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

liz545

scraptrap wrote:

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!

Sarah
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I tend to do something like a casserole or roast that you can start cooking and then leave to get on with it - a nice leg of roast lamb with some roast veggies or a roast chicken; or beef in ale stew. If I do a starter it's usually no more complicated than a salad or bread & olives with nice oil and balsamic to dunk. Pudding - cheese and oatcakes, with pears and chutney? Or a tub of quality icecream with a variety of things to sprinkle over - nuts, melted chocolate, crushed smarties, or espresso coffee. HTH!

Sarahsaver

I would do something like carrot and orange soup for a starter, with some hm bread rolls, main course a risotto because it is impressive but so cheap - jamie oliver's prawn pea and mint one is lovely (make sure you have the proper rice) and for dessert - retro always saves the day so why not have a trifle!
OH never cooks? He owes you for this!;) stick to things you know you do well, and maybe he could at least do one course for you. Things out of season break the ice, like I had xmas pud once in August. If you can fid out if any of the guests have any allergies. Ooh I wish I was entertaining soon... I like cooking for people.

comping_cat

My fav, easy starter is mackeral pate, served with toast (no crusts)
Its simply 1 - 2 pieces of smoked mackeral, and half a tub of ricotta cheese mashed together!!!

My fav desert is chocolate pots,
100g dark chocolate
100g butter
55g caster sugar
2 eggs
2 egg yolks
30g plain flour
tsp vanilla extract.
Mix all together, pour into ramikin pots (makes 4) and cook for 12 mins, 200C. If you make them earlier you can keep them in the fridge and cook for 14 mins.
Serve with cream, yummy!!!!

MrsTinks

Another variation of Tuna Pate is 2 tinnes of Tuna, low fat natural yoghurt and a little mayo. seasoning and mash it all together adding the yoghurt and mayo as you go till you have a consistency you like

I usually make a fish on top (I serve it in a dish that looks like a small bread tin) using chives

Otherwise I would suggest doing a soup for starters. You can make in advance and just quickly reheat and it's cheap!
Main course... I would again go for something simple that you know well. Less chance for disasters It's easy to posh up a lot of things really... lots of different veg (peas in the same dish as sweetcorn and a sprig of Basil in the middle preferably purple basil) mashed potatos with grated cheese mashed in and a little butter - decorate the dish with parsley. Buy your sauce - do something like a peppercorn sauce with chicken or steaks (or slowcook a joint to ensure total tenderness!) the sauce looks posh and no-one need know it came out of a package curtesy of Knorr
Dessert - the choices are unlimited Pancakes (made in advance and microwaved) served with icecream, fresh fruit, fruit compot (or homemade jam) or icecream and melted chocolate Again melt it in the microwave

By making the pancakes in advance you're also sure there are no "broken" ones or "scrambled" ones on the day - place a ball or two of ice cream in each pancake, roll them up and pour melted chocolate on top in a quick zigzag - you could even "dust" with icing sugar and put a sprig of mint on each plate

Jem8472

How did the party go? did you try anything suggested on here?

scraptrap

Went really well. Did the lemon curd messy thing for pud and it was SCRUMMY! But chickened out of the main and just did home made pizzas but did sweet potato wedges so it was a bit different!

Thank to everyone
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