10 Great Reader Comments on Food
One of the best parts about writing about food on Cup of Jo is reading your responses. We love hearing how you enjoy eating a good meal and sharing it with others. Here are 11 reader comments on everything from frozen meatballs to puppy parties…
On an adorable party idea:
“I am a huge dog lover, so for my birthday my partner organized a ‘puppies and their people’ brunch party. Folks with dogs brought them along! It made the whole afternoon so light and fun.” — Christina
On having a house specialty:
“My very Italian mother keeps hundreds of meatballs frozen at all times (‘if I drop dead, I want people to eat good food at my funeral’). Everyone knows this, so I can’t tell you how many spontaneous meals have been consumed and how many people she’s encouraged me to include. She said if she ever opened a restaurant it would be called ‘What’s One More?’” — Emily
“My dad made us a wooden M&M dispenser that hangs in the kitchen. It has a little drawer you pull out for a handful of M&Ms!” — Midge
On hosting:
“When a guest asks ‘Is there anything I can do to help?’ let them! A small, meditative task that’s simple to do while chatting (folding napkins, arranging flowers in a vase, and so on) can give the anxious friend a way to ease into a social experience or allow the friend who’s typically The Planner to truly relax into being taken care of after they feel they’ve contributed. It builds an organic warmth in the space, on top of being genuinely helpful to the host.” — Katharine
“I’m a retired chef who moved from the U.S. to Portugal. Cooking for others is my great joy, and I miss it, so dinner parties keep me in the game. Hosting dinners have also helped us become part of our Portuguese community. We’ve invited our landlord, neighbors, language teacher, even people we’ve met at the grocery store; and spending time lingering at the table has enriched our friendships. When other expats see our success with integrating, they ask, ‘What is your secret?’ I tell them it’s dinner, the best friend-making activity on earth.” — Cynthia
On what to bring:
“I often show up with a box of ice-cream Drumsticks. A friend recently shared that he remembered being at a July 4th party, looking out the window, and hoping that the girl walking on the sidewalk with a big box of Drumsticks was coming to their party. I was, and we still all celebrate July 4th together.” — KG
“When my husband and I are hosting, our friends always bring us a secret stash of Flaming Hot Cheetos. My husband and I hide it in the kitchen and eat it as a snack while we clean up afterwards!” — Caitlin
“When I can’t think of anything to bring, I grab a package of Tate’s thin chocolate chip cookies. They are a big hit with kids and grownups, and they pair well with a bottle of Prosecco. Even Ina Garten loves them, so you know they’re good.” — HJM
On a casual food theme:
“For my birthday, I had friends over for brunch. I made waffles and a mortadella tart (both from this website!) and just set out maple syrup, fruit, and coffee. It was easy to pull together, and friends are still commenting about how fun and low stakes it was.” — Katelynn
“One cold day, I was bored and alone, so I texted everyone I knew, ‘Come over tonight. Bring soup.’ Shockingly, 12 people showed up with soup to share! We all stood in my kitchen trying Norwegian fish stew, chicken noodle, lentil, pasta fagioli, chili, white bean and kale soup — someone even brought a can of SpaghettiOs. I didn’t have enough bowls, so we resorted to various mugs and glassware. The lack of bowls and the fact that not everyone knew each other didn’t matter at all. We had soup!” — Wendy
What are your favorite tips for hosting, guesting, or just enjoying good food with your people? I’d love to hear more.
P.S. Five no-recipe recipes for fall, 11 readers share their go-to meals, and are sheet cakes the best cakes?
(Pizza photo by J.Anthony/Stocksy.)
Tags: reader comments
Comments
116 commentsWow! wonderful
When I was dating my now husband, I was explaining my family’s tradition re: the day after Thanksgiving – we decorate for Christmas and make Tortellini Soup. Admittedly I am a fast and quiet talker but when he responded “Oh cool, so it’s a different one every time?” I was…confused? He thought I said we eat “Totally New Soup” and at that moment a new tradition was born. Every fall for the last decade+ we pick a Saturday or Sunday for the whole fam to get together and have Totally New Soup! We rotate every year who makes it, the person who made it last year does dessert, there’s usually a “reveal” moment, we hang, watch football, play outside with the kids, and just generally have a little holiday together before the real deal Holidays begin :). It’s become everyone’s favorite day!! All because my husband couldn’t hear me! LOL
so charming. I want some totally new soup!!
