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Joshua's Grilled Chicken Pizza

This was one of our dinners this week -- Joshua's Grilled Chicken Pizza, cooked peas and corn (cut off the cob this time!), grapes, and cantaloupe.

Joshua has a 4-day weekend due to the holiday and a down day where he works -- so we're enjoying the extra time for family activities!

We had company most of the day yesterday (several different guests for different meals!) and visited my parents this evening (we brought homemade bread and a dish of grilled chicken squash bake, and my mom made sides).

One of our guests yesterday was a friend of Joshua's from work. When he told us that he had been a sous-chef at a Hilton hotel for 14 years, I got a little nervous! Thankfully the meal turned out okay. Cooking in front of a chef feels a little bit like playing violin in front of Hilary Hahn. Well, not that I have ever had the opportunity to do such a thing, of course... ;)

Do you ever try new recipes for guests, or do you stick to your old standbys? I try to stick with familiar menus when we're having guests, but sometimes I get these ideas that just seem like they would be great and I feel as though I simply must try them right away. Sometimes the meal is a success, but other times I'm sure our guests have left feeling like guinea pigs. ;)

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Comments

Submitted by Lynn on Sat, 2008-08-30 22:18.

Cooking for guests

I do both. If it is someone I know well or family, I might try something new. But if it is someone that I do not know well, I would stick to something I have made before and know is good.

Submitted by Martha Artyomenko on Sat, 2008-08-30 22:36.

Stick to something I know

and that people like usually. I do not like to try new recipes unless it is similar to somethng I know.

that would be nerve racking!

Submitted by simplybrandy on Sun, 2008-08-31 04:56.
simplybrandy's picture

I experiment on guests

It seems like there's more drive for me to be creative then. Don't know why. It's only turned out poorly a couple of times. ;-)

Submitted by VickyO664 on Sun, 2008-08-31 07:04.
VickyO664's picture

Um, guilty.... :)

Yes, I often try new recipes on guests - and frequently, it's my in-laws, other family or friends, or church acquaintances! I am soooo guilty of it! I don't cook very fancy dishes for Paul and I, so when I have company, I want to make something a bit nicer. That's why the "guinea pig" syndrome comes into play. ;) I usually scrutinize the recipe really well, though, to make sure I understand what is being done, that I have all the ingredients, and that it's not too much to do with guests here. I don't want to be ignoring our company just because I'm slaving away over some complicated dish!

I actually admitted this to my mother-in-law once (about making something new) and she laughed and said she did it all the time for guests! Whew, I felt SO relieved! :) My mom thinks I'm crazy, but she has been the recipient of some recipes that worked well for our "company dinner". :)

Submitted by saremca on Sun, 2008-08-31 09:31.
saremca's picture

I stick to what I know

When it comes to guests, I don't like to experiment. If I want to use a new recipe I test it out on my family first.

Submitted by Une Fille dEve on Sun, 2008-08-31 11:01.

experimenting!

My creative brain kicks in when I know that guests are coming over. I like to experiment!

Submitted by Anonymous on Sun, 2008-08-31 14:13.

cooking for company

It try something from here or Hillybilly Housewife if I have guests.

Submitted by Anonymous on Sun, 2008-08-31 14:40.

Scared to Death

Hi Tammy! I love reading your blog and admit I check nearly everyday. I am just a beginner gardener and merely adequate cook, but I do try your recipes and enjoy them.

I rarely, if ever, make a new recipe for company. I usually stick to something that people have told me they enjoy and I make it again and again. The only diversion from this is our young couples group for church where we are often assigned something to bring that I don't have a recipe for....then I usally come here and to allrecipes for help.
:)
You are a blessing.

Submitted by Anonymous on Sun, 2008-08-31 20:24.

Necessity the mother of invention!

