Dinner Party ideas?!

studentbear

Can't beat a pavlova for dessert! A giant meringue, topped with whipped cream and seasonal fruit. They are very impressive to serve, easy to make and delicious! Use Delia Smith's recipe- it never ever fails. Wouldn't be more than 3 pounds if you use seasonal fruit.

ka7e

Peppers stuffed with rice are lovely, but VERY filling!

I buy cheap savoury rice, cook as per instructions with a handful of frozen peas. While that's cooking, fry a finely-chopped onion, the pepper trimmings and a couple of finely-chopped mushrooms in a little butter and/or olive oil. Tip the cooked rice into the cooked veg and mix thoroughly. It's a great flavour and the fat stops the rice getting dried out in the peppers.

vij

Stuffed courgette rings may be cheaper and can be dressed up more, another cheap starter would be a HM pate (tuna or chicken liver) with HM rolls

if you can avoid grains in your starter you could use cous cous or rice as your starch with the main (this always looks impressive if you pack it into a ramekin and turn it out as a moulded shape if its a cooler day mashed potatoes could be nice.

kunekune

If you do make sauted potatoes, cook them in advance and let them cool. When it's time to fry them, get the olive oil hot and add some salt to the oil before you put the potatoes in. It seems to get them crispier. Another nice thing with pork is some caramelised apple slices - peel and slice the apples, cook in butter with some sugar that you allow to melt to make a sauce.

For pudding, how about a warm upside down cake with cream, since the main isn't creamy. For a first course, rather than stuffing the peppers, roast them and make roast pepper and tomato soup, maybe croutons rather than lots of bread. It'll be much lighter.

Emstick14

Thankyou for all your ideas. I am so indecisive that I I just don't know what to choose and what to serve with what but will have to sort something soon!

Am liking the idea of peppers filled with cous cous but am now unsure incase they are really that filling Hmmmmmm! I aslo have a very fussy OH so catering aroundhim is stressful enough:rolleyes:

Thanks again!

Bogof_Babe

HM soup
Lasagne with salad and garlic bread
Cheesecake

All preparable in advance, just need to re-heat the soup and lasagne, and pop the garlic bread in the oven for ten minutes.

nanokitten

At this time of year a good pub which is not too heavy is to roast fruit in the oven, nectraines, peaches, plums and pears all work best (which ever is on offer quite a good way to use up cheap fruit which never quite ripens) cut into halves or quarters, de-stone, peel if you want to. sprinkle with sugar or honey and a knob of butter, tin foil, in the oven 180 ish till they're really soft, serve with cheap ice cream, cream, creme fraishe or yogurt depending on preference / waistline. You can also do it in the microwave (minus the tin foil, use a saucer instead)

nic_santorini

This is a long shot, but any ideas for a 3 course meal for 6 on Saturday, obviously on a budget a £5 per head, would have done dine for a tenner at marks and sparks but there not blooming do it this weekend!!!arrrggghh

help, going to the supermarket tomorrow. What have you done that has been a success and isn't too pinickity.

Thanks

Mags_cat

What are you good at?

Can you, for example, handle the timing for a roast + trimmings main course?

Would you rather do a special one-pot wonder main course?

Is for omnivores/veggies/vegans or a combination?

Any food allergies/issues?

Give us a bit more info and someone will be back with marvellous ideas

zippychick

Hi Nic! I'm sure you can manage it. First of all, can you give us an idea what other bits you have in your cupboards and fridge /freezer? And herbs/spices/tins/veg etc

I made a big roast dinner and fresh victoria sponge on sunday for 3 for about 10 quid because of store cupboard