Favorite Company Dishes

[waterbuffalo]

I know this may not be the appropriate place for this discussion, but was just wondering what you all fix as your FAVORITE company dish? Mine is Chicken Divan and it is sooooooooo good and everyone loves it.

So, I just wondered, what do you cook as your special or trademark meal for guests?

Also, I have a coconut cake recipe to LIVE for. What do you like to fix for dessert that's scrumptious and is also easy to fix (a necessity for me)? Wanta trade recipes?

WB

[excathedra]

i don't really cook or bake but i could do the company part ;)-->

[bowtwi]

I used to faithfully make my former mother-in-law's potato/cheese/sour cream casserole with the crushed up cereal on top. Still love it, but no longer think of it as perfect for every occasion.

Now, living in FL te past 10 years, we grill out for most social meals with others, so fruit, salads and drinks usually seem to be the choice. Our neighbors are the grilling type so it seems that's what's usually "available" to bring. Works for us.

[Abigail]

I have a bean dip salad recipe that is out of this world and easy to make. Make a pot of chili (which can be done a few days ahead of time) and you've got a festive meal.

Deserts I'm not so good with. Ice-cream is nice and easy. :)-->

[MATILDA]

no fair...ya gotta post the chicken divan recipe...

...I'll get my husband right on it...

and SHARK CREOLE is a good one around here...I live in Florida. Yum.

fresh veggies with Marie's Garlic Italian dressing as a dip is ALWAYS a hit.

cold beer and warm whiskey works wonders.

[Zixar]

I never could fit a divan into my oven... :D-->

[Tom Strange]

me either Zix... we grill out as well... beef and chicken fajitas (she does the 'secret' marinade)... and my wife's homemade pico de gallo, red and green salsa... add of course Mexican rice and refried beans...

either that or Hamburgers and Nathan's hot dogs...

[dmiller]

I have a recipe for a banana split dessert that contains about 1,000 calories per square inch! :D--> :D-->

otherwise -- I'm with Ex on this one. I'll do the "company part". :)-->

[imbus]

My favorite is Braut and garlic mashed potatoes.

You slow cook braut in a slow cooker with saurarkrat, a bottle of beer and 3 TBLS of brown suger. Have a sweet and spicy mustard available at meal time to top it.

Just add galic powder to the mashed taters.

Then of course a good German larger to go with it. MMMMMMMMMMgoooood!

[waterbuffalo]

Everything sounds soooo gooood, everyone...and I KNEEEEEEEW I was gonna have to post this recipe, so here goes (and am happy to do so):

Waterbuffalo's Chicken Divan

2 (10oz) pkg. frozen broccoli spears, thawed (the kind in butter is good but not a necessity)

6-8 cooked, boned chicken breasts

1 (10 oz.) can cream of chicken soup

1/2 c. mayo

1 8 oz. carton sour cream

Large chunk of parmesan cheese (about 10 oz.)

2 t. lemon juice

2 t. curry powder

1/2 t. dry mustard

1/3 c. chicken broth

pepper

1/3 cup milk

Cook chicken breasts in water about 45 minutes (reserve broth).

Make sauce by mixing sour cream, cream of chicken soup, mayonnaise, broth and add seasonings except the pepper.

Grate the cheese.

Dot the broccoli with butter if not using the kind in butter packet.

Layer broccoli/parmesan/chicken/parmesan/sauce/parmesan.

Sprinkle pepper over sauce.

Sprinkle top layer with paprika.

Bake 350 degrees for 35-45 minutes.

Yum.

WB

[dmiller]

quote:

---

Asked why he began preparing Chicken Divan at age 94, Oliver Wendell Holmes replied,"Well, my good sir, it's now or never!"

---

:D--> :D--> :D--> :D--> :D--> :D--> :D-->

[dmiller]

WB -- it was too good to pass up!!

Sorry. :(--> NOT! :P-->

[waterbuffalo]

Cute, dm!

[dmiller]

WB --- whewwww!!!! (wiping brow). Thought I would get slapped for that one for sure. :)-->

[dmiller]

WB -- that is a good recipe. :)--> give me some time, and I'll post the banana split thing.

It really is a good one, and easy to do, since I can do it!!

[dmiller]

Here goes -- Banana Split Dessert:

Crust: 2 cups graham cracker crumbs

1 stick margarine

Melt the margarine and mix with crumbs, and press this mixture into the bottom of 9X13 cakepan.

chill in the fridge while making the filling.

Filling:

2 eggs

2 sticks margarine

1 tsp vanilla

2 cups powdered sugar

Now --------------------------------

BEAT AT HIGHEST SPEED OF MIXER FOR 15 MINUTES

this is a must!!!

spread filling over chilled crust

cover with a layer of sliced bananas

cover layer of bananas with one 8 oz carton of cool whip

garnish with Marachino cherries (chopped)

drizzle with Hershey's choc. syrup

Add a sprinkle of chopped nuts (walnuts, pecans, or "party peanuts" -- NOT dry roasted) on top, and refridgerate overite, or at least 8 hours.

Adding a can of strawberry pie filling (in dollops) to the top finishes the "garnishing" effect. :)--> :)--> :)-->

[dmiller]

The only hard part about this recipe -- is the waiting 8 hours for it to be done!!!

[dmiller]

quote:

---

BEAT AT HIGHEST SPEED OF MIXER FOR 15 MINUTES

this is a must!!!

---

This is really the only MUST part of this recipe. The consistancy changes like you wouldn't believe, and is the "basis" for this here! ;)-->

[dmiller]

My small contribution to the GSCafe "menu". :)-->

[E. W. Bullinger]

I make home-made macaroni and cheese. It is a sure fire crowd pleaser.

EWB

[Zshot]

I've posted recipies before...

For the most part, I simply cook what I feel like cooking...

So, if I get company over....

they will be surprised

[krys]

In case your company stays over night....here's breakfast!

CHRISTMAS SOUFFLE

9 x 12 Pan

Ingredients:

12 slices Pepperidge Farm bread. Cut off crusts. Butter one side of each

1/2 lb grated Swiss cheese

1/2 lb chedar cheese

1/2 lb. chopped ham

4 eggs

1.5 cups milk (+ 1/4 tsp nutmeg)

1/2 tsp. dry mustard (milk mixture)

crumbles corn flakes

Layer 6 slices of bread, butter side down, then cheddar, then ham, then bread, then Swiss.

Pour milk mixture on top.

Soak overnight in fridge.

Crumble cornflakes on top.

Bake at 350 degrees F. for 30 minutes

[Tom Strange]

yeah krys! that's what ahm tawkin bout!

my sainted Mother makes the same thing... only she calls it "Mock Souffle" so we can have it at other times of the year!

[waterbuffalo]

Yum, Krys and DM, sounds DEElicious!

E.W. Bullinger, DO TELL us how you make it.

Love,

WB

[imbus]

You all are making me hungry...stop that.