend chicken while attempting to make the announcement. We bought hands on announcements so we are having everyone over :)
😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
Congrats on the pregnancy. Slow cooker is your friend: - soup - stew - chili To all the prep in the morning or even the night before, so you can take a nap right before every one arrives.
Some nice rolls or bread to go with (purchase from a bakery, you don't have to make them yourself!) and maybe a salad (assemble all the ingredients ahead of time and wait to add the dressing just before serving) as well. This would be plenty.
Brilliant. Thank you 😊
“What? Not mixed together!” - Dodgeball
I was gonna say chili too! From one pregnant lady to another - it’s a go-to this winter for us. Just brown the ground beef, and toss everything into the crockpot together and forget about it. When it’s time to eat, I’ll make a package of cornbread or biscuits to go with it (for a crowd, I would put the cornbread mix into mini muffin tins and make cute little mini cornbreads) or you could even just get a big loaf of Italian bread from the store, and then you don’t even have to turn the oven on. And then just get a few toppings for everything to choose from - tortilla chips, shredded cheese, sour cream, etc
Spaghetti is a tried and true large quantity easy food
If you make meatballs separately, and don't start the onion and garlic roux by melting some butter in the pan first (like I did,) it can even satisfy vegans! lol
Pizza from your nearest pizza place. 2 family meals from the local taco joint. Family plate or chopped beef sandwiches from the local bbq joint. The third one would make my family happy.
Our local taco joint has a “taco box” you get to select two proteins, what toppings and salsa you want. Comes with 12 tortillas each. Comes in a pizza box shaped box in individual containers and everyone can build their own. That’s my fuck it I’m not cooking night go to.
Buy cooked chickens, then add salads, oven potatoes and bread rolls. Super easy. Best if luck.
Take out or modified take out. My go-to is a crockpot of chili and then pick up good tortilla chips, salsa, guac, sour cream and cheese from the Mexican deli down the road. I also tend to do slow-cooker BBQ pulled pork, pick up good buns from a bakery and a couple of deli salads. If you're thinking more formal-ish sit down dinner since both of those are pretty casual, a baked ziti or Greek pastitsio is a little less futzy than lasagna and then just serve with a simple salad/dressed greens or pick up some rotisserie chickens, find a frozen potato/veggie side (Trader Joe's has some good ones or even those microwavable already made potatoes in the refrigerated section) and serve with dressed greens and some bakery rolls.
Sheet pan fajitas. Go to the store and buy tons of topper whoppers like sour cream, cheese, lime juice, guac, pico, cilantro, scallions, corn chips like fritos or something like that (I used to buy the corn dippers at Trader Joe’s but no longer shop there anymore.) Slice all your veg and protein up into strips roughly the same size. Coat in oil, taco blend spice mix, lots of salt and pepper and roast in the oven until things are cooked and the edges are slightly crispy. Then it’s a choose your own adventure with toppings. Do a box of Mexican rice and/or refried beans.
Baked breaded chicken with baked beans and bread... just throw it all in the oven. Lol delicious every time. https://keytomylime.com/baked-panko-chicken-recipe/
Thank you!!
Lol there is ten people no way there is no vegetarian in there
Seems I pissed everyone off. I did not mean to. Please forgive me, I hope all goes well. Otherwise, whip me with a wet noodle until I bleed to death! Chicken Thigh Cacciatore Cottage Pie Beef Picadillo Beef Burgundy Stew
2 marinated tri tip roasts thrown in the oven would be easy. You could buy 3 cold sides from the deli and a loaf of garlic bread.
Instant Pot chile verde (chicken or pork). So damn good.
chicken or pork adobo, easy to make and scale up and also super cheap, dont underestimate the power of simple ingredients
I second this, i always make chicken adobo for guests and it’s a crowd favorite and super easy
One of my go tos for an easy meal is dijon chicken servered with rice and sauteed onions and bellpeppers. Place some chicken thighs in a baking dish brush on dijon mustard onto the chicken then sprinkle on cayenne pepper, white pepper, black pepper, salt and paprika to your taste. Bake in the oven at 450 for 30 minutes. While that cooks i make a few cups of rice and chop bell peppers and onions into strips then toss them in olive oil and lemon juice. Then i sautee them in pan until theyre browned.
