Welcome back to The Hunt Series! It’s Day 5, and let me tell you, the routine is starting to feel like a well-oiled machine. Whether you’re entertaining a hunting crowd or just planning meals for a crowd, finding your groove is key. Stick around as we dive in…
Table of Contents
The Hunt: Day 5 – Getting into the Perfect Groove with Routine and Flexibility Entertaining a Crowd
MORNING: Quick Clean-Up for a Fresh Start
I woke up ready to tackle the day. Armed with my coffee and a checklist, I breezed through my morning routine. When you’re hosting a crowd, staying on top of things is half the battle.
My go-to morning checklist today?
Morning Cleaning Checklist:
- Empty and Reload dishwasher: ✅
- Wipe down counters: ✅
- Vacuuming marathon: ✅
- Coffee: ✅
Hosting TIP:
Habits are lifesavers. Start your day with a quick clean, and you’ll stay ahead of the chaos. Guests don’t need to see the behind-the-scenes madness!
LUNCH:
Leftovers, but Make It Look Fancy
Ah, leftovers—the underrated savior of effortless stress-free hosting.
Today’s lunch was a remix of last night’s dinner: meatballs with rigatoni and fresh Caesar salad.
Quick Steps to Reheat Meatballs with Rigatoni in a Skillet with Butter
This is what I do to bring pasta back to life for another meal…
Preheat Skillet: Heat a large skillet over medium heat.
Add Butter: Melt 1-2 tablespoons of butter in the skillet until it sizzles.
Add Meatballs and Rigatoni: Place the leftover meatballs and rigatoni in the skillet. Spread them out evenly for consistent heating.
Stir Gently: Toss the pasta and meatballs occasionally to coat them in the melted butter and prevent sticking.
Add a Splash of Liquid (Optional): If the pasta seems dry, add a splash of water, broth, or pasta sauce to maintain moisture.
Heat Thoroughly: Cook for 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until everything is heated through and the meatballs are hot in the center.
Serve and Enjoy: Transfer to a plate and serve immediately. Garnish with grated Parmesan or fresh herbs if desired.
Homemade Caesar Salad
Homemade Caesar Salad Ingredients I Used:
- Romaine lettuce
- Classic Litehouse Caesar dressing
- Restaurant-Style Caesar Salad Croutons or try making your own croutons! This RECIPE by Gimme Some Oven is amazing!
- Freshly cooked Bob’s Bacon
- Freshly grated Parmigiano Reggiano Cheese.
The result? Clean plates and satisfied guests. Win-win.
Post-Lunch: Deer Meat Duty
I know, sounds like a blast, right? Let’s just say, I’m not exactly cut out for hunting. I can’t even glance at a deer hanging without feeling like I might pass out—seriously, no idea how I ended up as a nurse! My heart is so soft for animals that I’m practically one rescue mission away from going vegan and adopting every stray cat I see…but that’s a story for another day. 😅
Anyway, once the guys brought in the deer meat, we set up a little assembly line: cutting, bagging, vacuum-sealing, and my role—labeling everything for the freezer. Three hours later, mission accomplished.
After that, while the guys headed back to the bush, I grabbed a much-needed hour of couch time to rest my back. Chronic back pain? Yeah, it’s a total game-changer (not in the fun way). But hey, you do what you gotta do.
And this? This was my little reward—soooo good!
Kombucha Sugar-Free Organic Drink, Sparkling, Low Calorie, Gut Health Beverage – Wild Berry
SUPPER:
Plan B Saves the Day
Dinner was supposed to be a BBQ feast featuring marinated venison and steaks, with sides sizzling on the grill. Everything was prepped and ready to go. But when the guys got home and tried firing up the BBQ, the wind had other plans—it kept blowing out the flame. After several failed attempts, it was clear: BBQ wasn’t happening tonight. All that prep? Out the window.
Cue panic mode—I needed a backup plan, fast!
Thankfully, I always keep a few frozen staples on hand for emergencies. While I try to avoid too many processed options (hello, sodium and unpronounceable ingredients), they’re lifesavers when time is tight. Plus, it’s still cheaper than takeout.
Enter Plan B: frozen wings and onion rings. I whipped out some Janes Pub Style Wings (Bold BBQ & Sweet Honey Garlic) and Cavendish Onion Rings, tossed them in the oven, and boom—dinner in 30 minutes. To round things out, I set out a veggie tray with some Ranch dip.
Menu Highlights:
- Wings: Bold BBQ & Sweet Honey Garlic
- Onion Rings: Golden, crispy, and perfect (sorry, forgot to get a pic of the onion rings… next time!)
- Veggie Tray: Yes, again. Ranch dip makes everything better.
Quick Fix Entertaining Tip:
Always keep a stash of frozen goodies. They’re lifesavers when your grand plans flop. Plus, your guests will never know the difference when plates are clean and bellies are full!
Here’s how supper turned out…
EVENING WRAP-UP: Chill Mode On
By 8 p.m., I was done. Showered, in pajamas, and parked on the couch with zero guilt. Entertaining a hunting crowd can be exhausting, but it’s also incredibly rewarding. Every laugh, every clean plate—it’s worth it.
Hope you enjoyed the 6 Days of The Hunt Series! From recipes to simple hosting hacks. Even though the entertaining is coming to an end, I’ll keep sharing some great recipes to enjoy year-round.
Related Posts You’ll Love:
- The Hunt: An Epic Conquer on DAY 4 of Entertaining a Crowd
- The Hunt: Mastering Effortless Flexibility While Entertaining a Crowd – DAY 3
- The Hunt: Entertaining a Crowd with Effortless Balsamic Coho Salmon – DAY 2
- The Hunt: Amazing First Impressions Entertaining a Crowd – DAY 1
- The Hunt: Entertaining for a Crowd with 4 Essential Tips to Impress Your Guests!
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All photos by The Unscripted Femme.
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