I think that you can find something in common with just about anyone on the planet. I realize how ‘pollyanna’ that sounds- but I sincerely believe it to be true. I love to talk to people (as my cell phone company will testify of) and love meeting new people. I like to put this theory to the test and since my job in my ward (congregation) is the Activity Committee Chair (I’m in charge of planning activities for the congregation) I have a whole group of guinea pigs to test theories out on.
This weekend we had dinner groups. I sent around sign ups for a couple weeks for people to indicate if they wanted to come. Then I did my best to mix people up so that they weren’t going to have dinner with someone that they lived next door to or served in an organization with. I tried to mix older couples with younger couples and people with no kids with people with kids. Steve and I went to the house with the couple who met while serving a mission in Italy… and he’s Italian and a good cook. I know, I’m shameless.
The reports back today were great. I got lots of positive reports and it sounds like everyone had a great time. I’m very excited it worked so well, we’re going to do it again in a couple months and try to put people in different places then they were this weekend.
What is your favorite dinner to serve guests?
Have you ever had fresh, homemade spinach noodles? (YUM)
Cool idea! Sounds like fun. At our next lunch I want to ge the details on what you did.
Bonnie Childress’s last blog post..Are you kidding me?
We did this in our old ward and I LOVED it. We didn’t become BFF’s with anbody new or anything, but it did help you get to know (and therefore appreciate) people better.
Char’s last blog post..Silhouettes
I love to make homemade chicken noodle soup, with homemade noodles if I am having a large number of guests. Lasagne is a favorite too, and pretty easy. Our ward did the dinner group thing and it was really fun and helped us get to know some people.
Jo’s last blog post..Confessions of A Northern California Girl
Spinach noodles sound wonderful!
Tirzah’s last blog post..It’s Raining, It’s Pouring…
Hey Amber, I totally agree with you. I think you can mix with anyone if you make the effort, and they do too. And we had spinach noodles this week, not of the homemade kind, but my first spinach noodles ever. Holy yum!
Lee’s last blog post..Williams Sonoma
Kinda wish my ward would do something like this! It would be nice to get out of our comfort zone and get to know others better.
I have about five dishes that I serve to company. My favorite to make is chicken parmesan because it’s very easy to make but taste really, really good.
And now on the spinach noodles…I don’t think you could get me to eat them unless you didn’t tell me what they were until afterwards.
Jessica G.’s last blog post..Friday Funny
Great idea!
Rachael’s last blog post..Valley of Fire
Sounds like a great success!
Kristina’s last blog post..The Heat Is On
I am glad to hear that your dinner mixer went so well. I remember when our ward did it, you were still here - I think, at least you were still in this state. It was so much fun bu they only did it once. We hosted it and had three couples over for dinner. We gotta get this going again!
I love to serve something I am “seasoned’ at making when I have guests over - I am just not confident in my cooking skills to experiment on those that are not close to me!
I am glad to hear that your dinner mixer went so well. I remember when our ward did it, you were still here - I think, at least you were still in this state. It was so much fun bu they only did it once. We hosted it and had three couples over for dinner. We gotta get this going again!
I love to serve something I am “seasoned’ at making when I have guests over - I am just not confident in my cooking skills to experiment on those that are not close to me!
Kristi’s last blog post..New President
I wonder if Damon would ever participate in something like that? And lol at who you “lined” yourselves up with.
Sabra’s last blog post..One man’s tragedy…
That sounds like great fun!
Daisy’s last blog post..What else can go wrong? No, don’t answer that.
I had a really good time that night, once we got there anyway, hehe, what a night. *sigh* I’ll sign up again when we do it. My fail proof dinner I serve is home made pizza. The missionaries used to request it when we had them for dinner appointments. Not fancy, but nobody leaves hungry.
Shimmy Mom’s last blog post..Sing a Song Part 2
We did that about 4 ward boundary changes ago and it was great! I wish they’d do it again. It was fun to mingle with couples that we wouldn’t ordinarily.
As far as what I serve when people come over, it totally depends on my mood. If it’s the whole herd (my family is nearing 40 people), I do relatively easy stuff like shredded pork sandwiches on fresh rolls or a burrito bar. For fewer people, pasta with fresh focaccia, or stuffed chicken breasts, or Indian curry, or fajitas…really, whatever tickles my fancy. I often experiment on guests, and that’s probably not the best thing to do. But as far as I know, no one has died yet ;).
Heidi’s last blog post..Can you keep a secret?
Oh, that sounds fun. You do a good job with your calling.
Mindy’s last blog post..Sisters