need menu suggestions

Quint · #1 01/29/05, 02:57 AM

I get to host 3 of my buds who are in the Marine Corps next weekend. They are just back from the sandbox and are coming to spend a week or so here at the homestead. Should be a great time. I get to feed these horses and get totally embarrassed when we have shooting competitions. In shooting I can hang with two of them pretty good but one is a sniper and is an amazing shot. He has given me some shooting lessons and he can do some amazing things with a rifle.

Anyway, I need some menu suggestions. I'm an experienced commercial cook but I think my menu is missing something. Lots of meat and potatoes, pizza, sandwiches, chili, stew and the like but I would like something on the more I don't know...exotic or fancy side. Not all the time but one meal I would like to be very extravagant. I'm drawing a blank on what to have though. I have time to try a recipe out if it is extremely difficult or something so complexity isn't an issue really. Any help?

Spent 226 dollars on groceries a few days ago and have 100 pounds of venison, 70 pounds of beef, a couple of turkeys and a dozen or so chickens in the freezer so we should be all set. I even hauled the BBQ and 2 propane tanks outside despite it snowing. Can't feast on dead animals and not have a working grill. Lots of food, lots of shooting, lots of horsing around, riding 4 wheelers, watching the super bowl and all manner of fun guy stuff. Tempered of by the presence the one married guy's wife and her friend but that is probably a good thing so we don't end up in jail or something. I've been told this friend she is bringing is single and "just my type" which adds a whole new level of stress to the works. I won't know how to act with people in the house. Gotta remember to wear pants.

Laura · #2 01/29/05, 03:38 AM

It sounds like all you need are big fresh salads and homemade dressings and some fresh produce. At least the guys I know that have come home for visits were hungry for the salads and fresh fruits and veggies. Don't forget the apple pie.

What kind of recipes are you looking for? As far as exotic, I'm on a middle eastern kick right now, but don't know if guys coming home from there would be interested in Jordanian Suma Chicken or Ethiopian Chicken Tagine.

jamo · #3 01/29/05, 05:03 AM

I bet they'd be dazzeled by just plain, down home, food. Maybe some appetizers on hand. You could have potatoe skins with the chili. Tope them with shredded cheese, bacon and chives, sour cream on the side also. I like to serve stuffed mushrooms too. Remove the stems from the cap. Soften cream cheese, bacon bits, a little chive, minced garlic, grated parmesan and Lea and Perrins, a little white pepper. Stuff the caps and top with provolone cheese. Put into a baking dish with a little melted butter in the bottom. Bake at 400 for 20-30 minutes until golden brown.

Marinate a turkey overnight and then cook it on the grill. Throw a couple of sweet potatoes on and make a salad, maybe rolls too.

You don't want to spend too much time cooking cuz you'll be having too much fun!

Shagbarkmtcatle · #4 01/29/05, 06:35 AM

I wouldn't call it exotic but a big ole pan of lasagne with fresh salad and some kind of mixed fruit and bread fills guys up great. We make ours with cottage cheese and you can make it ahead of time and have it warming in the oven if you are busy doing something else.

Laura Lynn

mama2littleman · #5 01/29/05, 07:39 AM

When DH came home on leave from his tour in the sandbox all he wanted to eat was his favorite "normal" foods like:

Roast chicken with gravy and mashed potatoes
Homemade mac and cheese
Pizza
Bacon and eggs for breakfast
homemade bread

Stuff that said "this is home" to his senses.

If I were you, I'd stay away from the "exotic" stuff and stick with regular everyday homecooking

Nikki

AngieM2 · #6 01/29/05, 08:04 AM

Chocolate cake...

Stew

anything that says "America".

And all that stuff the others have said.

Tell them welcome home and thank you from me.

Angie

**Cabin Fever** · #7 01/29/05, 08:22 AM

Okay, my vote ,for during the SuperBowl, is to prepare a bunch of snacky finger food stuff, like:
teriaki chicken wings
bacon-wrapped chestnuts
bacon-wrapped jalapeno peppers that are stuffed with cream cheese
That melted cheese dip in a crock pot that has sausage and salsa in it
shrimp cocktail
BBQ cocktail weinies or meatballs
very, very small veggie tray
.....stuff like that

Oh, and don't forget the beer......

bumpus · #8 01/29/05, 08:40 AM

.
After you have figured out what to really cook and serve.

If they are the joking kind it would be something to have some MRE"S ration packs, sea rations etc.

Have them already on the table and say I know what you are used to eating, and you dont' want them to indigestion from eating a changed diet to quickly

Welcome Home
.

fin29 · #9 01/29/05, 09:40 AM

I agree with Janon. I bet these guys haven't seen a big bloody American steak in a long time. Add some real mashed potatoes with some garlic, rosemary, and ridiculous amounts of real butter and cream, a nice crisp real (not from a can) vegetable like asparagus (toss in olive oil, salt and pepper and throw on the grill with the steaks), some salad, and, like Angie suggested, a big fat chocolate cake with vanilla icing and some good ice cream like Edy's Dreamery or Ben and Jerry's. Top it all off with good American beer, real lemonade, and some killer premium coffee, since they're probably sick of drinking that government issue rotgut.

