my first dominican get together. help

[momager1]

I have been living here for over a year now and I have had our family that lives here over often (the mum is dominican, dad canadian, kids dominican and canadian) they eat anything and everything (kids are bloody hollow leg locusts.. 11 and 15 yr old girls) but this time there are our new neighbors as well. They are dominican. So the men are going to the sports bar to watch something (bye boys) and there will be 6 of us girls here. Monopoly and skipbo are on tap to play for our games night. However 4 men will also eat before they leave. So I am making chicken empanadas, beef empanadas, mexican cold corn salad and also a spicy dominican inspired rice. Dessert will be apple pie empanadas dusted with cinnamon sugar and drizzled with cream cheese icing. Enough? PS..the girls (my goddaughters wanted a mexican empanada night so this is their choosing. wondering if enough

Sounds absolutely delicious, I wish I was coming round! Dinner for 10 then? How many empanadas are you making each? I wonder if you need another veg-based side and maybe a bread to go with, that people can fill up on if they’re hungry?

The pudding sounds incredible too…huge tub of vanilla ice cream in the freezer would go well with those flavours and help stretch quantities too?

OK.. so another side dish. so would you recommend a massive mumsnet salad.. or should I do a salad of tomato cucumber red onion and mozza balls in a balsamic dressing?

YES Ice cream. where was my brain?????? yes that is on the list for husband to pick up in the morning

I was thinking 40 empanadas for dinner (hubby ate five by himself of beef ones last week but no sides or dessert) should I up it to maybe 50. not including the dessert ones..those will be enough for two each. they are not huge ..my empanada maker is 6 inches.

maybe some nice belfast soda bread griddled triangles with a lot of butter and maybe some nice olive pesto oil dips for starter?

YUM!!

Big tomato salad is a great shout! I find a big bowl of buttered new potatoes or potatoes salad goes down well too on big tables for lots of people eating. But not sure how that’d vibe with the Dominican flavours?

I reckon 4-5 each is a good guesstimate. And two pudding ones with a scoop of ice cream sounds just right!

I feel very invested in this dinner now, I want a plate lol

potatoes here really suck. great for mash but other than that...YUCK

This sounds bloody delicious 😋

It sounds amazing but my only hesitance would be pastry pastry and pastry.

get on a plane and I will feed you lol. I am a chef after all.. sold the restaurant and living the dream here..but so nervous as the locals do not like our normal dishes. I made my husband the best shepherds pie a few nights ago .. first time since been here. I was worried the lamb would be shit but omg. thank god I froze half of the meat mixture as he is already wondering when we will have it again lol

Sounds lovely as it is! Maybe I would add some fruit, fried plantain or "malanga" or sweet potato crisps. To be honest I don't think mozarella or pesto go with the rest of the menu.

I agree. unfortunately this is what my goddaughters have requested as their mum hates cooking and the roadside empanadas have no meat hardly in. and they want hand helds as we are on a games night at the table lol

what about maybe a big bowl or mofongo?? I think you may be right

Sounds amazing - can you please share your recipes?

Never had mofongo but just looked it up and looks great too, now I also want to join the feast 😉

awww lets turf out the others..and have a mumsnet night... get on a flight ladies (only, sorry men)

tomorrow night here (it is now only 4:30 pm) I will take photos of all the food and I will forward my recipes to anyone that wants them. Just to be frank , I am a chef by trade.. I do not use measures...but a pinch is just a bit between thumb and finger..a dash...slightly more. I will try to do more accurate measures lol

Coleslaw?

I make an awesome coleslaw. but godmonsters have vetoed it as it is only for old people.. OMG lol..