I love how your husband (albeit accidentially) influenced your family’s tradition and did not “just” become part of, but enhanced it :) That is a great, heartwarming anecdote.
My husband and I recently hosted a tequila tasting for 10 of our friends. We brought in a fajita dinner from a local restaurant to begin the night. Our friends each brought a tequila or two to taste. It was fun to organize a bracket system for the tasting. One of the most relaxed and happy evenings! And super easy to prepare for.
Some months ago I organised a reunion with 10 classmates in my big balkon in Athens. I said to everyone to bring something and I did the salads, bought dessert and wine, beers etc. Everyone but everone brought a homemade pie. We had 9 pies! Cheese, spinach, meat, everything. We laughed a lot and of course I had to eat pie for several days afterwards.
The most delightful cover photo that I’ve truly ever seen (!) I hope that whomsoever those chunky thighs belong to, they have it framed on their wall.
I love Wendy’s comment and wanted to share that I’m hosting something similar at my house in a couple weeks! We’ve invited five families to all bring a crock pot or two of their favorite soup, plus their own spoon and coffee mug, and I’m making all the toppings/breads/etc I can think of. I’ll have a bunch of deli containers so everyone can leave with their favorites to stock their freezer. This all started because no one else in my family wants to eat NE Clam Chowder with me, lol. But now, I’m excited to be cozy in PJ’s eating soup with our crew!!
I’m the youngest in a big family, which involves a lot of compromises, accommodating others’ tastes, etc. I also really like to cook, but in a relaxed way with no timetable. For my birthday this year, my request to my family was to ‘let’ me create the entire dinner menu and cook every element myself, slowly, over a series of days. I also insisted we eat late AND I got to choose the music. It was awesome! The menu, if you’re interested: Spaghetts to drink Shaved fennel & arugula salad Focaccia Meatballs with sauce Spumoni ice cream cake
Spaghetts! My absolute favorite. Also known as “drink of the summer” in our house, regardless of the time of year.
I host a cookie decorating party for my son’s best friends from kindergarten and their families every December. I make a big batch of cutout cookies in the month or two leading up to Christmas (Smitten Kitchen has a great recipe) and keep them in the freezer until the day before the party. Even though the kids are now in high school it’s still a blast!
Reading this post made me deeply happy. something about people simply coming together for meatballs or waffles in this world right now is so grounding. thinking about an october soup party now. The M&M dispenser is so nostalgic for me. My grandparents had one in their home, and it was quickly emptied every time we visited as kids.
Damaris, this is fascinating to me—my dad replicated the M&M dispenser from one my grandma had in her kitchen. When my grandparents downsized it went missing, and nobody knows what happened to the original, and everyone was vague on where it had come from in the first place. My grandma thought maybe my uncle had made it in Boy Scouts, but it could just as easily come from a PTA bazaar in Van Nuys somewhere. Anyway—my dad now sells them on Etsy and the link is below in the earliest comments. I’m so curious to see if they’re the same as what your grandmother had.
I’m hosting a cookie party at the end of November on a Saturday morning. What ideas that everyone have for what to serve? Sweet treats will obviously be covered but should I do a cheese board, fruit platter, mini pancakes and syrup? Any ideas welcome!
This is so random but I do a cookie party and the savory food is always tea sandwiches and tuna melts on English muffins.
Quiche, bacon, fruit salad, sweet treats, simple green salad! My go to brunch spread.
I’ve hosted a cookie party the past two years as well! It overlapped with a meal time (plus I’m middle eastern so there has to be a lot of food!), so my thinking was to definitely provide savory and protein and fiber to balance out all the sweet so people could eat more cookies! Last year we got some BBQ takeout, the year before I made a big kale salad and had lots of appetizers like Trader Joe’s lentil bruschetta and crackers. Hope you have so much fun!!
Quiche or mini quiche are great for morning gatherings! My go-to is a potato bacon quiche with puff pastry crust that I got from an old Kraft magazine (https://www.pinterest.com/pin/potato-and-bacon-quichekraft-foods–283867582738952988/)….It is always a hit!