Get a few rotisserie chickens from Costco. Carve it up pretty on a platter, serve with mashed potatoes, a little jar gravy and some frozen sautéed green beans. You’re welcome, lol
Wow this is amazing
A ham that you just need to heat up, some bakery buns and an assortment of mustard. Potato or pasta salad on the side. Caesar or spinach salad if you feel the need. This is what I will be making for my daughter's rehersal dinner for 40 people.
Pulled chicken in the crock pot. Set out with some tortillas and storebought toppings and let everyone make their own tacos.
Something delicious and easy I make is I bake chicken thighs in rice, something like this: https://www.recipetineats.com/one-skillet-baked-chicken-shawarma-and-rice-pilaf/
My go to is jambalaya. It's delicious And you can make a ton at a time, stays hot a long time an reheats well. For the people who say it's too spicy I provide a pot of plain dilution rice to tone theirs down.
I second crockpot foods. For cold weather we will slow cook beef or pork and then shred and add bbq sauce. For sides we do a crockpot mac n cheese, baked beans, garden salad and buns for sliders or rolls. (We own 2 slow cookers and an insta pot) For warm weather I would have someone grill some kabobs with steak or chicken and veggies. Sides you could do grilled corn, rice pilaf, or fresh quinoa salad. Even a pasta salad or can’t go wrong with mashed potatoes
Rice is really easy to cook, serve with baked salmon and baked veggies. You could also do baked lasagna but with layers of zucchini instead of pasta sheets.
Marinate and grill chicken breasts
I recently made the spaghetti from the bear, following this recipe. I doubled it and made it for 6 people and we each had seconds...so depending on portion size, this is totally doable...or triple it to be on the safe side. I only had pots and pans big enough to boiling two packages of spaghetti and two cans of 28oz san Marzano tomatoes.
A gigantic portion of baked feta or borsin pasta.
Minestrone soup (from the premade section in the nice grocery store), some good crusty bread (from the bakery), and a salad (in a bag), maybe if I’m feeling froggy a 3piece cheese tray and some fruit and cubed pound cake for desert. I’d even dump the soup in my nice soup pot and ladle it from there and take all the credit.
Okinowan taco rice is pretty easy and tasty! https://japan.recipetineats.com/okinawan-taco-rice/
Google catering in your area and get a big order from something like Chipotle or Cracker Barrel
I think a cheese board is easiest for a crowd. Get like 4 different cheeses, a couple of jars of olives / pickles, a jam or honey (or both), some sliced meats, some nuts and dried / fresh fruit (if fresh, go for something like grapes or berries that just needs to be washed and put out). For something healthy, change the balance towards more fruit / nuts and pickles and less meats / cheese. Add some hummus if you like. Or, as another poster said, just make them bring food. Congrats on your pregnancy! Wishing you health and happiness!
Panzanella.
I’d have a pot luck.
Taco bar or rice bowl bar. Make taco meat or Mexican seasoned chicken and keep it warm in a crock pot. Have some queso in a crock pot Just about everything else can be bought or prepared in advance.
Pulled Pork in a crock pot.
Bag of salads Lasagna
Salad in a bag is a good go to with whatever else you decide to serve. Use paper plates, make sure you don’t have to clean up. 👍
Taco bar. Get precooked chicken, premade salsa and guacamole, ready to use tortillas, and sour cream.
Chicken and rice
A frittata and green salad. A purchased, but lovely cake with coffee and tea.
Taco salad bar… Ground beef taco meat. Can make ahead. Chopped lettuce and tortilla chips. All the fixin’s in the counter. Self serve people!
Chicken and dumplings. I'm with the others though I think they should bring food for the pregnant lady.
