Whenever you say you’re “having a cocktail party” or “entertaining,” does it conjure up photos of tablecloths and cheese boards and perhaps flowers and journeys to the wine retailer the place you must take into consideration issues like “Does this Syrah go properly with salmon?” I’m not saying I thoughts all this — in truth, I can get into it — however a wierd factor occurred a couple of years in the past. An outdated buddy of mine who I hadn’t seen shortly texted me he was going to be on the town and I simply dashed off a textual content again to him saying, “Come over for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 way in which it was phrased arrange the night time to be a lot extra about cooking for a buddy versus entertaining them, if you understand what I’m saying. I’ve since tricked myself into entertaining with ease numerous instances. In that spirit, a couple of choices for tactics to finish the part “Come over for…”
Come Over for…Good Humor Evening One among my core childhood reminiscences is enjoying boxball (aka Foursquare) after dinner with half the neighborhood, listening to the ding-a-ling of the ice cream truck approaching a couple of blocks away, then all of us dropping every thing to beg our mother and father for cash. Since this was the ’70s, it was often called 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 copy this expertise in 2023, together with the boxball, and it might need to be me.
Come Over for…Lasagna At all times a crowd-pleaser, lasagna is simple to make vegetarian, and a full satisfying dinner when merely accompanied by a inexperienced salad. You possibly can even make it collectively (or with a bunch of children) if that’s one thing your pals could be into.
Come Over for…Soup When the mercury climbs, nobody desires to cook dinner, which is the place gazpacho is available in. That soup — as straightforward to make as a smoothie — with a hunk of excellent bread and a inexperienced salad is A-plus excellent and all I might ever want or count on 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: hen soup with or with out matzo balls.
Come Over for…Burgers and Canine What, pray inform, is less complicated (or tbh, higher) than an old style cookout with burgers and sizzling canine, plus perhaps a potato salad thrown in for good measure? Add plant-based burgers to the line-up (or make it solely vegetarian) for the veg-forward squad.
Come Over for…Brownie Sundaes Make a batch of boxed brownies; choose up a couple of pints of vanilla, chocolate, and strawberry, plus some fixings (say, crushed peanuts, maraschino cherries, strawberries, pineapple chunks, sizzling 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. Find out how to host a chaotic brunch, and come over for a drinks celebration!
