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Dinner Party ideas?!

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  • Debt_Free_Chick
    Debt_Free_Chick Posts: 13,276 Forumite
    10,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    Delia's Coq au Vin

    The thing I love about her is this "If you do exactly what she says, it turns out exactly as she says". And this can be made the day before ... !

    http://www.deliaonline.com/recipes/r_0000001168.asp

    :)
    Warning ..... I'm a peri-menopausal axe-wielding maniac ;)
  • Glad
    Glad Posts: 18,927 Senior Ambassador
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Mortgage-free Glee! Name Dropper
    following on from galtizz wonderful starters, why not use some of them as side dishes to the main meal,

    I stuff peppers with lemon couscous with feta cheese and pinenuts mixed in, cook the empty peppers and lids in oven first then stuff with cooked couscous and pop the lid back on.

    For baked potato sidedish, cook potatos scoop out the potato and mash with tub of marscapone cheese and fresh chopped chives, put mix back in potato skins, sprinkle with grated cheese and pop in oven/grill until cheese melted and bubbling

    Either of these could be served with a simple meatdish, ie roast gammon
    I am a Senior Forum Ambassador and I support the Forum Team on the Wales, Small Biz MoneySaving, In My Home (includes DIY) MoneySaving, and Old style MoneySaving boards. Please note that Ambassadors are not moderators. Any posts you spot in breach of the Forum Rules should be reported via the report button, or by emailing forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com.All views are my own and not the official line of MoneySavingExpert.
  • Bogof_Babe
    Bogof_Babe Posts: 10,803 Forumite
    I have a family gathering (8 people) this Sunday, for my mum's 90th birthday. I am doing lamb casserole for the main course, with a veggie lasagne alternative (hubby is veggie and dad is semi-). Frozen mixed veg, mashed potatoes (maybe with garlic and parsley flavouring - still deciding on that) and minted new potatoes to accompany the casserole. Garlic bread and salad (*see below) for the lasagne.

    Starters will be bought prawn cocktail, smoked salmon "bits" (cheaper than slices), bought mushroom pate, and a big bowl of *salad, for people to make up their own platters. Lemon wedges and brown bread will be supplied too!

    Pudding will be the birthday cake, but I also have two bought apple strudels in the freezer, and will stick a pot of cream in the fridge, just in case required. I doubt anyone would want cheese and biscuits but we always have cheddar and cream crackers in - so they'll have to make do with that!

    I've just been doing my shopping list, and the meat will be the only expensive thing, but I have factored it into my budget!

    Now all I have to do is get organized! :eek:
    :D I haven't bogged off yet, and I ain't no babe :D

  • Debt_Free_Chick
    Debt_Free_Chick Posts: 13,276 Forumite
    10,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    Frozen mixed veg

    How about roasted seasonal veg with herbs e.g. turnip, carrot, onion, potato, swede, broccoli. Toss in oil, season with salt & pepper, mix with a little oil & herbs of choice. Roast in oven at a fairly high temperature

    :)
    Warning ..... I'm a peri-menopausal axe-wielding maniac ;)
  • Lillibet_2
    Lillibet_2 Posts: 3,364 Forumite
    1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    Doubt this'll help as there are so many fab ideas already posted but I always skip doing a starter, or just have dpis in teh living room before the actual meal & have a cheese & fruit course at the end instead, it always impresses people for some reason plus it doesn't take any preperation, unlike a starter!!
    Post Natal Depression is the worst part of giving birth:p

    In England we have Mothering Sunday & Father Christmas, Mothers day & Santa Clause are American merchandising tricks:mad: Demonstrate pride in your heirtage by getting it right please people!
  • Debt_Free_Chick
    Debt_Free_Chick Posts: 13,276 Forumite
    10,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    Here's Delia's Chocolate Bread & Butter Pudding

    http://www.deliaonline.com/recipes/r_0000001036.asp

    It only needs cream, or if you prefer, homemade custard, here
    http://www.deliaonline.com/recipes/r_0000000771.asp
    Warning ..... I'm a peri-menopausal axe-wielding maniac ;)
  • Glad
    Glad Posts: 18,927 Senior Ambassador
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Mortgage-free Glee! Name Dropper
    How about roasted seasonal veg with herbs e.g. turnip, carrot, onion, potato, swede, broccoli. Toss in oil, season with salt & pepper, mix with a little oil & herbs of choice. Roast in oven at a fairly high temperature

    :)

    I use this a lot, another mix I use is red onions, peppers, courgettes tossed in garlic and oil with cherry tomatoes added fro last 10 mins,

    using a lowfat spray oil makes it even healthier :j
    I am a Senior Forum Ambassador and I support the Forum Team on the Wales, Small Biz MoneySaving, In My Home (includes DIY) MoneySaving, and Old style MoneySaving boards. Please note that Ambassadors are not moderators. Any posts you spot in breach of the Forum Rules should be reported via the report button, or by emailing forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com.All views are my own and not the official line of MoneySavingExpert.
  • Bogof_Babe
    Bogof_Babe Posts: 10,803 Forumite
    How about roasted seasonal veg with herbs e.g. turnip, carrot, onion, potato, swede, broccoli. Toss in oil, season with salt & pepper, mix with a little oil & herbs of choice. Roast in oven at a fairly high temperature

    :)

    Hi DFC - sounds lovely but I know my limitations! I will be flapping around like a blue a*sed fly just trying to co-ordinate the simple plan. Also with two casseroles of lamb and one of lasagne I will be a bit pushed for oven space, what with the garlic bread etc. as well.

    Sigh... I wish I was organized :(. It always seems so easy on Ready Steady Cook! :rotfl:
    :D I haven't bogged off yet, and I ain't no babe :D

  • What about Fajitas? Marinate some chicken with herbs - cinammon, oregano, cayenne pepper and some lime juice and then fry with peppers, onions etc. Always a favourite with family and friends in our house. I must admit I buy the wraps and would recommend the Asda ones.
  • savingmum
    savingmum Posts: 72 Forumite
    A h/m lentil, carrot and potato soup goes down well and is very cheap as a starter - can also be made the day before

    If you want a dish that looks good on the table do a chicken bake with condensed mushroom soup (if you have some dried tarragon this goes well with it) with onions, mushrooms and cooked pasta topped with a crispy topping made from weetabix or crumbled branflakes mixed with some grated cheese serve from the dish on the table - side veg dishes such as carrot, brocolli and sweetcorn make a lovelu colouful platter. We are veggie so I do this dish with quorn pieces.

    Desert - Some crumbled up meringue nests with value peaches over - top off with some thick apricot/peach yogurt or peach & apple crumble with value ice cream
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