Hi Maureen, Cookie Parties are the best!! The last three years when I did it, I had a cheese and fruit tray and drinks. Besides that people were happy to sample the cookies too. Hope it’s a blast!
My number one tip for hosting/making friends as a working mom with little kids is get a bounce house and set it up in your front yard. We bought the smallest size Little Tikes bounce house when my son was an infant and still use it ALL THE TIME and he’s almost 4. I live in DC and luckily on one of the rare streets of row houses with big front yards. I regularly text our neighbors “come over for pizza/drinks/snacks/WHATEVER and bounce house.” It’s instantly a party! Even when we just set it up for our own two kids we inevitably end up with a gaggle of neighborhood kids in our yard. It’s the best and I’ve met so many of my neighbors who stop to chat when walking by.
+1 to this idea! We have a “neighborhood bounce house” that was handed down from one family that moved out to another family that still lives in the neighborhood. They set it up randomly throughout the year and invite people over, and they also lend it out to all the neighbor families to use for birthday parties! We just got a big costco inflatable water slide and held our first “backyard water party” over the summer. It was such a hit and didn’t require much prep…we’ll def be making it an annual tradition!
re: what to bring, oh my gosh, is anyone else addicted to shaiie__food The Potluck Courtroom on Instagram? I fall over laughing.
I have watched her on TikTok and also die laughing!! So so funny 😂
PSA: Trader Joe’s HOLD THE CONE mini ice cream cones, in all varieties are AMAZING for just the right vibe :)
Coffee flavor is my favorite. The mochi variety are fun too!
Great comments as always… but that squishy baby bottom next to the pizza box is killing me, aaawwwww!
I love cooking with friends! Instead of cooking in our own individual kitchens and transporting dishes to whoever is hosting that night, we bring our ingredients over and cook our dishes together. It’s so fun to menu plan in the group chat, and it’s so lovely and intimate to share a kitchen and gab while cutting veggies and stirring stews and checking in on whatever’s in the oven. Sure, the cook time normally takes longer than usual, but it’s so fun to make cooking into a shared activity. I want longer hangs with friends, and this fits the bill!
I read of a “Get ‘Er Done” type of gathering. Friends got together and brought a list of 3-5 things they needed to complete but kept procrastinating. They helped each other check off the to-do’s and left feeling lighter having renewed passports, scheduled a mammogram, called a handyman, sewed a missing button or cancelled an unused subscription. I feel like I need one of these!!
Whenever the kids have a day off from school, I tell them if they let me sleep in a bit, I will make pancakes for breakfast. I use the Kodiak buttermilk pancake mix (extra protein!) and the beautiful griddle my husband bought me for just this sort of occasion. At this stage in life we are not big on having people over to our house, but sitting around the kitchen island eating pancakes with our family is just right.
Which griddle do you have? Mine recently broke so I’m looking for a new one.
I love my children but they both hate pancakes and waffles and I can’t believe I birthed either of them. Last weekend I was hanging out with my kids and I made french toast- for me only! *Shakes fist at sky*
Carly, I have the Caraway griddle and it’s nice to use. Plus, it’s very pretty. My cookware options are slightly limited since we have induction. Megan, that made me laugh! I hope they like other typical baked goods. I don’t know what I would do if none of my kids had a sweet tooth.
If asked, I bring an all things pickled board. Usually includes a variety of pickles, olives, pickle chips and pickled veg. Sheet pan lasagna for a group in colder month. Fresh fruit bowl is my go to year round. A crockpot of either warm cider or chai sometimes. Big on make your own chopped salad with fun fixins and dressings. When hosting, we run a wall projector for movies if the mood is there. Love all the ideas posted including the last post on this topic.
About the dogs’ brunch: I recently was invited to one and the dogs were offered a “barkuterie board” The trays were shaped like a paw (if you can find them, great, but any disposable tray will work) and they had peanut butter smashed with bananas, whipped cream, apple pieces, and cookies Big success I wished I could add a picture of my dog enjoying it!
