Manda Ruby > wrote in message
...
> I am trying to make two dishes for 8 adults. I am
> making spaghetti with meat balls - using the jar sauce
> and bought meat balls - and the Chicken and Rice
> dish which I will make 2 batches. Below is direct
> link to the video

[snip]

You're making a lot of food for 8 adults. There's nothing bad about that, if
you're planning on care-packages at the end of the evening to avoid
leftovers...

Which dish is going to be the "main" focus -- the chicken or the spaghetti
and meatballs? Focus on one and don't experiment on your guests.

I'd serve the chicken and a salad but that because chicken and rice is
pretty filling and the salad is the lighter dish.

I've used chicken breasts in this type of dish but prefer whole chickens to
allow for variety and differences in taste. My three daughter-units love
white meat and truly dislike dark; I'm biased towards white but enjoy dark;
SWMBO dispises white meat.

You asked if Kalamata olives would change the taste in the original recipe;
yes. Kalamata olives are soft and fresh in taste, even the dried variety are
not as acidic as any green olives. You're looking for that biting acidity
provided by the green olives to contrast with the mild chicken.

Give it a go prior to the party and see if it's something you would enjoy
serving. It'll also allow you to make any changes to your tastes rather than
apologizing all through the meal with the guests.

The Ranger

On Dec 31, 10:02*am, "The Ranger" > wrote:
> Manda Ruby > wrote in message
>
> ...
>
> > I am trying to make two dishes for 8 adults. I am
> > making spaghetti with meat balls - using the jar sauce
> > and bought meat balls - and the Chicken and Rice
> > dish which I will make 2 batches. Below is direct
> > link to the video
>
> [snip]
>
> You're making a lot of food for 8 adults.
I know. That's because I started worryign who will not like Spaghetti
and would prefer rice.

>There's nothing bad about that, if you're planning on care-packages at the end of the evening to avoid leftovers...
I do NOT want to do that.

>
> Which dish is going to be the "main" focus -- the chicken or the spaghetti
> and meatballs? Focus on one and don't experiment on your guests.

I was thinking to give both eqaul status simply because I have no idea
how well some of them will like Spaghetti.


> I'd serve the chicken and a salad but that because chicken and rice is
> pretty filling and the salad is the lighter dish.

They won't be crazy about non Asian style salads. I should have
mentioned that all are from Asia and not crazy about greasy food. The
idea of spaghetti is that I know that some will enjoy somehtign they
do not nromally cook.

>
> I've used chicken breasts in this type of dish but prefer whole chickens to
> allow for variety and differences in taste. My three daughter-units love
> white meat and truly dislike dark; I'm biased towards white but enjoy dark;
> SWMBO dispises white meat.

I like white meat.

>
> You asked if Kalamata olives would change the taste in the original recipe;
> yes. Kalamata olives are soft and fresh in taste, even the dried variety are
> not as acidic as any green olives. You're looking for that biting acidity
> provided by the green olives to contrast with the mild chicken.

I see. Green olives then.

>
> Give it a go prior to the party and see if it's something you would enjoy
> serving. It'll also allow you to make any changes to your tastes rather than
> apologizing all through the meal with the guests.

You are right. No black olive in the rice dish especially with
this crowd.

>
> The Ranger