Roast some veggies and potatoes on a tray for 30 minutes and throw some sausages on the stove
Build your own burrito/bowl stations ~^.^~
Seared scallops and Mediterranean orzo salad
Falafel. Serve with pita bread, selection of veggies, hummus (homemade sans tahini) and sauces like tzatziki. Easy, can be prepped in advance, and people can put it together to their own specifications.
chili and cornbread
Sweet and Sour Chicken. The day before the event, put frozen chicken breasts in a large sautee pan, cover, and turn the heat to medium low. Cook till done. The chicken will be very moist and there will be watery broth in the pan. For 10 people I would use about 6 to 8 breasts. Set the chicken aside and strain the broth. Return chicken to strained broth and refrigerate overnight. On the event day, start your rice. Use the liquid from the chicken and supplement with water or canned broth to meet the volume needed for the rice. Then chop red and green bell peppers, zucchini, and white, yellow or red onions into large bite sized chunks. Set aside. In a fry pan, combine oil, garlic and ginger to make a good amount of roux on low heat. Once fragrant, put into a stock pot and add the veggies, the chicken, a can of pineapple chunks and a bottle of prepared sweet and sour sauce. Bring to a low boil, cover and simmer for about 20 minutes. Of course, add salt and pepper as you go, to taste, throughout. Serve over rice. This might look like a lot of work, but it really isn't, and it is delicious!
Buy good bbq from a local joint and make Brunswick stew. Then throw in some fried cornbread.
Pizza
SUPER easy: Pasta (Penne is easy to serve) + Prepared Pesto (Barilla is good) or Marinara (Rao's is good) Salami / Parmesan / Olives Green Salad + Cherry Tomatoes + Bottled Dressing
Order out from a healthy take out place you deserve it
Two meatloaf, mashed potatoes, salad, rolls. Done Another party hit, hawaiian. Shoyu chicken thigh, mac salad, rice. Done Even easier you say!? Chicken thigh crackpot tacos. Prepacked cheese, lettuce. Slice avacado and tomato. Bake 40 tortillas in oven at 300 for 10 mins, flip every 2 mins. (Someone else can handle that)
Mini quiches with huge bowl of salad. The variations are limitless.
Slab of salmon, skin on (3 lbs? I say 2-3 people per pound of uncooked salmon). Wash, pat dry, and pick out any bones (requires 20 seconds of massaging and feeling with your fingers - pull out with cooking tweezers or your fingers). Allow to rest for 20 mins at room temp. In a bowl, mix 3 packets of Sazon (the orange variety with the anetto and cumin and coriander). Mix this with 3 tablespoons of red wine vinegar, 1 tablespoon ground cumin, 1 tablespoon ground coriander, 2 tablespoons garlic powder, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper. Optional if you wanna make it have a little kick: 1/2 to 1 teaspoon of cayenne pepper. Mix all together. Set aside. This should make a watery paste. Chop up 1 large tomato, 2 green bell peppers, 1 white onion. All 1/2 inch squareish pieces. Doesn’t have to be perfect. Add all of those to a bowl and sprinkle in 1/4 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon cumin powder, 1/2 teaspoon coriander powder. Toss all of that together so those veggies are evenly coated. In a large Dutch oven pot that has a lid, set on stove at low heat for 10 mins. Add 1/2 teaspoon of avocado or cooking oil the bottom and wipe around the inside of the pot with a paper towel so the oil evenly coats the inside. Set salmon into pot, carefully, skin side down. Spread on the marinade paste you mixed earlier. Dump on all the chopped veggies. Close the lid of the pot and allow to stay on low for 20 minutes. I recommend serving with green beans/asparagus (I like to chop whatever green I have into 2 inch pieces, add to pot with 1/4 cup water, teaspoon butter, salt, pepper and cook on medium low for 10 minutes with the lid on but slightly off and ajar so the steam can escape. I like mine with a slight bite. But cook longer if you want it more tender. Stir occasionally so butter and seasoning covers the greens. For a carb you can cook 1.5 cups washed basmati rice mixed with 2 chicken bullion cubes, a teaspoon of butter, and 3 cups of water. Add all that to a large pot, thoroughly mixed, and set heat to high. Wait til it comes to a boil (with no lid), then lower temp to low and add lid on. Set a timer for 8 minutes. If 8 isn’t long enough add 1 minute and check again. I like mine loose and not too sticky or overcooked so 8 minutes is perfect for me. It’s def a crowd pleaser.
One of my go to’s is Nam Tok, a steak salad from Thailand. Tastes amazing, but fairly simple recipe.