I feel like so many of my ‘tips’/ideas originated from Cup of Jo or the brilliant commenters, so huge thanks to whomever gave me these ideas at some point along the last ~14 years! 1. For those generous enough to host bigger meals, like Thanksgiving, Easter, large dinner parties, etc. I love to bring breakfast for the hosts for the next morning– a fresh, rustic loaf of bread from a local bakery (in San Francisco, I get this from Jane’s!) or some delicious pastries. Doesn’t need to take up precious fridge space nor does it need a vase — can be shoved somewhere quickly upon your arrival! (Another option is nice olive oil + a bottle of balsamic as it can be stored easily/saved/enjoyed for weeks!) 2. On my way to parties of close and closeish friends, I’ll text to ask: “could you use another bag of ice?” It feels like it’s often the thing of which you’re worried about running out and I find most hosts don’t want to bother anyone by asking them to pick it up on their way. If they don’t have space and/or are covered on ice, I’ll say “I’ll be there at X time and am swinging by X market on the way — what can I pick up for you?” 3. It’s such a small thing, but texting “I cannot wait for dinner tomorrow!” or “I’m so excited to see you later this evening!” to whomever is planning or hosting a dinner or party goes such a long way. When you’re in the harried stress of prep, I feel like a message of pure enthusiasm and genuine gratitude about what’s to come can be such a good reminder of why you’re taking this all on in the first place. 4. I’m fairly useless in the kitchen (comically so) except for three things: 1) I can make an hours-long dinner or dinner party or party playlist for exactly the specific vibe, energy, mood, tone, and musical loves of you and your guests (if anybody would like some examples I will happily share or make one for you! It’s one of my favorite hobbies!), 2) I will sit with you in the kitchen (out of the way!) quietly or excited chattered-ly or helpfully OR I will go out and dig into the charcuterie and get people talking/eating/drinking, whichever is most helpful, and 3) I am fantastic at doing dishes but can assess how much it will be a help to you to do them vs. be more work when your dishwasher/cabinet organization is awry later on and adjust accordingly. 5. I usually send a text the next morning with this simple formula: “Thank you so much for ______! [dinnner/having us over/hosting/the party/the pie] I absolutely loved the ______ [floral arrangements/meal/appetizer/decorations/music/company] and am always so grateful and honored to share a fun _____ [holiday/time of day/theme of party/type of meal] with you! Can’t wait for _____ [can be truly anything – next time you’ll see them, next year’s party] – love you! xx” 6. My sister’s genius hosting tip is to make a bunch of quesadillas (usually some cheese and some chicken), cut them into small/easy triangles, and arrange them on a big cutting board around bowls of salsa. A bit more unexpected/novel than tortilla chips, pretty inexpensive and easy, easy to manage vegetarian and non-vegs on the same plate/schedule, kids love them, and adults often love them more! I didn’t get invited many places growing up and always wished I were included/invited, and 20+ years later I still get so much joy every time someone invites me to do anything that I want to be the best possible guest and am so grateful to have learned so many tips and ideas from this website! Thank you, COJ <3
Love these!
Omg I love the idea that your secret skill is making incredible playlists! It’s an unsung hero at a party! It’s not a dinner party but my 2 and 4yo LOVE Halloween and I’d love to make a “spooky cozy (e.g., neil young harvest moon, lana del ray season of the witch” playlist to listen with them over breakfast. Due to work schedules and young kiddo eating habits, it’s the meal my whole family eats together and I look forward to it so much. Focusing on family breakfast vs family dinner has really help revolutionize my brain around getting that time together without the hanger pressure of the evening.
J. You sound like an amazing friend and guest! Please share your playlists secrets and examples. I never think of this, leave it to my hubby, who is an absolute genius at everything, except making dinner party playlists. Church friends over why is Black Sabbath on? Boss and prim wife in kitchen yeah let’s try Regaetton. Oh new neighbors over for brunch definitely the time to listen to Prodigy. Help me, J
What an excellent roundup of tips!! Thank you for sharing :)
Ohhhh! Great list! of ideas! I’d love to see some of your playlists :)
You are invited to my house anytime! And I’d love some sample playlists!
I love this. It also made me wonder. I grew up with a big extended family, and my parents have a lot of friends, so we were always hosting. It was the best. I could completely understand if you didn’t grow up with this and wanted it as an adult. We really enjoy hosting. You sound like an amazing guest. Also, I would love suggestions for a playlist. I am happy to cook and host, but I’m terrible at figuring out music that everyone will like. My default is a playlist on apple music, and it’s always kind of lame.
