@Angela123, I am so with you on this one! Entertaining/hosting is not a competitive sport. Do what makes you happy. You, not DH, are doing the work, so it's your call, not his. If he's complaining about the cost of groceries, that's a different matter. We visit back and forth regularly with family friends. We provide a full Indian meal with all the trimmings. They typically serve burgers and pasta. They never apologize and we are never resentful. What matters is the joy we find in each others' company. Happy holidays to you and yours, Angela! .
Thank you Amica. He doesn't complain about the cost of entertaining. He would buy anything and everything to make the process go smoother. It was the "special items" I do that was bothering him.
The feast is over and our friends went back to their homes yesterday. it was great 4 days and I cooked most of the stuff on my list, but there was plenty left over so I think I made only 60% of what was on planned and now I can see why DH was scared to see my list!
Amica, This was the tentative plan. We stayed home on all days except for one night we spent at our friends' place and one lunch we ate outside. So I didnt make all of these and depending up on what everyone felt like eating, I changed it up sometimes. I didn't make anything that is not listed. Dosa batter is backup for kids when they dont want to eat some stuff and I usually make eggs with all breakfasts. Meal Plan for 6 adults and 4 kids 25th, Christmas Lunch: Chicken biriyani sambhar Raita Thoran(Kale) Pickle Pappadam Rice Black forest Cake Tea : Cake, Rusk, Store Bought Items (On all days) Dinner : Pasta, Shrimp, Broccoli 26th Breakfast : idli sambar chutney Lunch: Rice, sambhar, aviyal, kale stir fry Dinner at Sudha's place: To Cook and Take - Appam and egg curry 27th Bread/bruschetta/frozen waffles Lunch : Rice, fish curry, Black eyed peas Dinner : Kappa, beef curry, porotta Dessert: tiramisu 28th Breakfast: Poori, potato curry (instead of this I made upma, because I accidentally ordered 20 bananas!!) Lunch: Chicken curry, rice, left overs Dinner: Kanji, payar, pappadam, chammanthy? 28th Play it by ear Cooking Plan - Make aheads Idli batter (on 24th) Dosa batter (on 24th) appam batter (on 24th) Rusk, macarons, black forest cake (on 24th) tiramisu (on 26th)
It was not a vent. : ) Rather, it was a pleasant and delightful narration of a loving and mild disagreement with a peaceful resolution. I am very inspired by the menu!