Hostess with the Mostess part six


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For this next installment of Hostess with the Mostess, today I am discussing the main course for your party. The most important thing as a hostess with a mostess for me is to enjoy your party as the hostess. You don't want to make main courses that are too time consuming or will keep you slaving away in the kitchen, while your guests enjoy the party without you. 

How do you do this?
1. When preparing for a party, do as much of the prep work you can ahead of time. 
2. Make easy main courses
3. Fit it to the theme of the party
4. Don't keep returning to the kitchen to prepare the main course over and over again, it is your party, so enjoy it!

Here are some great but easy main courses you could have for your summer party.
Kabos
You can make them meat and veggies or you can make them just veggies. The possibilities are endless with kabobs and you can prepare all of them in advance. 
Then you just have to grill them for your guests.


Pasta
This is another easy main course that can have multiple possibilities. You can heat up the sauce a slow cooker, then boil a large pot of pasta and then people make their own pasta creations. The sauces can be with meat or meatless, red or white, with grilled veggies in the sauce, the choice is up to you!



Or if you want, you could make a huge pan of lasagna and let people dig in.

Tacos
Make a great party food because everyone can make their tacos as they like. You can definitely do all the prep wore before, chop the lettuce, dice the tomatoes and onions, shred the cheese and make the guacamole. Right before your guests arrive, you can cook the meat, warm the tortillas and let your guests make their own taco creations.


Just a few main course suggestions for your summer party helping you become a hostess with the mostess.
Do any of you have a go to main course dish you make if you have a party?

31 comments:

Lala said...

My favorite easy main course dish is chicken spaghetti
1 can cream of celery
1 can cream of mushroom
l lb. mexican velveeta
1 can drained rotel (or not drained if you like real spicy)
12-16 oz. angel hair pasta
1 rotisserie chicken or 4 chicken breasts

cook and shred chicken. cook pasta. melt the remaining ingredients on stove over low, combine and serve! so easy!

stephanie said...

that lasagna looks so yummy!! and I love a good taco bar :)

A Shopaholic Runner said...

I love grilling and Mexican so the kabobs and the taco bar win for me!

Simply LKJ said...

Yum! We had a Taco bar for our daughter's grad party...super easy. Our go to for a more elegant, yet simple meal is a peppered beef tenderloin. I prepare a nice salad and mixed rice (in crockpot) ahead of time, so I can enjoy my guests. We also love fondue!

courtney said...

oooh i love all the pictures!! kabobs are awesome for having people over!!

Erin said...

I love taco bars, or hamburger bars too (both are super easy and always crowd-pleasers!)

Stesha said...

you would be the best hostess!!

xxS

Alexa said...

All great tips Meg. I tend to gravitate towards tacos. Buy a rotissere chicken, tortillas, etc and dinner is practically made for you! Also enchiladas are easy with the chicken as well!

Darby Hawley said...

You know I love those kabobs! That spread for the tacos is so pretty! Thanks for the suggestions friend :-)

Rachael {all things beautiful} said...

Great suggestions for dinner parties! I am a huge fan of pasta for dinner parties. Like you said, so easy to prepare ahead of time. Thanks for sharing :)

Anonymous said...

This is absolutely amazing! I won't be at a loss for what to do at my upcoming dinner party. :) x

Anonymous said...

My that lasagna looks heavenly!

xx
Quiet Luxury


The Preppy Student said...

great suggestions! tacos always work well but kabobs look so nice! if i went to a party I would love a veggie kabob!

danielle p. said...

this all looks so incredibly tasty! especially that lasagna, yummm :]

Unknown said...

i love these. i especially enjoy the make your own tacos and pastas! I think these are great ideas as a host, because its less stress, easy and almost everyone can find something they like and as a guest its fun AND delicious! love it. i am keeping this in mind!

Joanna said...

I am in a Bunco group and the ladies have such amazing ideas for feeding 12 hungry women. We've had panini bars and chowder bars where we can choose what we want inside but the bases are pre-made. Another great idea is crockpot meals which we do often. I am hosting my group in September and this post is so helpful. I will be 7 months pregnant and need something ubersimple. Thanks!

Niki {Glossy Blonde} said...

These are great tips! I have been wanting to throw a summer party and besides the grilled food (hot dogs, etc.) couldn't think of anything to pass around. I could make little appetizer kabobs and maybe s'mores ones for dessert!

perch shop said...

great tips! love a kabob. can't go wrong!

Allison said...

OMG that food looks amazing! Love the photo of all the pastas! I'm craving alfredo now :)
I would love for you to visit my blog sometime!!
:)
Allison

P.S. I'm having an INTERNATIONAL $75 Shopbop giveaway on my blog, so don't forget to enter! :)
A's Fashion Files
$75 Shopbop Giveaway!

Jamie said...

Thanks for the great tips and ideas! I always find myself running back and forth to the kitchen during a party, so I will keep these in mind! Glad to have found your blog! Would love if you checked out the crystal bracelet giveaway I have going on!

Jamie
Forever81
Crystal Bracelet Giveaway!

Hilary said...

Lasagna is always my go-to but kabobs are a great idea!!

Jennifer @ Delightfully Noted said...

I love the make your own pasta idea!

sherri lynn said...

These are great ideas! I've never done the make your own pasta idea. My go-to is a fajita bar. Similar to the taco idea, but we grill chicken and I make guacamole and have all of the toppings to put on :)

Emily said...

Love these suggestions. I think a taco bar would be really fun to have at a party! I also love to do fondue for a main course or app. I think sliders might be fun too!

Lacy in the Sky with Diapers said...

OK I am starving now... Love the pasta bar idea!! I think I might just invite myself to your party...

Kristin said...

These are all great ideas! I've done the huge batch of pasta with three sauces before (marinara w/ meat, alfredo, and veggie) - and two of our favorite go-do company meals are Roasted Red Pepper Chicken Pasta because it can primarily be made ahead of time (very little prep) and then just boil the pasta and toss it all together at the last minute! We also love a Mediterranean Platter meal - no cooking at all! Just heap all your favorite Grecian goodies on a plate, and tell everyone to dive in. It's also a utensil-less meal, which makes it fun, and puts everyone at ease! Here are the links if you're interested: http://kristinsveranda.com/victuals/2011/03/11/a-platter-from-the-mediterranean/ ---and --- http://kristinsveranda.com/victuals/2012/04/24/roasted-red-pepper-chicken-pasta/

Courtney said...

I love a good taco night!

Angela said...

yum, summer bbq.

Lisa said...

love this!! i always do a pasta.. either lasagne or like a pesto penne with spicy italian sausage. but i reallllllly really love the taco idea!!!! that would be really fun and interactive for a big group!

Anonymous said...

This food looks so good!

www.stills.rs

Tina said...

Awesome suggestions - that lasagne looks amazing! My favorite meal to make for guests is pasta.