I am Reluctant (Tidy Mom). But I can Do This!
Meet my Guest:
Cheryl from Tidy Mom
I’m going to be honest here……I was quite nervous when Sandy asked ME to guest post on her fabulous blog! ME? post about entertaining? Baking? yes! you want ME to bring the dessert to YOUR house?….I’ve got you covered!
But, you see my friends, I’m everything Sandy preaches we shouldn’t be.
I AM RELUCTANT. I’m an introvert, with a little bit of control issues. People like me, don’t like to “entertain.”
I’m one of those women who FREAKS out when my outgoing husband says Lets have people over. My mind races a break neck speed… My house is too small, I have to deep clean like a mad woman, manicure the lawn, buy fresh flowers…..maybe a new sofa?….food? oh gosh I need to buy food, prepare the perfect dishes, will I have enough food? enough drinks…”…..ok you get the idea. I break out in a sweat and my stomach starts to tighten. By the day of the gathering, my family wants NOTHING to do with me….I’m a screaming frantic mess! SNAP OUT of it Cheryl!!
I have learned by reading Sandy’s blog, that it’s not about my “things”. No one cares how big my house is, how clean my hall closet is or that my sofa doesn’t match the recliner! They are coming to spend time with US, my family. Good food and good company is all that’s needed. And I’ve learned a few tricks to make this all less stressful for me.
1. Every inch of my house does NOT have to be spotless. I have several tips that I use on a regular basis “tips for a tidy home” to keep my house in pretty good shape most of the time. By sticking to this routine, I can have the house ready for guests in short notice.
2. Stick with food I know and love and can make ahead of time.
3. Fix a simple dessert that will WOW them. Who doesn’t enjoy a good dessert? Dessert is easy for me, I always have a huge arsenal of dessert recipes. My most recent WOW dessert is Chocolate Chip Cookie Brownies – a boxed brownie mix and cookie mix makes this a simple stress free dessert that fast and east and everyone will love!
4. The rest………doesn’t matter! *I’m still working on this part, but I’m REALLY trying!
One of my VERY favorite “go-to” Three Cheese Baked Mostaccioli. It’s easy, can be made ahead of time, even frozen, and it’s a dish that is always a crowd pleaser with adults and children alike!
Pick up a few bagged salads and some garlic bread to throw in the oven, you can even serve this on paper plates for easy clean up!
Three Cheese Baked Mostaccioli
(approx 10 servings)
1 pound ground beef
1 pound salsitccia (if you can’t find this, you can use Italian sausage)
garlic to taste
45 oz Raghu Old World Style Spaghetti sauce
Italian seasoning to taste
1 box Mostaccioli Noodles
6 slices American Cheese
6 slices Mozzarella Cheese
3 slices Provolone Cheese
Boil your noodles according to the box. Brown the ground beef, salsittcia and garlic. Add Raghu and Italian seasoning and let simmer for about 15-20 mins.
Grease a 9×13 glass dish and layer 1/2 of your noodles; tear up 3 pieces of American Cheese and 3 pieces of Mozzarella Cheese and place on top of noodles (**placing the cheese on the noodles is an VERY important secret step)
Next pour 1/2 of your meat sauce over cheese and noodles
Now add the other 1/2 of your noodles and top with other 3 slices of American cheese and 3 slices of Provolone Cheese
Pour other 1/2 of your sauce over 2nd layer of cheese and noodles and then top with remaining mozzarella cheese
Place in oven on 350 for 45 mins
Enjoy!
Thanks so much for having me Sandy……and reminding me that “I CAN DO THIS!”
What have you done to make entertaining less stressful?
Thank YOU, Cheryl, for being my guest today. Cheryl’s another blogger who writes about practical living.I feel like I’ve met her, like at BlissDom or other blogging conferences, but it hasn’t happened yet. I love her Reluctant Entertaining story and her authenticity. And the recipe on her blog right now for Lemonade Pie! Delish! And I’m also wondering if she’ll be attending the EVO ’10 Social Media Conference the end of this month in Park City, UT?
And are you attending EVO ’10 conference next week? If so, I hope to meet you there!
Pingback: I’m Guest Posting at The Reluctant Entertainer | TidyMom
Cheryl! Awesome post here! :) That looks super yummy too as usual. I always like to try your recipes. Thank you.
.-= Lisa´s last blog ..Party Planning & Organization with SKINNY MONEY =-.
Cheryl…I feel *exactly* the same way! Exactly! the good thing about worrying is….things usually end up 1,000x better than I had feared and it really didn’t matter that the blinds weren’t dusted. :)
I am MAKING this!
what a great post. I think we’ve all battled with the entertainment thing. My issue was always comparing myself to others I knew who entertained in the same circle as I did. I had to get over that and realize that people just want to be with us, not our house, or things, or even what food was served.
