Some Quick Meal Tips when Company’s Coming

By Lori Powell

Company has come and gone! It’s always such a treat to have guests in your home and every time I do, I learn how to do it at least one step better.

Having company truly is one of the best excuses to get your house in order since it gives you a deadline to get all your ducks in a row…well, at least those that can be seen by the naked eye and are not lurking behind closed doors in the closet.

Just this past Saturday I had eight people over with two of them wee ones with an appetite. The week before, my parents came for a visit so I had a lot of extra mouths to feed.

Here are some quick meals and tips from my house to yours.

Make sure that you have some extra dinner time cheats on hand. This is the time to support your local markets that provide you with not only the freshest takeout, but also some of the best local ingredients that are in your area. Fortunately for me, I am surrounded by several, some of whom I’ve mentioned in prior blog posts and some that are new finds.

Appetizers/Hors d’oeuvres
Buy: Pate, assorted cheeses (from hard to soft/from goat to cow), olives, Balsamic Cipollini Onions, Artichoke Pesto (Bella Cucina), for a spread. Toss bocconcini (fresh mozzarella balls) in basil pesto. All foodstuffs come from my local supermarket, The Fresh Market.
Make: Roasted mini peppers and cherry tomatoes drizzled with balsamic vinegar, deviled eggs

Main Meals
Buy: Homemade pierogies (Saylor’s & Co in Hellertown, Pennsylvania), sour cream
Make: Caramelized onions to serve with pierogies

Buy: Good-quality, cheese-filled pasta or ravioli and bruschetta tomato topping or tomato salsa
Make: A salad of arugula with vinaigrette to top pasta with

Buy: Homemade meatballs (Saylor’s & Co) and grated Parmesan cheese
Make: Homemade tomato sauce

Buy: Pulled Pork (yep you guessed it, Saylor’s again), rolls
Make: Homemade coleslaw

Buy: Pot pie (not telling)
Make: Iced tea

Breakfast/Brunch/Lunch
Buy: Quiche (Saylor’s again)
Make: Roasted asparagus with balsamic vinegar and Parmesan cheese

Buy: Croissants
Make: Quick fresh fruit compote or jam

Desserts
Buy: Cheesecake (Dolce Patisserie in Pennsylvania)
Make: Coffee and whip your own cream

Buy: Pound cake or angel food cake
Make: Macerated berries in sugar and fresh lemon

Buy: Brownies, ice cream
Make: Chocolate or berry sauce and toasted nuts

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