Yes, to all these! I would love your playlist too. I LOVE to host and do it regularly (my husband doesn’t like to eat and I love to cook – so friends come over often ;-)) and finding good music is always a struggle. I really love your tips. Especially nr. 3 is so good and heartwarming (I feel people very easily cancel on plans and that is always such a bummer……. )
I wanna be your friend!!
J: your friends are so lucky. Tina: hahahahahahahaaa
Ooh, yes, I want a playlist! Here’s my dream: long table outside under the trees. Dotted with candles. Big bowls of casual-but-good food line the center of the table. Good salads. Olives. Half empty wine glasses, shoes kicked off under the table. Casual, easy, vaguely some-other-country-that-doesn’t-do-American-pop-music. Like the dinner scene from Chocolat.
J, you sound amazing!! If you’re anywhere near Providence, please come over for dinner!
your comment made me smile!
J, you are so lovely and your friends and family are so lucky to have you in their lives!
Ya’ll are amazing! I am too tired to host and am going through a tough teenager season, plus have a 2-year-old hound mix who’s very protective of his home and working with a trainer. I will live vicariously through you!
At the end of August I went to a casual gathering. There would be some people I knew but not well and a bunch of folks I didn’t know at all. I brought a bag of Halloween Kit-Kats to share with the group. I thought it would be a fun treat but NOT A SINGLE person took one. The hosts giggled and said that I must have had a craving. I explained that in the past when I’ve attended similar gatherings people get excited for Halloween candy. They literally looked down on my Kit-Kats silently and walked away. Needless to say I stand by my exceptional contribution. If you’re too good to even say “Thanks for bringing these!,” then you don’t deserve Kit-Kats.
I would happily have eaten your Kit-Kats. X
Jennifer!! I second this. Kit-Kats are a whole vibe. I would have parked myself in front of that bowl and we would have become fast friends.
My husband once brought cookies that he had baked (he is an excellent baker!) for a gathering at a new job and…no one ate any. Howwwwwwww?! I feel the same about the Kit Kats! Those would be a hit at my house!
WHAT? In the immortal words of Stephanie Tanner, “How RUDE!” Personally, I would have made 14 trips past the bowl and taken a Kit-Kat every time. We could be friends, Jennifer.
That’s wild. I love Kit Kats. And Meg I recently made my very well loved cookies for my husband to take to work and no one ate one. I’m not gonna lie it kind of made me never want to have him bring in a baked good again lol. They don’t deserve it anymore!!!
I thought you were going to say that not a single one was left! What a dull crowd. I would have flipped for joy.
I would have eaten most of the Kit Kats myself…lol. They don’t sound very fun, sorry that happened.
I hate when I bring homemade baked things to work and no one takes one! Whenever someone else brings something homemade, I always take at least a little so that they don’t feel the same way!
I never heard of people not eating Kit Kats or home made baked hoods ! Who turns down a home made cookie ???? Much less the whole group of people .Very mysterious and curiouser and curiouser ! I don’t mean to be insensitive to people who can’t tolerate gluten or whatever, but the rest of the people, WTH ?? Sounds like The Twilight Zone. Doo Doo Doo Doo. A land where people don’t eat cookies.
They sound fun…
Damn girl. Rough crowd. I would’ve happily eaten half the bag.
When I moved away to go to college, my friend who was a few years older gave me an M&M dispenser… “everyone will love this!” she said… no one in my dorm had any interest. I later got a care package of halloween candy to share. Again, no interest. I thought it was strange, but… more for me!
Made birthday dinner for a friend this summer and just could not find the extra energy and time to make dessert, so stacked up a pile of Klondike bars on a plate. It was an unexpected hit.
Dear Americans, I am sorry to break it to you but italian and meatballs aren’t really a thing!! Yes we can have them on occasions, but it’s definitely not our main dish.. it’s actually something children would have more often than adults.
