Posh birthday dinner at home

jordylass

It's my birthday on wednesday and I've asked my family to make a nice 3/4 course dinner as my present.

They're happy (sort of) to do that, but I've no inspiration for the menu, seeing as one of my favourite pastimes is thinking up the menu for my fantasy come dine with me experience, it's a bit silly, but any input gratefully considered.

I like all kinds of food, but mostly cook Indian spiced meals at home. I;m thinking of maybe a Spanish theme...

So far I'm thinking of
mussels, roasted pepper soup, or chorizo and squid (economy gastronomy) for starter

prob some sort of lamb for main (would like something Morrocan or Greek maybe)

and completely stuck for pud, my sweet tooth has pretty much gone, but I could go for cheese and biscuits, or maybe strawberry shortcake or cheesecake???

I need to let them know by tonight/ tomorrow at the latest for the ingredients.

zippychick

Would they not be picking what you like as they are cooking?

What about lamb tagine with cous cous for the main?

if you aren't really into sweet stuff, i would just ask for cheese and crackers! Don't feel you have to be conventional in your desert choice!

I know what you mean about CDWM! I am obsessed, although don't think i would have the bottle to actually go on it!

ChocClare

Moroccan lamb with sweet potatoes and couscous is SCRUMOLA. Jamie has a recipe somewhere... here: http://ryansrecipeblog.blogspot.com/2009/02/jamie-olivers-moroccan-lamb-stew.html

I didn't plait the meat, just cut it into chunks, and I also added chickpeas (because I had a tin that was nearly a year out of date, ). I used garlic and ginger out of a pot and powdered cumin and coriander and chilli powder because I didn't have all the ingredients to hand. Served on a bed of couscous (that was only a few months out of date - it was a use-it-up kind of an evening!) :rolleyes:

I made enough to feed the 5,000 but unfortunately, 4,999 of those turned out to be my DH, who went back for seconds and then thirds and then had to lie down for quite a long time... it was yummy though!

ChocClare

For pudding, may I recommend our pretend brulee?

Wash and hull a punnet of strawberries (depends how many you're trying to feed). Put in a large bowl and top with a layer of ratafia biscuits (you can use amaretti biscuits if you break them in your hands a bit so they're not too big). Cover in creme fraiche (I use half-fat because it spreads better. I use a whole tub - you need quite a lot). Sprinkle a good layer of demerera sugar over the top. Put in fridge. When you're nearly ready, bung under the grill until the sugar caramelises and goes hard.

My friend who cannot cook to save her life came up with that. We still don't know how. We imagine she must have eaten it at someone else's house and asked them for the recipe and it's so simple even she can manage it. It is the most requested pudding in our house and everyone fights over it. The good thing is you can just have a spoonful or you can have mainly fruit if you haven't got too sweet a tooth. Or you can just go for it big time...

Oh, and happy birthday!!

jordylass

Zippychick - I'm not sure how we worked out that I'd be picking the menu, but it was my suggestion to eat in, so that I could choose whatever I wanted without having to stick to someone else's menu. It has turned out to be too much choice for me to make a decision.

ChocClare - that morocan lamb looks lovely, but a bit too casseroley for what I'm after it did remind me of a recipe we used the last two christmas though for stuffed porcheta, which I think would be just right. The idea for pudding is great, it's something the kids will be able to make and won't be too much for me to enjoy some cheese and biccies as well...

ubamother

you could go with the morrocan couscous idea and having marinated chunks of lamb chargrilled with a lovely salsa of some kind?

ubamother

oooh - or a tapas buffet style thing - you could get your mussel, chorizo, roasted pepper, cheese fixes in bitesize pieces!

jordylass

yeh, tapas sounds good, and i could have some spiced lamb too, I don't want to ask for anything too complicated though, kids are making starter and pud and OH the main.