Kitchen

[IamMrsG]

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@gmkb wrote:

If they showed up at 4 pm with no prior warning, I would offer a cold drink or coffee and wait for them to invite us out to dinner.

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I consider drop-in company the height of rudeness.  I would feel no compunction to encourage them in any way to do it again.

[house_cat]

I just have to say that I started this thread as a fun meal-planning activity. Some of my best meals have come from ingredients I had on hand when i thought we had "nothing in the house".

It surprises me that it's turned into a thread about etiquette. I should have said -

What meal could you whip up, suitable for company, just using the ingredients you have on hand right now?

[italia8140]

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@house_cat wrote:

I just have to say that I started this thread as a fun meal-planning activity. Some of my best meals have come from ingredients I had on hand when i thought we had "nothing in the house".

It surprises me that it's turned into a thread about etiquette. I should have said -

What meal could you whip up, suitable for company, just using the ingredients you have on hand right now?

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 That's too bad. There was NOTHING wrong with the way you worded your question. It was all about the food, IMO. Some people take things WAY TOO SERIOUSLY.

[PamelaSue72]

There was nothing wrong with your "for fun" question. The fault lies with some of the posters who took it the wrong way and decided to lecture on what they consider to be proper etiquette. Your post was fine.

If friends were to show up at that time, I'd probably serve whatever I had in mind to make for dinner that night anyway, just a bit more of my dishes. 

Right now, there are several pork roasts and some chuck roasts in the freezer. I could always whip up a quick beef stew in the pressure cooker. I have some freezer cabbage (pickled cabbage that's freezable) in the freezer that we could enjoy. For dessert, how about a nice peach pie (also in our freezer)? With some mint iced tea as a beverage.

Don't want that? OK, there's a lasagne in our freezer right now. I have some wonderful homemade sourdough rolls that I could get out, wrap in foil, and warm up in the oven. And then there's that peach pie.

We have a ton of stuff in our fridge. You won't starve. 

[house_cat]

@PamelaSue72

You know we're all waiting for your address, don't you?

[italia8140]

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@PamelaSue72 wrote:

There was nothing wrong with your "for fun" question. The fault lies with some of the posters who took it the wrong way and decided to lecture on what they consider to be proper etiquette. Your post was fine.

If friends were to show up at that time, I'd probably serve whatever I had in mind to make for dinner that night anyway, just a bit more of my dishes. 

Right now, there are several pork roasts and some chuck roasts in the freezer. I could always whip up a quick beef stew in the pressure cooker. I have some freezer cabbage (pickled cabbage that's freezable) in the freezer that we could enjoy. For dessert, how about a nice peach pie (also in our freezer)? With some mint iced tea as a beverage.

Don't want that? OK, there's a lasagne in our freezer right now. I have some wonderful homemade sourdough rolls that I could get out, wrap in foil, and warm up in the oven. And then there's that peach pie.

We have a ton of stuff in our fridge. You won't starve. 

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Sounds GREAT!!!

[IamMrsG]

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PamSue72 wrote, in part:  "There was nothing wrong with your "for fun" question. The fault lies with some of the posters who took it the wrong way and decided to lecture on what they consider to be proper etiquette..."

The implication of  fault or lecture is erroneous.  The assumption was made in the original post that unexpected 'guests' would be fed.  My answer was--and remains--I would neither feed them nor do anything else to give the false impression their invasion was welcomed.  

That aside, here is one recipe to fit the new (paraphrased) question, "What is on hand in your pantry for an impromptu, guest-worthy, meal?"   (By the way, I aim for all my meals to be "guest-worthy."  I see no reason to not to treat yourself and loved ones as well as you would any guest.)

Penne Alla Caprese

4 large, ripe tomatoes, peeled* and cut into ½-inch dice, or 1 28-ounce    can roma tomatoes, drained (juice reserved), cut into ½ -inch dice
2 to 3 Tablespoons chopped fresh basil
2 garlic cloves, minced
salt and pepper to taste
fruity olive oil
1 pound penne rigate or other pasta
3/4 pound grated fresh mozzarella

In large bowl mix chopped tomatoes, basil, garlic, salt and pepper. (If using canned tomatoes, you may need to add a little reserved juice to make mixture saucy.) Add just enough olive oil to cover tomatoes. Cover bowl and let sauce marinate at room temperature at least 2 hours.

Before serving, cook penne until al dente in salted water. Drain pasta, place in serving bowl and add tomato mixture (bring to room temperature if refrigerated). Add grated mozzarella and toss so that cheese begins to melt.

4 servings.

*To peel tomatoes: Using a sharp knife tip, put a slight slit into the tomato’s skin and put the tomatoes into a pot of boiling water for just a few minutes. As soon as you see that slit spread, remove the tomato from the hot water. Submerge tomatoes into cold water to cool so that you can handle easily enough to pull off the skins.

[ChynnaBlue]

I imagine I am thankful that I do not have any friends from any location who would come by unannounced and then expect me to feed them.

My friends all meet at restaurants or make plans in advance.

[straykatz]

I always have pasta in the house so I would make a pasta dish and salad, and for dessert probably do baked apples.