Is Your Home “That House?”

My Pineapple Home is “That House.” It’s the one all the kids come to every single weekend. Getting to this point was both organic and reinforced by my husband and me through a few simple processes. Having hosted groups of teenagers several hundred times in the last few years was a pleasure, but it isn’t easy if you don’t know how to find the sweet spot of hosting where the kids are happy, fed and satisfied, and you are not an exhausted and stressed.

Soon after our son began developing friendships, we made it clear that our home was available for them to hang out in and told them we will leave the door open for them, so to speak (and also literally if we knew they were on their way). We always provided snacks like chips and salsas and dips and would give them an easy dinner like hamburgers and hot dogs with a side. This wasn’t hard for us to do and the kids always liked it.

As time went on and the group grew larger and closer, my husband and I progressed to making recipes of a larger variety and we made sure the kids felt as though we were really enjoying the process and their company. Sunday dinners became a big thing here, especially during football season, and evening barbecues and simple meals by the bonfire in the summer were a staple at least once per week.

We tried to strike a balance between getting to know them all while also giving everyone space. We quickly found the perfect sweet spot and, in no time at all, these visits became something the entire family looked forward to. 

Here are a few of the snacks and recipes that were a big hit for our crew.

In addition to chips and chips and salsa that we always put out for them, they all loved other easy-to-grab fresh snacks. Our family loves the mini sweet peppers sold at Costco. I wash them, trim off the stem, and cut them in half, arranging them in a circle around the perimeter of a large plate. I placed a pyrex bowl in the center with dip I made either the night before or that morning. My favorite recipe is simple:

Quick Veggie Dip

I will add frequently other veggies and, if I’m really pressed for time, will pick up a Costco veggie tray, which they all just love. It’s a great value and I love knowing they are eating their vegetables. Our daughter requests one when she has a sleepover.

I also make charcuterie trays for this group if I know they are hungry and dinner won’t be ready for awhile. I’ll put whatever meat, cheese, and vegetables I have out on a large board or, if it’s a smaller crowd, I’ll put together a lighter combo and some crackers. 

In the fall and winter they go crazy for these little “funeral sandwiches,” which are super tasty, but need to be made at least 4 hours in advance, but taste best if you make them one day in advance. I make these for them to eat in the evening and have even sent trays of them to other kids’ houses when my son has been invited. The boys request them for New Year’s Eve and the Super Bowl every year.

I got this recipe from our school’s cookbook and made a few tweaks.

Celebration Sandwiches 

I package of King’s Hawaiian rolls, original flavor

1/3 pound thinly sliced Swiss cheese

1/2 pound roasted shaved deli honey ham

1/2 cup (1 stick) melted butter

3 TBS Worcestershire sauce

2 TBS French’s yellow mustard

2 TBS brown sugar

Dash of onion powder

Cut each roll in half lengthwise, and place bottom halves on the bottom of a 9 x 13 inch baking pan. I use a glass Pyrex pan for this because they are so easy to clean. Cut the cheese slices into squares so that they are the same size as the rolls. Layer the bottom halves of the rolls with cheese, then shaved ham, and then another slice of cheese. Place the top halves of the rolls back on. 

In a bow, mix together the melted butter, Worcestershire sauce, mustard, brown sugar, and onion powder. Baste the topic and sides of each sandwich, making sure to evenly cover each one. Mix whatever is left of this mixture and pour over the sandwiches, ensuring all the edges are also soaked.

Cover tightly with cling wrap and refrigerate overnight, ideally, or for at least four hours.

Bake uncovered in a 350 degree oven until the sandwiches are golden brown and the cheese is bubbling, about 20 minutes. Check after 15 minutes to ensure they do not burn.

I hope you’l love these as much as we do. I generally make a double batch and sent extras “home” with the friends who are boarders at school. 

The kids all love a great fruit salad and I find that tossing together whatever you have on hand that is seasonal and tossing with a mixture of lime juice and honey helps to turn it up a notch.

Caprese salads are popular with this crew and in our family, so I make these when I have the perfect tomatoes for them in the summer. If I don’t have enough time to make my own balsamic reduction, I squeeze some Whole Foods balsamic glaze on top of the tomatoes, basil, and mozzarella. Make sure to cover in freshly cracked pepper and salt. 

Another big hit here are cheeseburgers. We frequently buy the frozen hamburger patties from Costco and the kids love them. I make sure to have a platter of lettuce, sliced tomato (which I always lightly salt) and sliced red onion. My husband slices Vidalia onions and caramelizes them for the kids who prefer that. This year, we added a new touch, this custom branding mark my husband puts on the buns. The boys think it is so cool, and it makes the meal feel a little more special. 

                                                                                                                Here is the one we ordered.

We make two hamburgers per kid and usually grill hot dogs and sausage for those who prefer that.

Since bonfires a big thing with this crew I make sure to always have a supply of s’mores ingredients at the ready. We buy the extra long skewers at our local grocery store and the kids all love making a late night treat by the fire. 

The other big hit dessert-wise are the cake pops our daughter makes. While I don’t have a recipe (she manages as she goes), the boys ask for these and are so grateful when she makes them. She generally tailors the color of the chocolate and the sprinkles to the occasion, which is always a cute touch.

I keep track of all the kids birthdays and we try hard to never miss celebrating one. The easiest thing for us has been to get a cake from the local bakery or grocery store and have their name written on it. While these aren’t gourmet, it means a ton to the kids to have all their friends singing to them and acknowledging their special day, especially the boarding students whose families are too far to celebrate them in person. I highly recommend this step as it creates lasting memories and deepens the bonds of friendship. 

Beyond providing meals, we make sure to offer several options for indoor and outdoor fun. The kids enjoy playing pickleball in our basement rec room and outside with our net they can roll out onto the driveway if they want. We have corn hole and a life size Jenga set they can play, and we always make sure to have our football field ready for their games. Our son puts two spotlights out to shine on it and illuminate the field for their night games, there is always music, and they love the glow-in-the-dark football to help make the fun easier. 

Last year we decided to form a “Mug Club” for the boys who had come over 30 consecutive weekends, which is quite a feat. I purchased ceramic mugs in the shape of a stein and painted their initials and a version of our house logo on them. Every time they come over they grab their mug, pour their soda in (I know, I know. I’m not at all a fan of kids drinking soda, but this is a special thing that the space of a blog cannot explain), and feel like they are noticed. It was a cute way to make them feel special for being so diligent about spending consecutive weekends at our house. 

If your house is “that house,” if you want it to become one, I hope you’ll consider these tips. Pass along any you have because our youngest child is on her way to repeating this habit with her own group of friends.