Need ideas for a spaghetti dinner, please

[Claudia1]

I'm several guests over for dinner that have varied tastes, including children. I've decided to servebuffet-style and thought I'd have 2 types of pasta, a red sauce, a white sauce, and lots of mix-ins. My list currently includes:
meatballs
sauteed mushrooms
2 different fresh cheeses
peppers & onions
pepperoni
diced fresh tomatoes
grilled chicken bites
bacon crumbles

Any other mix-ins that would be good? Any thing different or unusual?

Thanks!

 

[Tiziminchac]

No sausage? You have to have Italian sausage. Go with the sweet sausage because not everyone can handle the hot kind. Or have both. Hot and sweet. And out of curiosity, what's the bacon and diced tomatoes for? Are you having salad? And will your peppers and onions be grilled? Now I have the munchies!

 

[Poohnatic]

For the white sauce, I'd go with pasta primavera makings. My DH and I make it with Asparagus, red and green peppers and onions. Typically, I know it includes yellow squash/zucchini, but he doesn't like it!

Suzanne

 

[Rowena]

My kids and I love both shrimp and black olives tossed in with a red sauce.

Broccoli is wonderful with a good white sauce, and healthy too. Peas also work, especially with ham or bacon in a white sauce.

Maybe a little grilled or sauteed eggplant (peeled) would work with either, especially as a veg alternative.

Sounds like a wonderful dinner idea. I'd also suggest picking up a jar of plain old Cheez Whiz, there just might be a child or two who may prefer a pasta and cheese type dish. It's quick, easy and a good back-up.

 

[BuzznBelle'smom]

Definitely sausage, and I would go with high-quality bacon (the kind they slice for you). Also real Italian black olives, and roasted red peppers. Possible capers, too. Saute the vegetables for primavera. It sounds like it could be fun!

I tried a recipe the other day that had pasta with bacon, onions, roasted red peppers, and olives. Very little "sauce", then you sprinkle fresh romano (I'm a stickler for freshly grated cheese!). I couldn't believe how good it was, and my normally chatty kids didn't say a word between stuffing their mouths full. Best of all, it was all stuff you could have "on hand", so I'm definitely adding it to my meal rotation!

 

[Claudia1]

Love these ideas!!!!! Don't know why I hadn't thought of the sausage. The shrimp is a wonderful idea, too! I personally love pasta with fresh tomatoes, bacon, fresh cheese, and just enough white suace to make it hold together......that is why I have fresh tomatoes. The only problem is finding really good ones in our small community. I tend to use lots of grape tomatoes because they have a strong flavor year-round.

As I'm planning the buffet, I realizing that this could be something to plan again. It will be easy to fix ahead of time (all but the pasta), it has something for everybody, and it will be very easy to serve. I think it will be best if I served it on a buffet table that can handle a line down each side as it could take awhile for each person to add their own mix-ins, especially the children.

Keep the ideas coming!

 

[MsDisney23]

What time should I arrive??

 

[Mackey Mouse]

Have you ever made sauce with Italian tuna. It is so tasty.....just saute your garlic and onions, add a can of Pastene Kitchen Ready Tomatos and then the can of Italian Tuna.. I drain it a bit...and let it simmer....it is a different take of a seafood sauce and tasty too.

 

[BuzznBelle'smom]

Mackey Mouse, I had thought of that, too, along with anchovies and clams, but I can't even get my own kids to try those. So I don't know that I'd be in a rush to put them on a buffet. Of course, if it didn't get eaten, I would have to suffer through eating it myself... Ahem! Anyway, it would depend on my guests--if they were an adventurous lot, that would be delicious!

 

[jellymanoffspring]

My DD loves to mix Mozarella cheese in with her pasta/red sauce.

 

[Claudia1]

Some of the guests will be DH's employees. I think that he could turn this into an evaluation! See if they are adventureous, willing to try something new, or stays with an old standard. LOL!

 

[christinadei]

I think broccolli and shrimp would be good additions. Also, why don' tyou add a salad station and you can have all the fixings for salads in seperate bowls, shredded cheese, mushrooms, tomatos, olives, etc.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Yes, I second a salad station. I love to have pasta, salad and garlic bread.