Several years ago our daughter arrived home from summer camp with an idea that would become an annual tradition with her friends — we call it The Annual Spaghetti Party!
Who would have though that a simple dinner at a camp could have such an impact on a young girl. I remember pickup day and how excited Emmy was to share her spaghetti party tales with us - the blind fold, the crazy utensils and laugh-out-loud fun and an eagerness to host such a dinner with her own friends. So, a few weeks later we called her friends and the tradition began.
Fast forward several years and I can honestly say that hosting an annual event or even an impromptu dinner is a great way to stay connected to your teen and her friends. I really like hosting dinners that take a little longer than eating a slice of pizza — one that requires you to be involved even if that means you are just popping in from time to time to offer seconds or clear dishes. Listening to the girls talk about what is going on in their lives gives you an inside look at what they like and what is important to each of them. If you listen closely, you’ll also hear about what might not be going well or struggles they have with their friends. This can lead to great dialog between you and your teen after the party.
So, what is the party all about? In a nutshell this party is really just a spaghetti and meatball dinner. The fun comes when the girls discover they are not eating with a fork and knife/spoon, instead they are blind folded and they select a utensil from a big pot or bag. A count of three means they can’t feel around and pick the best utensil - after three if they don’t have a utensil they don’t get one! The dinner proceeds with everyone eating from their giant size kitchen utensils — you’ll be amazed at how creative the kids get.
What you’ll need
- Spaghetti
- Meatballs (we like the large ones)
- Spaghetti sauce
- Parmesan cheese
- Garlic toast or buns
- Veggies & dip
- Drinks
- Dessert
- Blindfold
- Utensils (see below)
- Napkins (lots of them!)
Utensils
You can use just about anything you have in your kitchen, we’ve had fun with the following utensils:
- Soup ladle
- Chop Sticks
- Kitchen tongs
- Wooden spoon
- Slotted spoon
- Spatula
- Wisk
