food

Easy Meals for Guests

Lifestyle / By

Our home is an important asset to show people what we are. If you are going to have guests at home, whether planned or not, you should have your home welcoming. Even if you are not around the house all the time yourself, your house can still have the homey vibes that will make your guests comfortable and at home themselves. A good way to welcome them is definitely with food. Whether you made them yourself or have them ordered, how will serve and prepare them will definitely show your appreciation with them. 

Often times though, you might find yourself not enough time to prepare because of busyness. That is not a problem though. Aside from ordering, there are simple recipes that you can do that would not take much time, and here are they:

Pasta Dishes with Garlic Bread

Pasta is one of the ingredients that has many possibilities. With different kinds in various shapes and sizes, there are many recipes involving it. You can always have a simple spaghetti or chicken alfredo. There are also mac and cheese or lasagna and any other pasta casserole dish. If you do not feel like baking, a lot of recipes involve only sautéing with just a few ingredients. Then pair them with garlic bread and you are ready to go.

Salad

Another easy to prepare meal and healthy too. You can make it simple with just vegetables, but you can also have some add ons like roasted beef or chicken. You can also add some tortilla chips or even crispy pita bread for added texture. As for dressing, there are also a variety and it will definitely depend on the kind of salad you serve. It could either be a vinaigrette or a creamier one. You could also have both so your guests will be able to choose.

Roasted Chicken

Roasted chicken sounds like a complicated dish, but it is not. You can have this prepared ahead then put it in an oven before your guests arrived. You can add a simple side dish with it like a salad. If you do not have time to cook, rotisserie chicken is available at grocery stores. 

Burger and Fries

Another simple recipe but longer preparation though. It could either be cooked by a grill or have it pan-fried. It will also be your choice how much stuffing you want. You can also have the ingredients set up and have your guests choose their own stuffing for their burger and that includes the sauce. You can also have smaller ones called sliders. As for the fries,  you can definitely make your own or just buy something from the grocery.

Tomato Soup and Grilled Cheese

Tomato soup can be served either hot or cold, so it will not matter what season will it be. There are different kinds of recipes to make it, and it will be according to your taste and choice on the ingredients to add and how the texture will be. Then add it with grilled cheese to dip in the soup, it will surely be delicious.

Planning Snacks for House Guests

Lifestyle / By

Having house guests is very common. People will come for a variety of reasons. There could be a house party or a movie night or a game night. There are times that meetings were held at home. Some also would be for simple entertainment such as to watch their favorite TV shows or sports together and perfect for relaxation especially when you leave often. Or simply just want to hang out and exchange stories. No matter what the reason, food is a necessity. It does not even have to be a  full meal, especially for a great number. At times like that, snacks are sufficient and there are a lot of easy ones you can serve. Take note that most are finger foods that are easier to have on a single plate and services around.

1. Refreshments

Nothing can get wrong with refreshments. Whatever food you will have, there should always be something to drink to match them. It could be juice or cocktails that you made yourself or simply have drinks in a cooler where everyone will just get one. 

2. Popcorn and Nuts

This will be great especially for movie nights or sports night, but can also be served at house parties. It is easy to prepare. You can either buy those that are already made or the microwave ones or make one yourself from scratch. It has a variety of flavors that will suit your tastes and of your guests. Nuts also have a variety that there are even premixed available. Just be mindful of those who have allergies and maybe have an alternative ready.

3. Cookies

Cookies also have different varieties and are available in different shapes and sizes that will suit your taste. It can be either be a dessert or a snack but enjoyable either way. You can make them yourself if you want to but there are those that are ready to eat that are in bake shops and grocery stores for less hassle. But as said before, be mindful of allergies and warn them of the ingredients and always have an alternative ready.

4. Cheese Platter

A cheese platter may sound like a sophisticated snack, but it is not. Just have some crackers and bread and some fruits with a variety of cheese (having one or two types would be enough), and you are done.

5. Sandwiches

Sandwiches come in many forms. They can be small enough to be a finger food or big that would require a plate. You can have your sandwich as many or little stuffing as you want. You could also have them do it by themselves like a burger for example with different stuffings and sauces they could choose from. This way, you don’t need to know and have problems if they dislike something or not.

6. Pizza

If you do not have enough time, you can just always order pizza. You can have ones that will suit their tastes. It will be also less hassle with dishes because you will just need paper plates and tissues. 

7. Chips and Dip

Another one that you can purchase pre-made. Chips have different varieties from nachos to potato chips and even french fries. Dips are now also available to purchase at grocery stores but there are a lot of easy recipes you could try that will suit your tastes. It is a snack that is great either for interactions with others or simply watching something on television.

Food To Bring When You’re Camping

Outdoors / By

You surely have plans prepared for spring since winter. And once spring comes, it is time to put them in action. In the spring, there are many possible activities you could take part in. But one of the most popular is camping. The reason for this is that it is more cloudy and cool than summer. 

Camping requires a lot of preparation though from the place to the essentials. But of course, the most important would be the food. 

1. Snacks

Snacks are eaten at anytime in particular. It can be during the trip to the campsite. If there is a food that is great for head-starting a trip, it would be the snacks. They are also eaten during idle times or while exchanging stories. Food is a great companion when it comes to sharing. Snacks have a variety of options. There are potato chips and some candy that are less healthy but delicious and convenient nonetheless when you are on-the-go. A healthier option would be trail mix which consists of nuts, oats, and some dried fruits. An energy bar is also good and handy when physical activities are involved. Another snack that does not need any preparation are the dried items like beef jerky and fruits. There are also other alternatives such as sandwiches but obviously this would require a bit of preparation.

2. Campfire Recipes

Having a campfire is one of those activities that people will have in mind whenever camping is mentioned. There are a lot of activities involved during a campfire like games, swapping stories, and singing. But meals can also be cooked by a campfire. The most common snack would be s’mores and they are usually made when an activity is being held. You can also grill some meat like sausages and burgers. There are also easy recipes that you could make with a campfire. You just need some foil and skillet, and you can make some parcel and even some soup. As long as you have the ingredients and supplies, it will be easy and ready.

3. Instant Food

Not all are inclined to cooking though, and it could be definitely a problem with trips like this especially with no restaurants or food shacks nearby. In addition, there might be a lot of activities you want to do and time is limited, so you just need something that is quick and easy. That can be solved with instant food and there are many different types you can choose from. The most popular would be the instant cup noodles. You will just need hot water and then you have a meal that will also be particularly warming during cooler days and nights. If you want something different, there is also instant Mac and cheese. 

4. Hot Drinks

When nights get cold or during early mornings, a hot drink is often what we crave. It does not matter what you and your companions prefer. Be it coffee, tea, chocolate, or even milk, you can bring them. Nowadays, packets are common that are usually perfectly suited for trips like this. All you need is hot water and you are done. It is not only limited to hot drinks either, you can also bring juice packets to get energized for activities.