Giulia, you’re so very right. My Nonna (an Italian immigrant) had10 kids and fed them all on a lower middle class budget. Of course, cured meats and braised fish would have been more authentic cuisine but our family made due with what was accessible and affordable. My single mother hosted a family dinner every Wednesday where there were never less than 30 people. For us, meatballs were part of our Italian American life (in landlocked small town USA). And while our plates hold different foods, I’m grateful for all the things that transcend cuisine, that my Nonna instilled in me from the beautiful place she was born.
Someone was recently telling me that a lot of what we think of as Italian food didn’t originate in Italy? So are meatballs more of an Italian-American thing? The fusion of food between cultures always fascinates me.
Ok.
Fellow Italian here. While meatballs’ popularity in America eclipses their popularity in Italy, polpette are certainly known and eaten in Italy. Little meatballs with pasta – Spaghetti alla chitarra con le pallottine – is a regional specialty quite popular in Abruzzo. Plus, Pelligrino Artusi has a recipe for polpette in “La scienza in cucina e l’Arte di mangiar bene.”
Ha I love this!
This was nothing against your grandmother Emily, unfortunately we’re very particular about our food so I had to comment :) And meatballs are delicious! Yes Kimberly the two are quiet different, obviously you can see the influence but a lot of dishes like pasta alfredo doesn’t exist in Italy.
I see that my contadina Giulia did not address my comment. It is no secret that some Italians are quite against Italian American cuisine as they see it as a bastardization of the food traditions they hold dear, and wish to see unchanged. It is an opinion that I do not share as an Italian. What this cohort often fail to realize is that Italian American cuisine is in fact an adaptation of Italian cuisine from Italy and not just some random mishmash meant to upset continental Italians. These dishes often originate in Southern Italian cuisine, as that is the part of Italy from which a vast majority of US Italian Americans came. Italian Americans had to make do with different ingredients and sociocultural traditions in their new land. Therefore the dishes from Italy changed and adapted, which to many Italians in Italy is an anathema. Fettuccine alfredo, also, is in fact an Italian dish invented in Rome, but in that rendition it is simply butter and cheese, the more creamy thick sauce is an Italian American adaptation. So please, if you are going to correct people at least be accurate. Cuisine in every part of the world is constantly changing, even if Italians do not want this to be so, and many Italian classic dishes are not so old as Italians themselves would want to believe (espresso, carbonara, tiramisu, etc). So I think it is quite cruel, but also typical for an Italian, to see an Italian American talking about their food and absolutely insist on telling them it is wrong. Yes, I am a historian, and an Italian living in America, so I could speak on this issue extensively, as it is a pet peeve of mine of mine when I hear my countrypeople berate Italian Americans. We are not all jerks (though a lot of us are), and I think your story was beautiful, Emily. Thanks for coming to my Ted Talk.
Nicola, I loved your Ted Talk. Thanks for speaking up about how food traditions change and that’s ok! The love and heritage come through.
Polpette?
Nicola, 👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏
I love dinner parties so much, but with a young kid, it’s a bit more than I want to take on, so now I’m hosting “cocktail and snack” parties. I can invite more people and its more of a stand and mingle situation, but I love having people over. Also clean up is waaaaay easier.
I’ve recently embraced hosting coffee house style. Saturday mornings, give a few hours window and just say it’s open house style, come for as long or as little as you like (even just say hello and take a coffee to go!). It’s so chill and stakes and easy for all demographics (since having kids, dinner parties became a lot tougher for us). I crank out lattes, a friend brings muffins, I set out fruit and little yogurts. It’s become my new fave.
Love this so much.
I started serving warm maple syrup for pancakes/waffles in small vintage creamers that I have a collection of when my grandkids are at my house. The excitement on their little faces when they get to control the amount of syrup they get is everything! 😊
Love this! I’m borrowing this idea! 🥰
I also love this idea!
Tate’s cookies for the win! Also unreasonably good crumbled on top of chocolate ice cream, which is the easiest way to make people happy.
Yes! They also make excellent ice cream sandwiches. A package of Tate’s and a pint of mint chip is my go to.
Themes! Non-traditional s’mores tournament where we made smores with everything— pretzel thins with mochi and rolos were a real hit and Parmesan crackers with a molten mozzarella cheese wad won. Festivals of dips: everyone brings a dip or dippers! I made like 100 homemade Parker rolls!
