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“Hospitality isn’t a contest. It is sharing the best you have.”
A friend recently gifted me a copy of the delightful book, Betty Crocker’s Guide To Easy Entertaining, and that quote from the first page hasn’t left my mind since I read it! It can be intimidating to host someone who I know has a nicer house, better culinary skills or a larger entertaining budget than I do, but I refuse to let that keep me from extending the invitation.
Offering the best you have – without apology – forces you to make it all about your guests. This takes the focus off yourself and sets you up for hospitality success!
I’m trying to compile my go-to menus for entertaining and will share them here as I nail them down. Not long ago I served a casual Sunday night meal that came together so easily. This menu will be in my “go-to” file!
Here’s what I served:
- Sloppy Cubanos (I make these with whatever ground meat I have on hand (turkey or beef) instead of the chorizo)/Provolone Cheese/Sweet Hawaiian Rolls
- Oven Fries – this could be swapped out for potato chips to make it even easier!
- Greek Salad: Chopped Tomatoes & Cucumbers, Feta Cheese & Black Olives drizzled with bottled Vinaigrette Dressing
- Watermelon – I used my melon baller – I think it’s faster than cutting it off the rind with a knife
- Brownies/Ice Cream/Cool Whip/Hershey’s Syrup
- Peach Tea (we love the Country Time Peach Harvest Tea) & Water
Starting an hour and a half early, I was able to have everything prepped and ready 15 minutes before the company arrived. I assembled the sandwiches and kept them warm on a platter along with the fries. Everything else was ready and hanging out in the fridge. When it was time to eat, I set the food out on our breakfast bar and let everyone fill their plates.
It was easy to move the food over to the counter and set out the dessert items buffet style as well. Sometimes I like to plate everyone’s dessert and make it pretty, but you just can’t beat a make-your-own brownie sundae bar!
Do you have a go-to entertaining menu? I’d love to hear what it is!
Come Home For Comfort 
We don’t have a ton of guests over, but a go-to meal is sandwiches, seasonal fruit and veggies, and dessert. It’s something easy to prepare, with little clean-up, that allows more time focusing on and enjoying the company. Luckily, our guests aren’t terribly fancy, so they aren’t put-out by a simple meal. And “beggars shouldn’t be choosers” anyway, right? 🙂
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I meant to add that using the melon baller really adds an extra touch to the fruit. 🙂 I often forget there’s one in my drawer. Thanks for the reminder! Haha!
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Ha, exactly! 🙂
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Love that quote! It really makes you think about your guests and sharing your best with them 🙂 Your menu sounds so good. I bet your guests loved it. We like to grill burgers for guests, do a taco bar, order pizza paired with homemade side dishes/desserts or do a soup and cornbread combo in the Fall.
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Those are such great menu ideas! I’ve never made burgers for guests but I should. That’s such a crowd pleaser!
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Looks like a wonderful menu for a great evening fellowship! We like to keep it simple and some of our best times are those we didn’t plan.
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I agree! Sometimes those last minute invitations are such fun!
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Sounds like a delicious and easy summertime menu! Our go-to this summer has been picnic food – barbecued hot dogs and hamburgers; grilled corn on the cob; pasta salad (Suddenly Salad makes it even easier!), pork ‘n beans dressed up with some brown sugar, ketchup and mustard; and fresh fruit. For dessert, we’ve served brownies or Brownie Brittle (mmm!) with ice cream. For our drinks, we’ve served Lipton Peach iced tea or mock mint juleps (mint simple syrup, ginger ale and ice). It’s so fun to entertain – and I agree, having a good time and giving your guests the best of what YOU have is what matters!
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That sounds like a delicious summer menu! I love peach tea, and your mock juleps are such a great idea. What a nice way to treat your guests to a fancy beverage! 🙂
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