No Reluctance at 320 Sycamore: Boat Sandwiches!
Meet my Guest:
Melissa from 320 Sycamore
I want to introduce to you today Melissa from 320 Sycamore. Here’s what sums up Melissa’s blog: My blog is about bringing out the charm and potential in our homes and families, with a bit of nonsense and good deals scattered here and there!
I specifically love this post: Summer 2010. Looks like a lot of fun at the 320 Sycamore home this summer! Now head on over and say hello to sweet Melissa !
We’re reluctant over at 320 Sycamore about entertaining. But who isn’t?? … My house isn’t clean enough. What if they opened that laundry room door? The deck needs to be sanded and refinished. We don’t even have a sofa upstairs to sit on. We need to finish the playroom. The weeds. My recipes seem kind of plain and boring. I’m just tired.
These are all excuses I have used to not have people over. It’s one of those things that I kind of dread and put off, but when we just do it, I love it.
I love having the energy of our friends in our house..the laughter, the stories, the craziness, the presence of ones we love.
I love having a semi-clean house…don’t we all tend to get our buns in gear when guests are coming over?
I love collecting new recipes and tasting new foods that people bring to share. And they really don’t care about all of the above stuff.
A few things I am learning about “entertaining”:
1. Let your guests help. Let them bring a dish or a dessert, when they ask can I help? Let them! Why not let them put out utensils, cut up a pepper, wipe off the kids table. People standing around perfection when they arrive is awkard.
2. If you wait until all of your projects are finished to have guests over, you never will. They like seeing your progress and to see that you’re normal and don’t get things done. :)
3. Your house does not have to be sparkling clean. Close some doors, clean the main areas, and for heavens sake if you have to choose one room to deep clean, let it be the bathroom. You know the bathroom will get used. Scrub it down, put out your best soap, a small vase of wildflowers or leaves, make it smell nice with a wallflower or plug in, fold some paper towels next to the sink so everyone doesn’t have to be using the same hand towels.
Make sure the tp is stocked and extra is in sight. A great tip: close the door and sit on the toilet to check your guests’ view from the throne.
4. Stick to your tried and true recipes. Here is one we love that my friend Greta brought when my baby #3 was born. We have made them since for picnics, dinners, birthday parties, football games, and for other new moms. Adults and kids love them and they are super easy and do-able and make your house smell great!
Boat Sandwiches
{from Greta}
24 white Rhodes Rolls
9 oz package of thinly sliced ham or turkey
8 oz shredded mozzarella, swiss, or cheddar cheese
1/2 cup melted butter or margarine
Grated Parmesan cheese
Italian Seasoning or any other seasoning (optional)
Let rolls thaw at room temperature for 2 – 3 hours, but don’t let rise. Flatten the rolls out into a circle, put meat and cheese on one side.
Fold over and pinch together.
Brush with melted butter, sprinkle with parmesan cheese and seasoning.
Bake at 350 degrees for about 15-20 minutes or until lightly browned.
ENJOY!
And enjoy your guests!
In what areas are you reluctant to entertain?
Kelly~I think your idea of entertaining sounds perfect. And can I tell you how much I miss Blue Bell ice cream??
Ginger~ I think my friend’s son called them that and it stuck.
Traci~we miss you too…and pasta night.and your pesto….and John Adams.
Great post Melissa!! and I’m SO going to try that recipe!! YUM!!
I obsess about the cleanliness, decor, and likeability of my home to the extent that I end up with everything fresh and sparkly – and nothing to eat/drink. I will obsess about a totally clean third floor office that few guests – if any – will see, and then forget to have more than milk and water on hand to drink!
I am a fairly creative cook for immediate family but I get performance anxiety when it comes to casual entertaining. I can do a whole turkey dinner and all the sides, – or order pizza. There seems, however, to be no middle ground when it comes to guests.
Hey Melissa,
I just told Ryan, either yesterday or the day before, how much I miss hanging out with y’all at your house. We always had so much fun!!!! Pasta Night will live on – if only in my memory! ;-)
I love this post!!! So liberating and the Boat Sandwiches look so yummy!!! One question though…do you know why they’re called Boat Sandwiches?
.-= Ginger´s last blog ..Salsa Chicken =-.
The boat sandwhiches look great and I can’t wait to try them with my Stawberry Poppyseed Salad! http://cluttercounselor.blogspot.com/2010/06/summertime-scrumptious.html
Having easy recipes up my sleeve makes me less likely to be reluctant to entertain.
.-= Deanna´s last blog ..Super Simple Dessert =-.
You are so right! People don’t notice what’s clean or not clean they are there to see you not your house! Guests also like to contribute, there is a quote I try and live by, “Take what people offer, drink their milk-shakes take their love”.
.-= Robin´s last blog ..Your Perfect Day! =-.
I agree with everything you said. No one ever dies and said they wished they had cleaned more! I regret letting life pass me by because my house isn’t good enough. Life is about being with those you LOVE!!! Those sandwiches look so yummy, can’t wait to try them.
I love this post, Melissa! The sandwiches look and sound yummy!