To make entertaining less stressful I stick with things I know will work. I also think of those who will be in my home (which lately includes those who are vegan), so I’ve found recipes that are adaptable for them.
I love this post because it is so honest about the feelings that many of us have about entertaining.
I also love that recipe for the mostaccioli! When I saw the broken cheese slices going on the top I though, “Eureka!” My kind of cooking!
I giggled about the new sofa. Seriously… isn’t that just about what we think? Women! Good grief…
.-= Debbie´s last blog ..Flag Burning =-.
I can SO identify! I want to be a good hostess…I actually get excited about it…but then the day rolls around and I start to freak out. I have so much trouble enjoying myself because I’m too busy entertaining! Someday, I’m going to need to learn to stop and smell the food. :-)
Hee, hee new sofa, I have said that so many times. I can completely relate to how you feel. The only aspect of entertaining that doesn’t stress me would be the cooking. That is why I save it for last sometimes and everyone joins me in the kitchen trying new dishes.
.-= Tickled Red´s last blog ..We Dropped the Ball =-.
Delighted to see on RE! Like you, I’ve taken some hints from Sandy and learned to chill out when it comes to entertaining. Having lots of weekend guests means lots of meals to cook, so when someone asks “Can I help” I now hand them an apron and say Yes! I think nothing makes a guest feel more welcome than helping in the kitchen.
Your baked mostaccioli looks super easy and super tasty~just my style. Thanks a bunch!
Thanks for a great post! I usually make stuff ahead so it’s ready or I just go spur of the moment (hey, dinner’s in half an hour, want to come over?) -less time to freak out that way. I’ll have to check out that lemonade pie-sounds good.
.-= Gina´s last blog ..Adventures on a Monday =-.
My hubby and I had mostaccioli on our honeymoon…I’ll have to make this for him!
.-= Lynn from For Love or Funny´s last blog ..I’ve got a crush on my kid’s teacher =-.
Great post and the pasta dish looks delicious! Both of you are inspiring and I follow each of you. Thanks for being so “real” ~ that means so much in the blogging world. At least it does to me ’cause I’m pretty new at this. :-)
Brightest blessings,
Pat
.-= Pat´s last blog ..~ You are beautiful! ~ =-.
Love Tidy Mom!!!
And you too Sandy! After this post I’m starving. This looks scrumptious!
xoxo
I loved this post because like Cheryl, I have a husband who likes to invite people over and tells me NOT to be so picky about the house, as in: “leave the newspapers and magazines out, it will make them feel more comfortable” he thinks it makes people feel uneasy if it is TOO clean and I think it never is CLEAN enough!!! We try to meet in the middle but I am a ‘reluctant’ entertainer…thanks Cheryl….your post made me smile!
I totally agree, everyone remembers DESSERT! ;) Cheryl, you did a great job. Thanks for being so open about where you are at when it comes to entertaining. I know so many women that can relate to you and how you feeel about the process of getting your home ready. I used to feel like that too-somehow everything had to be perfect. I have to try your lemonade pie!
Sandy I love your advice because when I think of spending time with friends and family, I think of the memories being made and enjoying a meal together. I don’t think about their decor or how many toys are scattered about, just so long as the home is relatively clean as in ‘hygeinic’. ;)
Glad I found you, I’m a follower now!
Warmly,
Karla
.-= {The Classy Woman}´s last blog ..Pear Tree Giveaway WINNERS! =-.
Wow, I just found another blog to follow! Thanks for sharing.
I love your idea of “wow them with dessert” Even the barefoot contessa on food network says, no one will remember dinner, but everyone will remember a great dessert!!
.-= Paula´s last blog ..My Creative Husband =-.
The pasta recipe sounds delicious!
.-= Tara G.´s last blog ..Poking My Head Into Blogworld for a Minute… =-.
The two of you in the same virtual kitchen?! What a perfect combination!! Thanks for the great menu and recipes Cheryl!! Even I think I could do this. (It may be a stretch, but I think it’s possible!)
.-= Cathe Holden´s last blog ..Skip to my Lou Craft Camp =-.
Cheryl, you did super as a guest poster and thanks for sending me over to meet Sandy! Your Mostaccioli looks amazing.
.-= Paula´s last blog ..Chocolate Peanut Butter Blush Cupcakes =-.
This looks SO good! Can’t wait to try it out.
Thanks for having me Sandy!! I hope to make a blog conference some day!!….I’m also a bit of a introvert, so blog conferences intimate me a bit….as much as I WANT to go and meet everyone……I PROMISE to make it to one some day!!
.-= TidyMom´s last blog ..I’m Guest Posting at The Reluctant Entertainer =-.