Dinner Party ideas?!

chocolatepennyfarthing

Looking for some dinner party inspiration. Will be 4 adults and 4 children. No fish please, would ideally like something that can make day before or maybe something that is a one pot recipee. Have already done chilli, curry, moussaka before so running out of ideas. Need starter and main but will buy desserts.

poppyoscar_3

Went to a friends for supper the other night - she stuck a camembert in the oven in its box, and served it with warm ciabatta for the starter. Was lush! Easy too!!

morwenna

poppyoscar wrote: »

Went to a friends for supper the other night - she stuck a camembert in the oven in its box, and served it with warm ciabatta for the starter. Was lush! Easy too!!

I saw Nigel Slater do that once - he pricked the top of the cheese and poured a little white wine over before baking.

I usually do Nigella's ham in coke recipe for guests. Kids love it too.

Boodle

Last time we had people around we did a "Mexican" evening. Basically, tortilla chips and HM dips for starters. Then for main, stuck a plate of flour tortillas out with a roasted chicken, roasted peppers and onions, chunks of avocado, some HM salsa, salad leaves with coriander in them, and a sort of soured cream made with yoghurt/mayo mixed as is cheaper. We had lime ice cream after.

daleigha

what about a lasagne? i usually make this when friends are coming round - you could have it all cooked, cheese on top etc, and just pop it in the oven for 45 minutes or so before you need it, and just serve with a baguette & some salad?

xx

Jem8472

The melted cheese for a started would be a great idea.

Sausage casserole is always great I find. Nice and easy to do, very good in the slow cooker.
Toad in the hole and mash.

chunky79

You could make a spaghetti bolognese, this is always best made the day before. I have only recently started doing it this way myself, it was recommended to my partner by a work colleague who is from Italy. It does tatse different.
I blend up tomatoes with a red pepper and orange pepper and i also add chopped back bacon. Gorgeous, served with garlic ciabatta.

annelouise_2

Chicken wrapped in parma ham served with pasta pesto and garlic bread.

Flatten chicken breasts in between 2 layers of clingfilm,pop blob tom puree,dash crushed garlic.Roll up ,roll slice of parma ham or bacon and secure with cocktail stick.

Sear in hot pan on all sides then finish in oven on medium heat for 15 mins till cooked.Cool and then slice and cover in ovenproof dish till needed.

Can be frozen,defrosted then cooked covered with foil and served with spaghetti which has been drained,drizzled with oil,pesto and parmesan.
Garlic baguette.

Yummy and rather special for guests.

annelouise

nodwah

This is really easy and tasty:
Per person - 1 chicken breast, 6 or so cherry tomatoes, 1/2 red pepper, chopped, 2 inches of chorizo, sliced, 1/2 a red onion. Put it all in a roast in tin or open casserole and drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with pimenton/ paprika.
Cook in a hot oven Gas mark 6 ish for around 1/2 an hour. checking the chicken is done right.
Serve with rice or chunky bread and side salad.

floss2

I do a sausage & lentil thing...sort of a Nigella one. Puy lentils, good full-flavoured sausages, red wine, onions, garlic......cook on low for about twice as long as Nigella says! (Will add details when I get home tonight)

Baked camembert is good as a starter, then bake fresh nectarines in the oven with a dribble of brandy over them, serve with mascarpone for pud.

All can be relatively low cost too - Lidl do onions, garlic, camembert, mascarpone & nectarines, puy lentils are good value (loads in a box!) and a good butcher will be able to sell you really nice sausages.