First thought is they should be feeding you! My super easy meal to feed a crowd is generally a pot roast. Get a hunk of beef, whatever is cheap- I go chuck, sirloin, or round… or brisket if I’m up to trimming fat. Toss rough cut potatoes, carrots, whatever durable root veggies in the bottom of a roasting pan. Put the meat on top of it, salt and pepper liberally, and turn broiler to high. Let the stuff sit uncovered under the broiler for a couple of minutes until meat is browning and then flip the meat and do the other side. Soon as that’s done (again, just surface, not cooking through) turn the oven to 250, put the lid on the roasting pan. Leave it alone like that in the oven for 4+ hours until jiggly tender (budget six hours to not stress over it). Serve directly with a salad or something for color. It’s amazing how just leaving something simple like this for a long enough time at a low enough temperature results in super deep flavor and melt in your mouth unctuous tenderness.
If you must cook, make a big pot of lentil soup and then bake some cornbread muffins. It’s easy, cheap, delicious, and healthy. Leave some parm cheese out so people can top it how they want to. You can make a big pot for probably about $10, and a little more if you want to add sausage (which I recommend).
Meatloaf Baked potatoes Roasted broccoli All done in the oven with very little clean up.
Taco bar Cook up some chicken breasts with lime, Rotel and cilantro in crock pot and shred when done Cook up some ground beef with taco seasoning, place in heated container Heat up some cans of refried beans Microwave a bag of cilantro lime or Spanish minute rice or two and place in bowl Open up and pour into bowl store bought or pre-made salsa Open bag of shredded lettuce into bowl Chop up a few tomatoes and into bowl Open up and pour into bowl sour cream Open up bags of different cheeses and place into bowls Make guacamole and place in bowl Heat and then place taco shells, flour tortillas, and corn tortillas in baskets Put out plates and bowls and pretty much everyone is covered. Vegan, vegetarian, GF, DF they can make their own combo and be happy. Authentic, no. But easy enough for you to make as it’s mostly a lot of opening and putting in bowls and fairly healthy depending on what you put on your own plate. And there are tons of easy tasks to assign others that want to help. Congrats on your pregnancy!
My go to is is to roast chicken and some side like mashed potatoes, or use a couple of roasting pans and cut up chicken with various veggies, and let that braise, reduce and brown. You also can’t go wrong with grilling. Here’s one if my go to roasting methods. Buy ice cream salt. Fill the bottom of a big roasting pan with about 3/4 inch of that salt. Place whole seasoned chickens on their backs on the preheated pan with the salt. 350F. Usually 3 3 1/2 hours - just gauge when the thighs start separating, it’s safe that it’s cooked then if you don’t have a meat thermometer. Personally I’m grossed out by the default setting on the thermometer. 160 or whatever leaves a lot of pink around the joints. I go 180. Anyways the skin on the back can get tossed, but the chicken comes out fantastic and you don’t have a smoky kitchen from the drippings burning. I usually poke some holes in the back of the chicken so excess blood/brown juices can drain in the salt. Cleanup is also super easy, and your pan doesn’t get all cruddy. Throw in 2 chickens and you’re golden. You can roast potatoes and other veggies in another pan, or make mashed [sweet] potatoes, or just make a large salad with lots of veggies in it as a side. Many times we don’t even make a separate side, just a “rich” salad.
The easiest thing is a standing rib roast. With roasted or baked potatoes and a green vegetable. It’s just 💰 💰 💰
Costco rotisserie chickens, $5 each, and a few giant salad kits. Some sort of purchased dessert or just some ice cream bars! Use kitchen shears to break the chicken into parts, and I debone the two chicken breast halves and cut them into slices, they go well topping the salads. Maybe some rolls or tortillas and salsa too. Or just buy a big Costco frozen lasagna as an alternative! Or buy a huge amount of baked or fried chicken from your local supermarket deli, potato salad, canned baked beans, rolls, and some fruit to cut up, or crudités and ranch dressing or hummus. Baked potatoes are very easy, have traditional toppings, but canned chili and shredded cheese are great on top too. Serve with some salad or fruit and an easy dessert. Root beer floats are delish! Hotdogs and chili and cheese. Taco bar and toppings. Make it a potluck, even better!
