Mothers Day Meal

Dave_liverpool

I've boldly invited some family for Mothers Day lunch but its this sunday as we have another celebration on Mothering Sunday.

This is an unknown venture for me (and the OH) to be truthful and I'm a little daunted but its feel fear and do it anyway moment.

I have 6 or 7 coming, or rather to feed as 2 are already here, I'm not doing starters as usually its too much tbh.

So I've decided on Steak & Kidney pie ( with guiness) cooked in the slow cooker on Sat with shallots, few carrots. I'm a cheat and will be using shop bought pastry (puff) but was wondering if I can pep that up a bit, the pastry that is.

I'm serving with dauphinoise pots, green beans and carrots.

Pud is also a cheat as a shop near to us does a wonderul toffee merangue roulade for £3! served with pouring cream.

I've practised the pots last week and was very pleased with the results.

Can I pep up the puff pastry at all, I wondered about putting cheese in.

Thanks

DW

If you think I should do a starter please speak up, but it would only be melon and strawbs as I won't have too much oven space.

adelight

I'd think the pastry will be fine as it is, if you really want you could grate some strong cheddar over the pie top. Do you have a bit of spare pastry you could try out cheese topped or cheesy patry with?

fiscalfreckles

It would be quite difficult to add anything to ready made pastry unless you just sprinkle it over the top. You could do this with cheese, or make up a glaze with beaten egg & herbs.

I'm sure plain pastry will be fine though, as the pie is quite rich (sounds lovely!)

Hope it all goes well.

Dave_liverpool

1 minor detail is I hope the weather isn't too warm! or it'll be pie and salad!

Thanks for the replies, I just read about cheesy pastry and thought I'm short changing my guests!

also I'm doing a large pie, how much steak do you think I should buy?
I will be putting small shallots (10 ish) and carrots in too.

adelight

Most recipes serve 4, so just double it to serve 8. If you're doing the stew for the pie the day before, you could cook extra to keep in the fridge to use if the pie doesn't look like enough for everyone and microwave it up before you serve the pie, otherwise it's a spare meal in the fridge for another day

ladylouise62

Well done for taking the meal on - very brave :-)

I do think that a starter makes a meal feel even more special and gets more kudos from the invitees :-) It doesn't have to be difficult, but I don't know if cost is an issue for you.
I like to have something light but tasty like salad with smoked salmon/smoked mackerel scattered over (cheaper although both need fairly little)/crumbled feta or blue cheese & walnuts. You can make the dressing the day before and prep the salad earlier in the day. Or you could go the old-fashioned way - tasty soup! :-)

Dave_liverpool

thanks ladies (or gents)

Good idea adelight about a little extra in the fridge!

I agree about the starter making the meal special! I will have a think, its not only the extra cooking (although the quick salad is good) it also the extra crockery/ cutlery needed without a washup mid meal, its things like that I stress over, is it etiquette to do a wash, could I ask a guest, or obviously the OH to wash as I no doubt will be busy.

I don't like to be out of my depth as then I stress about smaller things.

I have enough glasses for wine at meal, beer and cold drinks. I have enough cutlery for 2 courses but maybe I could soup, 6 spoons and bowls I could manage.

Thanks, sorry I'm stressing out loud!

fiscalfreckles

You could do salads in bowls, or do you have small (side) plates? I usually serve starters on those. A cold starter that you can do in advance will be the least hassle.

You could always ask everyone to keep their cutlery for the next course - its what they do in France!

shopndrop

Your guests probably won't even notice you washing up in between, I often do this and just leave them chatting. Hopefully someone will even offer to help. It certainly wouldn't bother me, I would be grateful being asked out for lunch and it being home cooked. Well done. Hope all goes well.

Dave_liverpool

Afternoon all, well having taken onboard a few suggestions from here and meal planned its a good job I was doing extra as another is on the guest list.

So I'm making a large pie and a smaller 1 incase and it can go in the freezer if not needed!

Also a slight disaster in the dessert dept, the shop has stopped doing them! Thanks! But I've been given a name of a different baker that specialises in 'homemade puds' so I will pop along there tomorrow (1st thing)

Bought ready prepared veg (green beans and batton carrots)

Feeling calmer as Mum has said shout me if you need anything, you are not to wait on us hand and foot.

If I could only find a vase for flowers my mind would stop racing! Having had a new kitchen installed last month I haven't fully unpacked yet! and I've been on a mad declutter, I'm sure I wouldn't have binned them!
OH well