Shepherd · #10 01/29/05, 12:42 PM

Unless it's by request, consider staying with typical American meals that they may be missing... you know - "homestyle foods"... beef roast, mashed taters, corn; bbq ribs, baked taters; grilled steaks, chili... chicken wings, meat & cheese dips & chips, and other munches.... do whatever prep work you can ahead of time so that you can get the most enjoyment from being with your friends... that's the most important of all.

Of COURSE chocolate something - cake, brownies, cookies, fudge...

And please tell them how grateful we are from Iowa - they have our utmost respect as well as our prayers for their safety and wisdom.

chris774 · #11 01/29/05, 12:56 PM

:haha: :haha: :haha: :haha: :haha: :haha:

Quote:

they are the joking kind it would be something to have some MRE"S ration packs, sea rations etc.

Have them already on the table and say I know what you are used to eating, and you dont' want them to indigestion from eating a changed diet to quickly

Welcome Home

thats too funny just keep an eye on the sniper

BCR · #12 01/29/05, 06:20 PM

Fried chicken, biscuits and gravy, handcut french fries (try some yukon golds here- also makes great chili-cheese fries), corn on the cob, cornish hens stuffed, seafood. An outdoor barbecue fire so they can sit out and get cold if they want to. Fresh fruit like pineapple, clementines and I agree apple pie or pumpkin pie from scratch. Or apple/fruit cobbler (strawberry/rhubard is pretty American).

Quint · #13 01/31/05, 12:40 AM

Thanks for the great suggestions. I'm going to pick up the fresh vegetables and fruits the day before they get here. Gotta make plenty of salad and coleslaw. I've got a good bunch of properly aged steaks to be grilled which always go over big. One of the days I am laying down a full Thanksgiving/Christmas dinner since they didn't get a proper one. One turkey roasted and one deep fried. I also have a turducken frozen if they would like to try one. All the traditional sides and fixing of course.

I have a big day of baking tomorrow. I'm making a big chocolate layer cake, brownies, chocolate chip cookies and chocolate, lemon, banana, pecan, cherry, pumpkin and apple pies. I have about 5 gallons of homemade ice cream in the freezer.

Most of the menu is going to be the usual American guy type fare. Lots of dead animals grilled over flame, bubbling pots of chili and stew, casseroles, roasts, tacos, pizza, burgers, salads of all sorts, fries, chips both homemade and store bought, dips and salsa. A 6 ft sandwich for the super bowl. My big exotic meal is going to be something I always wanted to try to make - Beef Wellington. A cousin of mine is going to be coming through my area in his truck and I am having him bring me the foie gras and truffles. I have an excellent aged fillet that should be perfect for this. Should be quite the culinary adventure for us redneck hillbillies. (Well, I have had it before but not one I made myself.)

I fired up the extra fridge in the car hole to hold all the extra groceries. I really enjoy it as I don't get to cook for large groups of people anymore (I'm single so I just cook for me) and exercise my cooking skills. Busted out my really good henkel and westhof cutlery and got all my seldom used utensils and china out...it'll be like working in a restaurant again.

When I throw down a feed I throw down a feed. These guys deserve it and I promised them I'd give 'em a feast when they got back. Besides I have two females to impress.

whodunit · #14 01/31/05, 05:07 AM

Late to the thread, but I have to agree..."American food" if there is such a thing! Like awesome steaks witn fresh grilled veggies, brushed with olive oil and seasoned with salt and pepper.

Concentrate on quality and simplicity in the foods, so you can spend some quality time with those guys.

Also pass on my sincere thanks for their incredible bravery and patriotism!

**Cabin Fever** · #15 01/31/05, 07:15 AM

Oh, and one last thing, these guys haven't been able to eat any pork the entire time they've been in Iraq. So make sure you have plenty of bacon, ham, BBQ ribs and sausage.

wy0mn · #16 01/31/05, 07:23 AM

I've always been a meatloaf, mashed spuds & gravy kind of guy. But my girlfriend & my wife are gourmet cooks & have weaned me away from American cheeses & iceburg lettuce. Yuck!
My new favorite meal is chicken Picatta made with a good Chardonnay. Recipe can be found on epicurious.com.
If thats not manly enough for a bunch of trogs, just tell them its made with jungle fowl ya killed with a stick.
I've got a good haunch of venison I'm saving for my nephews return from Iraq.

markcollette · #17 01/31/05, 11:31 AM

Quint,

Sounds like you already have a great plan and menu, the only suggestion I would make would be to serve something they can tear apart with their hands such as Cornish game hens or chicken halfs or even racks of ribs. The other choice would be serving the venison you have in the freezer, almost guarentee they have not seen while they were in the desert. Give them a hearty slap on the back for me, I know I appreciated it when I got home from Dhahran in '96.

Cheers,

Mark

Jan Doling · #18 02/01/05, 11:13 AM

While you're baking, don't forget homemade bread, rolls. coffee cakes, muffins and lots of garlic bread. Give those guys a toast on behalf of us ever-so-grateful forum members, ok?

Jessikate · #19 02/01/05, 03:01 PM

WHat about Beer Butt Chicken? A favorite in my household, the neighborhood boys (my age but still can't figure out their washing machine) are coming over this weekend to cut firewood for me in trade for a Beer Butt Chicken feast and of course the Superbowl.