I am single, no kids, and have a two bed/two bath condo. I have been reluctant to entertain b/c I don’t have a family, so it feels a little awkward to invite my friends with kids over. I also do NOT cook and the process of trying to find and make recipes stresses me out.
So, my recent realization: invite people over anyway. Don’t cook – pick up something from a local restaurant, throw a frozen cobbler in the oven for dessert (with Bluebell Homemade Vanilla -I’m in Texas, thank goodness!) and it’s a great meal that I don’t have to stress over. I still get to enjoy opening my home and welcoming my friends.
And that’s my Reluctant Entertainer story!
Thanks for the easy great recipe Melissa!
I love that boat sandwiches recipe! I will try it at home!!
.-= Lynn from For Love or Funny´s last blog ..Romance in the laser tag field =-.
Visiting from Melissa’s blog! Your sandwiches look so yummy! I did a post on pizza night and Rhodes Rolls a while back! We love them! Now I have another use for them….sandwiches! Thanks!
What a great post and so well expressed! Yep… those are our typical EXCUSES, but they aren’t good enough REASONS not to enjoy ourselves with friends at home.
Love the post. Love the tips. And I do want to try the boat sandwiches.
BTW…I lost my train of thought when I hit that precious piano picture! That baby at the keyboard is just adorable. What a shot.
I’m heading over to check out the blog now.
.-= Debbie´s last blog ..Adventures in Savannah =-.
Great tips for entertaining! I especially love tips #2 & #3. Most people don’t expect perfection out of the entertainer…they’re just happy that you invited them into your home. Being a relaxed host goes a long way in making guests feel comfortable.
Yes! 2 of my cute sisters and my little niece. I miss them.
Kirstin~some great things to keep on hand for kids are crayons, paper, those pkgs of crafty foam shapes and fuzzy balls you can buy at the dollar store, popsicle sticks, some washable glue and let them go to town creating. Bubbles are great if you’re outside too.
.-= melissa*320 sycamore´s last blog ..my first guest post! =-.
Great post. That recipe looks awesome and so adaptable.
I don’t really think I’m reluctant to entertain and I have no problem asking guest to bring something..usually a salad or dessert. Sometimes I’m reluctant to entertain those with younger kids because my girls are older and I don’t have “little kid” things handy to entertain them, and don’t want them to get bored. So often we go to the homes of those with younger kiddo’s. I’d like to find a few goodies at garage sales to keep on hand to help with little ones when they come over.
The picture at the piano is priceless. Is that your sister?
Thanks for being my guest today, Melissa!
.-= sandy´s last blog ..Fishing 101: Oregon Salmon Memories! =-.
These look so amazing, yummy and easy – that’s my kind of recipe!
.-= Jade @ No Longer 25´s last blog ..Ten Thoughts: Useful Spanish Phrases =-.
What a great recipe- so easy and looks yummy!!
.-= Tara G.´s last blog ..Bachysaray, Crimea =-.
thank you! so fun to be over here…Tina, the basket was from Hobby Lobby last year. I don’t have one near me anymore so I don’t know if they have them this year.
Yes, these are great for picky eaters :)
I follow both of you lovely ladies. True words above. I have felt exactly what you write about. Too messy. Too tired. Projects left undone in plain sight. But i will say that since i started reading you both – you have freed me. I actually had people over and made them sandwiches on paper towels the day we were moving. I can’t believe i just admitted to that. LOL. The funny thing is, one of them actually said to me, “this the BEST sandwich i’ve had in a long time!” and i was like seriously, it’s just a sandwich. He said, yea, but i never eat sandwiches anymore – i forgot how much i like a really good sandwich. Hilarious!
.-= sheri´s last blog ..I’m going to a party – wanna come? =-.
Oh, I have to try those sandwiches. I have a very picky teen boy who just might like them.
I love guests who offer to help with those last minute things like filling glasses with ice or cubing cheese. I try to have an idea of what I would ask someone to do if they should ask.
Becky K.
Becky
.-= Becky K.´s last blog ..A Conversation…In Pictures =-.
Beautiful post. And I have to admit that I have come along way in not obsessing over what condition my home is in at the time of inviting people over. Because it will never be perfect so why wait?
Those boat sandwiches look yummy! Thanks for sharing the recipe Melissa!
Hugs!
.-= Kim @ Homesteader’s Heart´s last blog ..Learning Something New About My Husband! =-.
It’s ironic … but the people who would never in a million years snoop around looking for trouble in someone else’s home … they’re the ones most worried about someone pulling the white glove test in their own. It’s a performance anxiety, external validation thing.
Maybe go the other direction entirely. Point out your home’s biggest problem right from the get-go. Leave the power tools out by the project that’s half-finished. Throw some flour on the counter and leave the cooling racks out. Then, it’s all smooth sailing from there, yeah?
.-= The Training Table´s last blog ..Getting ready for Father’s Day =-.
You can never go wrong with tried and true recipes. I cant wait to try those boat sandwiches, they look so good. Love the basket for the tp. Where did you purchase it? Love you idea about checking out your bathroom. Such a great guest post.
.-= Tina @ Mommys Kitchen´s last blog ..Moms Easy Strawberry Cake ~ Potluck Sunday =-.