We have some old favorites we share with company, but more often than not we end up trying new. Either its re-purposing some leftovers into some dish I have never tried before but sounds easy, or its the recipe that I know no one else in the house will want besides me. I get the freedom to make random recipes for company. They have never bombed with the guests, but sometimes with the family. No worries, they can eat the veggies and rice and leave the curry/spicy/saucy foods to me!

Submitted by Anonymous on Mon, 2008-09-01 17:25.

new things on guests

I have a kind of tea room in my home, nothing official. People often call me and want a dinner for 2 or 20. We decide on the menu and them I make it for them. Many many times I have never made it before. My friend who likes everything to be perfect every time thinks I crazy. The first time I had scones I made a couple of different kinds, didnt even know what they were suppose to look like, I'd never had one. I made them for a group of red hat ladies who came for brunch. It never worries me. And I have never had a complaint. In fact its the opposite. They beg to come back and bring friends. LOL

Submitted by Anonymous on Mon, 2008-09-01 21:13.

I love trying new recpes!

I love to try new recipes for guests - esp desserts! Since I normally just cook for myself and hubby at home, I try to keep things pretty healthy and frugal - and also smaller recipes. When we have company though, I love to try new desserts so hubby and I don't end up eating the whole thing ourselves (but we still have an excuse to make something sweet and delicious to eat)!

Submitted by Anonymous on Tue, 2008-09-02 02:23.

Pizza Pans

OK, I love this pizza recipe! I live in Germany (American married to a German), and visit family once a year in the USA. But I mainly cook "American" food - although I've come across some real winners here that I've managed to get under my belt... Anyway, my question is: what are those pizza pans you're using? Yours look like they have a bit of a lip to them? Have they worked well for you? I'm visiting the USA again this Christmas and need to get some pizza pans. I've been making do with ONE - and I'm not totally satisfied with it. Any recommendations?

Submitted by Anonymous on Tue, 2008-09-02 08:58.

Cooking for Company

I'm new to this site.. My comment is yes I have been known to try new recipes on people. I have many new people in my life at the moment-Getting married in about 4 weeks. I saw this site and I loved it! I looking for all the tips in feeding a family on a budget(alothough it is for 2 now). So off my soap box LOL-So far the recipes I have tried everyone has enjoyed(was holding breath at times LOL)

Submitted by Anonymous on Tue, 2008-09-02 13:06.

Trying new recipes

My husband jokes that I'm an adrenaline junkie because I'm always trying out new recipes on guests. I'm usually nervous about how things will turn out, but I've never had a flop yet (other than a cheesecake not being completely done). I'm good at picking recipes, I guess! I just figure, I have so many new things I want to try and my family likes to have the good old standbys also, so I HAVE to try those new recipes on guests. Usually it's just the desserts, though. Usually. :)
Once I brought a marbled pumpkin cheesecake to a dinner party and one of the guests (that I had never met before) had been a professional chef for many years. I was so nervous once I found that out...he had worked and dined in the finest places. When he tasted my cheesecake, he said, "It doesn't get any better than this". Whew! That was a great compliment!

Submitted by Anonymous on Tue, 2008-09-02 17:47.

We usually serve family

We usually serve family favorites. Since a lot of our guests are people we haven't met before (or rarely see) we can serve the same family favorite over and over and no one gets tired of it. There for about 2 months one year we were having company almost every Wednesday evening... and we rotated two recipes. We're a bit burnt out on those two even now. ;) :P

I don't think I would serve something I had never made to guests, unless it was something with ingredients and cooking techniques I was entirely comfortable with.

Submitted by Anonymous on Thu, 2008-09-04 10:47.

violin

I had no idea you played violin, Tammy! What other secrets are you keeping from us?! :-)

Katie

Submitted by Tammy on Thu, 2008-09-04 12:04.
Tammy's picture

You all have no idea.

You all have no idea. ;)

Actually, my life is just a lot bigger than cooking... or even housekeeping... which is why this blog is generally just a tiny glimpse into the bigger picture! :) 

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