HELP pleeeease! Calling All Gordon's & Nigella's!!

scraptrap

Not sure if this is the right place to post this so apologies if I got it wrong.

My OH has invited friends round for a dinner party this Saturday. :j

My OH never cooks. :mad:

So I need to prepare a swanky dinner party pronto! :eek:

Does anyone have any fab receipe ideas that will make me look like a domestic goddess but won't break the bank? I'm an ok cook and will have a go at recipes as long as you don't need michelin stars to make it!

Thanks to anyone that can help save the day

Sarah
x

pboae

You'd be better off posting this on the 'money saving -old style' board, that's where the foodies hang out. :-)

elona

There is a thread on old style asking the same question that you just did and there are loads of ideas on there.
Might be easier to have a cold starter prepared and then a hot main course then cold dessert or cheese and biscuits etc with coffee.

scraptrap

Yeah that was me, I posted after it was suggested above but couldn'yt work out how to delete this post. Sorry!

Thanks for the suggestions

jasons_2

Here's your dessert recipe- Its one I wrote for a recipe book a couple of years ago.
Its very easy to do, and it is very, very good- (I am biased, but it is fantastic!)

Zesty Lemon Tart (serves 8)

250g (10oz) 00 flour
75g (3oz) caster sugar
pinch of salt
125g (5oz) butter (cut into small pieces)
1 egg yolk mixed with 45ml (3 tbsp) cold water
6 large eggs
175g (7oz) castor sugar
3 lemons (finely grated zest and juice
125ml single cream
icing sugar to dust

a 25cm (10inch) flan tin (lightly greased)

1. Preheat oven to 190c, 375f , gas mark 5
2. Mix flour sugar + salt. Rub butter into mixture until resembles bread crumbs.
3. Add water + egg yolk mix, use knife to bind to a stiff dough. Knead lightly on floured surface. Wrap in clingflim. Chill in fridge for 15 mins
4. Roll out pastry +use to line tin. !!!!! base with fork and bake blind for 15mins remove from oven and reduce temp to 160c, 325f gas mark 3
5. Whisk egg + sugar until creamy. Stir in lemon zest +juice, plus the cream then pour into pastry case. Bake for 35-40 mins, or until filling is springy to touch.
6. Allow to cool + dust with icing sugar.

Enjoy!

scraptrap

oooh that sounds yummy. had a couple of yummy pudding suggestions on the other thread too so now I'm spoilt for choice.

maybe i should just do 3 courses of puddings!
:bdaycake: :bdaycake: :bdaycake: :j

macchicken

For a starter do the oldie but goodie broth, i cheat, get some meat pepper it fry up, shove in a stok pot, go to freezer get all old veg (anything at all) throw in pan. Boil. Shove in hand blender.............hey presto broth.........ive no idea how it works it just does.

Keeps forever but make day or night before then just heat!

Also buy a bloomer loaf (cost about£1) put in microwavedish with lid, neuk for 10 secs.............warm bread looks home made!

Jem8472

What about a nice tuna pate?

All you need to do is:
A tin of tuna (waitrose I have found to be the best)
Drain the tuna and put in a mixing bowl, add pepper (black pepper is best)
add a good quanity of grated edam cheese (has to be edam!!!!!!!!!)
add half a diced onion, mix together well and pour some melted butter over the tuna (only a small amount)
put into a nice looking dish and fork the top so it looks nice. Serve with nice toast.
A good tip is that it tends to taste better the day after it is made.
Hope the party goes well!

janeawej

my fav starter is baked camambert think i may have put it on other thread but here goes again!

1 camambert (serves 4)

unwrap and make deep cut into top to divide into 4 but dont cut right through

in cuts put olive oil, fresh herbs, garlic salt & pepper, wrap up in tinfoil preferably with baking parchment next to cheese to stop sticking, put baci into wood case if it has one if not just wrap in an extra layer of foil

bake for 20ish mins at 180

unwrap at the table, always looks inmpressive but very cheap (dont buy expensive camcmbert tescos sown or lidl is fine, i serve with hot crusty french bread dip it in to get out the yummy melted cheese!!!!!

hilstep2000

My favourite dessert for dinner parties is Tiramisu.
Serves 8
24 sponge fingers
5tbsp dark spirit (brandy, rum or ameretto)
1tbsp caster sugar
400ml coffee (Instant is fine)
200g carton fresh custard
2x 250g mascarpone cheese
1tbsp icing sugar
grated chocolate, or cocoa powder

Put sponge fingers in dish, spoon over booze, caster sugar and coffee, leave to soak.
Mix custard, icing sugar and marscapone cheese together, beat till creamy. Put on top of sponge fingers
Sprinkle grated chocolate or cocoa over top.
Put in fridge till you're ready to serve it.

You can make individual ones if you prefer. It takes about 10 minutes to prepare and assemble, and I've never had a complaint yet!

Blairweech

Coq au vin is always impressive at a dinner party.

See here for Delia'a recipe.

Or you could use beef and call it beef bourguignon

How about Tomato and Mozarella Tapenade for a starter? It's like a posh mini pizza.

I usually do something 'homely' as a pudding for a dinner party - apple pie, syrup sponge etc because I've yet to meet someone who doesn't like it!