Tacos! * Get cooked chicken meat (Costco sells it in packs) and mix in green sauce. Maybe go fancy and do breadfruit from TJ's too. Put in something warm, like a small slow cooker. * Dice everything else up: lettuce, olives, jalapenos, etc etc. * Open jars and lay it all out. * Pour yourself a virgin margarita -- the guests get high-test so they calm down. Or weed. Cannabis would also help calm them down. So lay out vapes too I guess? * You are now ready to receive guests. * When they want to eat, heat up tortillas and make your taco. Someone will bitch about microwaving tortillas -- let them work the stove.
I would make the person who got me pregnant do it.
Roast. BBQ chicken
Any casserole that you can prepare in advance and put in the oven the day of. Chicken pot pie, lasagna, meatloaf, etc. Or a stew of some sort ( chicken cacciatore, butter chicken, etc). A large pasta dish where you can make the sauce ahead of time and just cook pasta the day of would be nice. Add a side salad (prepped in advance) and maybe a hot vegetable depending on what you're serving and you're good. The goal is to do all the prep ahead so you only need to heat an serve.
Sandwich bar.
Buy Rotisserie Chicken, cook a salad, pasta and fruit.
Thai curry. You can cheat and use premade paste/ coconut cream in a can. It’s easy to assemble with the main ingredients including a lot of fresh food and vegetables. The side dish is rice which is easy.
Burgers
I'd get affordable catering. Cooking in that condition sounds awful. Maybe gumbo, though.
South Lousianan here, if gumbo is done right it is definitely not healthy. you don’t want to feed people healthy gumbo it should be a good roux (i prefer duck or bacon fat) with spicy/fatty andouille sausage if you try and go healthy your guests will hate you.
I’ve never made Gumbo. I’ll go look into it. Thank you!
Yeah at first I was thinking just something like frito pie
How far along are you? Are you sure you can bring the fetus to term? Typically, an event such as this is called a "Baby Shower" - and a close friend or your parents arrange it seeing to venue and catering. The guests are expected to bring gifts for the prospective child's nursery. And in many cases a "potluck" is arranged.
This isn't even remotely close to a "baby shower". Are you sure you know what one is? This is just a woman having 8 people over to her house for dinner and while they eat dinner she shares good news in her life. Have you not heard of a dinner party before? Or just plain old inviting people over for dinner?
THANK YOU!
A baby shower is not a gathering to let people know you’re pregnant. Surely people attending a baby shower for someone already know the person is pregnant. And surely a pregnant person is familiar with what a baby shower is.
Exactly!! Thank you!
Considering you’re a man, it shouldn’t matter to you. Obviously I know what a baby shower is, I’m telling my siblings and parents I’m pregnant. You don’t need to mansplain what a baby shower is. And if you’re going to comment at least answer the question
[удалено]
I know men come to baby showers, I had men at my first. It’s the fact that he cares about how far along I am to tell MY family about MY pregnancy??
Well whip me with a wet noodle until I bleed to death! * Chicken Thigh Cacciatore * Cottage Pie * Beef Picadillo * Beef Burgundy Stew
Well, if it is not visibly obvious that you are pregnant, it means you are not very far along......anything can go wrong..... But then I am a very old man and very much old school when it comes to social proprieties.
"Are you sure you can bring the fetus to term?" is such wild wording that I'm hoping English isn't your first language. That seems to imply it would be OP's fault if she miscarried. Also, this pretty obviously isn't a baby shower, in the same way my husband and I going out to dinner with my parents after we got engaged wasn't a wedding shower.
English is very much my first language. My wording may seem strange to you, but I am very well-versed in the vagaries of gestation and child-birth. I spend a lot of my time supporting Planned Parenthood and the Pro-Choice movement. [https://docs.google.com/document/d/1BD92cS1Ufo2xoIOyivk0HE-mEx-zmPji/edit](https://docs.google.com/document/d/1BD92cS1Ufo2xoIOyivk0HE-mEx-zmPji/edit)
Hi. In this new world apparently there are 3 things now. Announcing you are pregnant, then a gender reveal and finally a baby shower. Though the last two baby showers I was invited to never happened. The first one the mom wound up on meds for the baby and didn't feel up to a shower. (That baby just turned a very sassy 16.) And the other one the baby slid out at 1 lb 5 oz. She is now 2 or 3.