Over the years I have entertained many times, many people. I remember one dinner in the sukkah where every single couple attending had at least one person who had dietary restrictions. I managed a meal that satisfied everyone. 🙂 When I threw my “New Kitchen Open House” party last year I had something for everyone. Vegans. Vegetarians. Kosher. Gluten-free. Low-salt. Sugar-free. I did miss the one person who didn’t eat any nightshade vegetables, but to be fair to me, she also wouldn’t eat the gluten-free spinach quiche I made. I don’t know what is objectionable about the spinach but apparently that made it a no-go for her.
Now there is the Keto diet, very similar to the Atkins diet from years ago. I refuse to put links for those. If you want to know about those 2 diets, YOU do a search. I’m already being bombarded with keto information because I had to check some recipes. We are entertaining some friends this weekend and they are on the keto diet. They’ve requested a no or low carb meal. Sigh. Since we are STILL in a pandemic, we are eating outside. That means it’s easiest for summer BBQ foods, which usually means carbohydrate salads. No macaroni salad. No potato salad. No chickpea salad. No corn salad. No corn-on-the-cob. Meat and certain specified vegetables. *shaking my head* I LOATHE this diet. I LIVE on vegetables. Most of the ones I like – banned. No Jersey tomatoes. Seriously? You live in NJ and NO tomatoes??? Grrrr.
I’ve come up with a menu. Oh yes, one other annoying thing about this particular meal. My guest always insists on bringing dishes. Sure, one dish, a bottle of wine. That is fairly typical. No – it was an offer of 3 sides dishes and dessert and a “What else can we bring?” Um, why don’t we just eat at YOUR house? I know this is probably NOT a gracious attitude on my part. But the way I HEAR this offer is “I don’t really like what you cook so I’ll bring things I know I’ll eat.” I got it down to 2 side dishes, one of which I won’t eat because I don’t LIKE eggplant and one of which was stated after I said one side dish, and the dessert. From now on we meet at restaurants I think. *grumble, grumble*) MY menu: Their 2 side dishes (eggplant and mini peppers in vinegar ). Chicken on the grill. Deviled eggs. Coleslaw. Grilled brussels sprouts and grilled cauliflower. I’ve been practicing those last 2 in advance for this dinner. I LOVE the brussel sprout recipe – delicious. I don’t know why it seems complicated when I read it, but it’s very simple and oh so good. I did the cauliflower as well, and like it. I object to the concept of cauliflower steaks because a cauliflower only makes 2 steaks. That means buying 3 cauliflowers to have a sufficient side dish. I’ll use the leftover florets, but something about the concept seems wasteful and offends the frugal part of my soul. 🙂
No matter. It will all be fine. I’m just cranky and feeling low and worn out. Having one of those weeks where everything just seems too much and I have no energy to smile and just cope. But I have a BIG piece of dark chocolate stashed away for ME as a bedtime snack. 🙂
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Well, i’m grumbly too. I also like carbs. But my scale hit a completely unacceptable number yesterday morning. So now, you can try to come up with Zero-Calorie RECIPES. Not food– i don’t want a “side dish” of celery stalks. I mean, recipes (side dishes, main dishes) with no calories. Zero. I’m not eating anything anymore. (P.S. I don’t like brussel sprouts, so that won’t work. Thanks in advance.)
Don’t worry when I come over. I like everything you make and, in case you haven’t noticed, have no restrictions.
Which is one of the many reasons I adore you. 🙂 When are you coming over again??? I promise not to make those not-sweet-enough brownies for dessert.
I wonder how grilled lettuce would taste… I think you could do that same recipe with carrots – cut pieces to the right size, and grill. That would work for folks who like cooked carrots. “Oh look, Debbie, they have cooked carrots! You like cooked carrots, don’t you?” /me heads off to investigate menus of lettuce leaves, celery leaves, grass
Actually, using carrots for that same skewer recipe as the Brussels sprouts sounds intriguing! Why not? If anyone can rise to this challenge, you can!