Please share the Parker roll recipe!! Hosting Thanksgiving in London this year and desperate for a great roll recipe..thanks!
Lindsay, I had to share because I JUST made these last night and it was the first time I have successfully made dinner rolls after YEARS of failed attempts! My tips — don’t be afraid to add a little more water to the dough. It should be sticky, not a smooth round ball. Also, I did an overnight rise in the fridge which gave them soooo much flavor (and could be helpful if you’re hosting!). Best of luck! https://smittenkitchen.com/2021/10/old-school-dinner-rolls/
The King Arthur Flour recipe is gold standard! https://www.kingarthurbaking.com/recipes/parker-house-rolls-recipe
Abbe, those dinner rolls from Smitten Kitchen are a gigantic hit at our house!
Just an aside about Tate’s — a few years ago, they threatened to deport workers who were trying to unionize. Haven’t touched them since. Vote with your wallets, friends.
We hosted a day-after-Thanksgiving grilled cheese and tomato soup party one year: I made a big batch of Smitten Kitchen tomato soup, had that bubbling on the stove (or in a crockpot? cant remember). We bought slews of fancy sliced cheeses and deli meats, thinly sliced apples, put out cranberry sauce and a few jars of pickles, and my husband manned the (electric, countertop) griddle. It was a huge hit!
We’ve also done this during the holidays, and included a Christmas cookie exchange. Everyone loves a dinner of course, but lunch is an excellent option too. It can be more relaxed, and it’s often easier to manage for both host and guests, logistically and schedule-wise.
“ give the anxious friend a way to ease into a social experience”—- that’s the thing I’m always looking for that I didn’t even recognize I was looking for! Yes please I will fold all the napkins as a way to slowly settle in to a social experience where I otherwise might feel panicked without a role/job.
Yes, I came to the comments hoping for more recommendations of ways to give us anxious folks a way to settle into a social activity! -chop raw veggies for a snack plate -tear lettuce for a salad -follow a recipe card to whisk together a vinaigrette -set the table More suggestions welcome! I would feel deeply alarmed by the request to “turn on some music” or “approach miscellaneous people for their drink order”, so we’re all different and I could use a medley of ideas to work off of.
I’m reminded of Catherine Newman on Cup of Jo: “I realized that, unbenownst to myself, I had approached motherhood as hosting this really good, multi-decade party.” — it rung so true. I love to cook and my 11-year -old daughter loves my cooking and every night with her feels like a little dinner party for two. Yesterday we dried tomatoes from our yard and made a focaccia with those, reheated a leftover soup and chatted about our days. It’s just the best.
I think about this all the time as I parent my kids. I unintentionally signed up to host the most important, ongoing, evolving party of my life – and now having had this realization, I try to be very intentional about it!
Midge! What a dream! An M&M dispenser and even more, a dad who would build that for you! Amazing.
AWWWW! I just read this to my dad and he was really touched. I am lucky.
Emily, I’m going to need you to open “What’s One More” for your mother. I love the name, and she can help develop the menu. I will be there in line opening day. I’m not personally Italian, but my step-mom is also VERY Italian. I loved her Italian mom so much! I still laugh with her and say that if there was a picture of an Italian grandmother, Rosemary would be the poster child. I loved her for making me feel like part of the clan, even though I did NOT like anything with tomatoes in the mix. So no spaghetti, no pizza, no parm. But she always made sure I had just buttered homemade noodles. Pizza crust with just garlic butter, and plain chicken on chicken parm nights. She never made a fuss about it either. So please get to work on “What’s One More”.
okay I am sure that soup party is in some way a cosmic lucky draw! 12 people show up with unique soups ?! I am in that phase of life where planning even a quick drop off on a school night seems like a task that will take loads of scheduling back and forth ..oh well ..meticulously planned, babysitter availability dependent meet ups until that time ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Weird new thing- if I put Cup of Jo in my search it no longer has a link to your blog (links to “about Cup of Jo” and articles about you and the blog.) Using Duck Duck Go as a search engine. Didn’t know if you were aware- started yesterday.
Thanks Kate we will look into this!
I thought this was just me- thanks for flagging this, Kate.
