Dinner Party on a Budget

lucylema

I am looking to have friends over for dinner but need to do it on a budget - what would you do for as little £££ as possible. Hubby will cook - he is fab at cooking.

xxvickixx

Lasagne is always impressive and can be done cheaply. I would serve it with some home made bread and a small salad.

littleredhen

i would get a joint of meat that is reduced and freeze it ready to use for the dinner party - then depending on what you get sort out what to do with it - i found going to tesco on a monday there were always joints of meat or organic chicken drastically reduced - you could slow cook or do traditional - some nice roasted veg

babs2008

Sorry, I have no helpful input at the minute, but I'd also second a nice home made lasagne - you can't beat it. That with a crisp salad and glass of wine is perfect. (I only wish I was a good cook)

zippychick

meatballs with fresh pasta? Not terribly expensive but very effective! HM bread to accompany . All you should need is the mince, pasta and mozerella?

Banoffee pie is a good dessert if people like sweet - digestive biscuit base with melted butter, SLiced bananas and cover with toffified condensed milk. Sprinkle with chocolate. Yum. Nice with fresh cream.

HTH

NoahsPennilessMummy

i would also go with something like lasagne or spaghetti and meatballs with a nice dressed salad and HM bread.....plus it can be prepared in advance which is a bonus.
or if you wanted a winter meal a big chicken or steak pie with fresh veg is another winner

rachbc

i just did a jamie oliver roast pork shoulder - was gorgeous - at a 2kg joint on special in asda for £4!

SALOPMAN

If you want a nice start as well fairly cheap we had a nice one the other week in a pub, get a large mushroom,think they call em breakfast mushrooms and then drizzle some melted butter on it and grill it,just before its ready put a 1/2" round piece of goats cheese on it and toast under grill till cheese goes gooey,add a bit of salad and thus a lovely cheepie starter....HTH:beer:

SALOPMAN

Sorry,re above should be GARLIC butter drizzled on mushroom mmmmm,,,,,,

ali1972

Pulses are a good bet for cheap fare - I'd rather have good vegetarian food than really cheap meat. Lentil Bobotie is a great dish - especially if you start with dried lentils not canned ones. Filthy cheap. I've posted the recipe before:

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showpost.html?p=9729641&postcount=15

Serve with a nice homemade tomato sauce made with a big bowl of tomatoes from the greengrocers at the end of the day, a little garlic, a little basil and olive oil, simmered nice and slowly to really bring out the flavour and sweetness. Delia has a nice tomato sauce recipe somewhere. Lots of crusty bread...

kunekune

What really impresses people is food that looks good as well as tastes good. So I would start with a warm chicken liver and spinach salad - a classic combination - or a really good but light home made soup (tomato even!) with home made bread/soda bread/scones. Then something that doesn't have to be scooped out - fish pies in ramekins, a pastry topped pie with a meat filling. If no potato, perhaps a potato/cream/cheese dish. Veges in a big dish to help yourself from. And for pudding, a traditional thing like rolypoly or queen of puddings. By that point, having it in individual dishes isn't so crucial (if it's a good party, anyway) but it's still nice if you can.