What can I make my friends for lunch?!

Nicki

With a new baby in tow, something which can be eaten hot, cold or lukewarm is usually appreciated.

My standby for this kind of occasion is usually a quiche or tart (can be shop bought) with a nice salad. A good one is a bag of posh salad leaves with little mozzarella balls and some halved figs in, dressed with balsamic vinegar, which is simple but looks special. Add some crusty bread and a pud (which could also be shop bought) and Bob's your uncle.

tea_lover

I'd go for something like lasagne which I could mostly prepare in advance then just stick in the oven when I know they're nearby. That, with some nice crusty bread and a big salad.

Idiophreak

...or something lighter, with cake or scones to follow. Most things are improved by the addition of cake

northern_at_heart

Wow, thanks everyone! Some great ideas there *tummy rumbles*.

I suppose a pasta/lasagne dish or similar with some garlic bread and salad would be OK, just wasn't sure if that was weird for lunch! Will go for that, I think. Or perhaps a roast chicken with bread or new potatoes and salad ... yum...

Mayflower10cat

A very easy favourite of ours is.... baked camembert with bread to dip/crudites/etc. Buy a nice whole camembert (our favourite brand is Le Rustique, often on special offer at Sainsburys) wrap in baking parchment and then foil, bake for around 30 minutes at about 190-200c. Take out, open up the package, stick in middle of table and allow everyone to dip bread and bits into the yummy, gooey, cheesy 'fondue'... Works as a starter for say, six guests, or a main for say 3-4 depending on how hungry they are. Another very tasty main or starter is Spanish Fritatta (or tortilla) new potatoes & onions fried in olive oil until soft, pour in beaten eggs and cook until semi firm, finish under the grill. Lovely cold, or can be gently reheated.

Seanymph

I would give them a main meal - after all, if they have to travel back they won't want to stop for dinner on the way...

But I'd do something that was preprepared and I could 'voila' at the appropriate time - shepherds pie with steamed vegetables? Then all you have to do is switch the oven on and click the steamer.

Slow cooked casserole? Throw in some potatoes with an hour to go and serve with bread?

Roast chicken with baked potatoes and salad?

Something you can neglect but filling and cooked would be my approach.

Spendless

Nicki wrote: »

With a new baby in tow, something which can be eaten hot, cold or lukewarm is usually appreciated.

Anything that fitted the above would get my vote. I remember the days of eating lukewarm food one handed cos the baby had woken up and needed attention.

NBirdy

Maybe go lightly on the garlic in the garlic bread if mum is breastfeeding

LondonDiva

How about a sort of Eton mess for pud?

You just buy in a nice tub of Rachael's Greek yogurt, drizzle in some honey (or be frivolous and buy the honey version I can't bring my purse to buy!); break in some meringues and add blueberries & raspberries. When i make this for an event, I tend to use frozen raspberries and blueberries as Tesco sell three for a fiver & works out really cheap.

Its fantastic and v morish, tasting like a lot more effort than it is.

cottonhead

I know you said no pasta but actually I think thats a good idea. Everyone likes pasta and its cheap and easy. Make some pasta and put it i a big dish in the centre of the table so everyone can dig in. Make a salad and garlic bread too and some olives on the side. That way everyone can have as much or as little as they want. Oh I am hungry now..... !