One of the best parties I’ve hosted was a soup swap – get a headcount, then tell the guests to bring a pint-sized mason jar of soup for everyone. We all went home with 10 different soups (well actually, 3 of them were the same coconut chicken soup… which was hilarious) to freeze for lunches! I made an extra big batch of soup, and we all got to text each other about soup for weeks.
A bagel board is great for all ages. You can easily ask others to contribute. Bagels and various cream cheeses. Smoked salmon and crispy bacon. Capers and thinly sliced red onion. Tomato slices and lettuce. Mustard and Mayo. Throw in good coffee, juices, sparkling water and prosecco! It’s been our extended family gatherings go to for the past few years. An easy (but pricey) family holiday buffet is a roast beef tenderloin, cooked early and sliced, served with good sandwich rolls and spreads. Just a few sides are fine. Maybe a salad or two. Chips and dip. A fun friend gathering in the fall is a soup and pie party. Colorado is beautiful in the fall. It can often be an indoor/outdoor event. We love our front porch with fire pit especially this time of year!
the puppy party!!! the only type of party I would ever want. My mom tells a story of how when we were very small my twin sister and I made fliers and put them up inviting neighborhood dogs to come to a dog party, spoiler alert, none came cause dogs can’t read and most likely people were weirded out by hand drawn signs inviting them to a random address lol
I must be naturally dialed into the casual community. I have definitely been to a pancakes and pajamas themed New Job Celebration, and the MOMENT I read about “Come over tonight, bring soup” I wanted to blast my friends and see what happened. Saving this idea for a few months into the darker evenings. I want a random soup party! I feel like Spaghettios and busting out mugs to handle the overflow will 100% happen again!!
I host friends pretty often. Is it my work in the kitchen? I doubt it, though my commitment to a perfect grilled cheese appears to be pretty irresistible. For the folks I know, it seems like the dimensions of my place – a very bare-bones, but reasonably large apartment – is the key. They feel like they can take a deep breath when there’s no need to be squished up against someone else. They “can’t” host because they just have a bachelor apartment. I have a small but tight friend group, and I love them dearly…but clearly, my needs are different! Some of my favorite memories at friends’ places were squeezing one too many on their couch or helping them chop vegetables in their narrow galley kitchen. (For context, I live below the poverty line and only have this space because I got in right before rents skyrocketed.) Hosting is wonderful, but sometimes, rarely, my eyes will light up at an invite to one of their places. I think the way to be a perfect host is just to offer to do so. And grilled cheese doesn’t hurt.
Sar, this is just so lovely: I think the way to be a perfect host is just to offer to do so. I’m often bogged down in details and worries and will step back when hosting and think of this. And not pet hair that might get on someone…or the carrots got a bit too roasted … Or…or…nope! Thank you!
I love this: ” I think the way to be a perfect host is just to offer to do so” We don’t have a large space, so we host a lot in spring and fall, and summer evenings, where we can spill outside. We tell folks to bring camp chairs and the kids run free in the neighborhood. I think most people are just happy to have a reason to come together.
Have a “Go-To” People-Feeder. Mine is a giant vat of bolognese. It’s cheap, it’s forgiving, you can make a mountain of it, and you can feed vegetarians with the sauce on the side and more cheese. Or it’s a massive tray of roast chicken pieces and potatoes. Something un-fussy, glorious, and scalable. Find your people-feeder and deploy it without shame!
Imma need a few photos of that m&m dispenser… (***fires up table saw***)
I immediately hit the Google and came up with this: https://www.pneumaticaddict.com/2018/11/how-to-make-wood-candy-machine-diy.html?m=1
I just screamed, “I’m in Cup of Jo!” My dad sells them on Etsy: https://www.etsy.com/listing/1471081234/candy-dispenser-works-for-plain-and?ls=r&ref=items-pagination-1&frs=1&content_source=5882bd292f7a4c4846b16dcff8975fe0%253A9e60d5909931f64d959f6630c682e6c959b3f500&logging_key=5882bd292f7a4c4846b16dcff8975fe0%3A9e60d5909931f64d959f6630c682e6c959b3f500
Midge, I immediately added one to my cart. Thanks for sharing!
Midge- your Dad’s dispensers are wonderful, and the wooden toys are fabulous too.
I’m going to require a larger drawer on mine!