Once you say you’re “having a cocktail party” or “entertaining,” does it conjure up photographs of tablecloths and cheese boards and possibly flowers and journeys to the wine retailer the place you must take into consideration issues like “Does this Syrah go nicely with salmon?” I’m not saying I thoughts all this — in truth, I can get into it — however an odd factor occurred a number of years in the past. An previous pal of mine who I hadn’t seen shortly texted me he was going to be on the town and I simply dashed off a textual content again to him saying, “Come over for some meatballs!” And for no matter cause, the best way it was phrased arrange the night time to be a lot extra about cooking for a pal versus entertaining them, if you already know what I’m saying. I’ve since tricked myself into entertaining with ease numerous instances. In that spirit, a number of choices for tactics to finish the part “Come over for…”
Come Over for…Good Humor Evening One among my core childhood recollections is enjoying boxball (aka Foursquare) after dinner with half the neighborhood, listening to the ding-a-ling of the ice cream truck approaching a number of blocks away, then all of us dropping the whole lot to beg our mother and father for cash. Since this was the ’70s, it was referred to as the Good Humor Truck, and we obsessed over the Chocolate Eclairs, Strawberry Shortcakes, Toasted Almond Bars, ice cream sandwiches, and rocket pops. I’m nonetheless ready for somebody to duplicate this expertise in 2023, together with the boxball, and it might need to be me.
Come Over for…Lasagna All the time a crowd-pleaser, lasagna is simple to make vegetarian, and a full satisfying dinner when merely accompanied by a inexperienced salad. You’ll be able to even make it collectively (or with a bunch of youngsters) if that’s one thing your mates can be into.
Come Over for…Soup When the mercury climbs, nobody needs to prepare dinner, which is the place gazpacho is available in. That soup — as simple to make as a smoothie — with a hunk of excellent bread and a inexperienced salad is A-plus good and all I might ever want or anticipate from a weeknight dinner invitation. On different nights, there’s zucchini soup or baked beans or, the most effective, when the climate will get cooler: rooster soup with or with out matzo balls.
Come Over for…Burgers and Canine What, pray inform, is simpler (or tbh, higher) than an old style cookout with burgers and scorching canine, plus possibly a potato salad thrown in for good measure? Add plant-based burgers to the line-up (or make it completely vegetarian) for the veg-forward squad.
Come Over for…Brownie Sundaes Make a batch of boxed brownies; decide up a number of pints of vanilla, chocolate, and strawberry, plus some fixings (say, crushed peanuts, maraschino cherries, strawberries, pineapple chunks, scorching fudge, whipped cream); stack up a pile of dessert bowls, and let ’em at it.
How would you full the invitation “Come Over For…”? I’d like to know.
P.S. The right way to host a chaotic brunch, and come over for a drinks social gathering!