Dinner Party ideas?!

MrsE_2

empy wrote: »

Hi all, It has been sprung upon me that we are having some friends joining us for dinner tommorow. We went to theirs a few weeks ago and had an amazing 3 course dinner of crab cakes on a bed of salad, beef wellie and chocolate souffle for desert all homemade by my friend - now the thing is I want to create a wonderful 3 course meal too, she is very competative(still lover her loads though) so I want something that looks great, easyish to cook( novice cook ) and tastes fab.

I am not overly worried about a budget, say £60 for all three courses, if cheaper great ( we used to go out with this couple every Sat, spending in excess of £150:eek: on dinner, so £60 is very money saving lol)

I am not too keen on fish so no fish please, Chicken, beef, pork, Lamb would be great. I hope you could give me some ideas, I have looked on the internet but have bo idea what to serve with what to be honest.

Any help will be most gratefully recieved and very much appreciated.

empy

Smoked salmon & some Irish brown soda/wheaten bread to start:D
Or is fish off for starter too?
If so how about breaded/battered fried Camembert, with a fruity chutney or berry sauce on the side.
My fav starter is a simple Caesar salad:drool:

How about a crown of lamb cutlets for the main, always looks good;)

Summer pudding & clotted cream for pudding:drool:

You can posh it up with some nice petite fours to go with your after dinner coffee & maybe some tiny canap!s & an aperitif when they arrive.

HariboJunkie

I would go for decent, fresh ingredients cooked simply. The following are some of my dinner party favourites.

Starter:- Goat's cheese and chorizo salad with cherry toms and balsamic dressing.

Main:- Chicken breasts stuffed with roquefort cheese and wrapped in prosciutto ham with mashed potato and spring onion and seasonal veg (purple sprouting brocolli, spinach and kale)

Pud:- Individual tiramisu.

Have fun. x

nunnygirl

Haribojunkie, I was going to suggest a main like that! You've read my mind!


Shame you aren't into fish empy, cause I have a parma wrapped cod dish that I think is GORGE!

HariboJunkie

nunnygirl wrote: »

Haribojunkie, I was going to suggest a main like that! You've read my mind!


Shame you aren't into fish empy, cause I have a parma wrapped cod dish that I think is GORGE!

If fish hadn't been off the menu I was going to suggest the cod too. I got some yellow stickered proscuitto yesterday so it's on my menu plan for one day next week.

kjmtidea

I have a recipe for a raspberry cheesecake, it tastes and looks amazing and actually tastes better if chilled for 24 hours so you can make it the day before. It is baked raspberry cheesecake on goodfood.

For a starter I absolutely love prawn and avocado salad, so simple but yet delicious.

Quillion

Rikki wrote: »

Cheese cakes are easy to make and are a nice desert.

I can agree i have a recipie for abaked one and it tastes just like the American style ones xx PM ME FOR IT

empy

Hi all, many,many thanks for your meal ideas and recipes.I have finally decided what I am going to cook, after an paniced phonecall to my father who is a master chef(I unfortunatley have not inherited his cuisine talents), he did offer to come and cook it for me, I want to prepare it myself though. So anyways I have decided to cook Potatoes dauphinoise with 7 hour leg of lamb in a white wine type of sauce, not sure what veggies to serve with it though? any ideas! followed by individual chocolate torte type thingys. I am still stuck on a starter, would a simple Veg soup with fresh homemade rolls be ok? Any suggestions would again be gratefully received. Quillion I am now going to PM you for that cheese cake recipe for pudding after dinner tommorow.

Again thank you for all your help, I will be using your idea's in the future as I think this will turn into a bi weekly event, we also entertain alot for church, however it is usally sunday roast, which is sooo much easier.

empy

Quillion

Base
9 oz digestives biscuits crushed
4 1/2 oz butter melted

Filling
8 oz caster sugar
3 tablespoons cornflour
1 1/2 lb philadelphia (can use light)
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla extract or grated zest of half a lemon or a lime
10fl oz whipping cream
3 oz sultanas (optional)

Topping
15oz Can of cherries in syrup
1/2 tblsp cornflour

Line a 9" springform cake tin with baking parchment / paper
Heat oven to 180 Deg C /Gas 4

1. Mix together biscuit and butter and pressinto lined tin.
2. Mix sugar and cornflour and beat in the cream cheese . Add vanilla or lemon / lime juice and zest. and beat till smooth.
3. Slowly whisk in the cream until mixture has thickened.
4. Stir in sultanas (if using) and pour over biscuit base.
5. Bake in oven for 1 hour.
6. Allow to cool.

Topping
1. Drain cherries and save 4fl oz syrup
2. Mix cornflour with 1 tblsp syrup and pour remaining syrup into the bowl.
3. Stir in the cornflour mixture and bring to boil stirring until thick. Allow to cool
4. Decorate the top of the cheesecake with the cherries in a cicle pattern and pour over the syrup.
5 Keep in fridge and remove from tin just before serving.

I hope you enjoy this. I don't usually do the topping but for a special meal it makes a change. I usually use a 1/2 lemon and half a lime but the zest from both. This makes a nice refreshing dessert.

Quillion

empy wrote: »

Hi all, many,many thanks for your meal ideas and recipes.I have finally decided what I am going to cook, after an paniced phonecall to my father who is a master chef(I unfortunatley have not inherited his cuisine talents), he did offer to come and cook it for me, I want to prepare it myself though. So anyways I have decided to cook Potatoes dauphinoise with 7 hour leg of lamb in a white wine type of sauce, not sure what veggies to serve with it though? any ideas! followed by individual chocolate torte type thingys. I am still stuck on a starter, would a simple Veg soup with fresh homemade rolls be ok? Any suggestions would again be gratefully received. Quillion I am now going to PM you for that cheese cake recipe for pudding after dinner tommorow.
empy

I would perhaps serve carrots and gorgette chopped very small like matchsticks or broccoli and cauliflower just thinking of the colours after all we do eat with our eyes

I decided to put the recipie on here so everyone can benefit hope you enjoy it.

paigexstewart

Hi guys,

I have to cook for 6 people one day next week. I am aiming to spend £10.

I have looked at other threads, but nothing seems to be too impressive. I dont want to serve corned beef hash!

Any ideas would be great, thanks. x