Three Course Dinner For 4 for £10 - Can you do it?

jackel

F C - Can't wait to try your crackling method. Tried dozens of ways none are really 'like mother used to make' Hope this works. Thanks. jac.xx

Butterfly_Brain

I get the best crackling from the joints that I get from the farm.
Supermarket joints resist all attempts to crackle.

My menu would be

Stuffed mushrooms

Spanish chicken and chorizo bake with rosemary new potatoes and broccoli, spinach or kale. I use chicken thighs for the best taste

HM Creme Brulee

jackyann

I think that all of these sound lovely.
My favourite "cheapies" are either slow cooked cheap roasts: belly pork (done with a bit of soy sauce & sherry vinegar) and brisket in peas. I also think that everyone (except veggies) enjoys a good stew.
I also have a very favourite that won't be everyone's cup of tea, but "seems" more expensive than it is: pheasant (£4 a brace, to feed 4) cooked in red Martini (now that my mum's left-overs have finally gone, I use Lidli's cheapest)

If you have a source of cheap apples, then baked apples go down a treat, but supermarket Bramleys are not cheap!

For a lot of busy people, a proper home-cooked meal is a real treat.

questionss

Starter - carrot & coriander soup
Main - either fajitas (chicken or frying steak cut in strips, onion, peppers) with iceberg, salsa, natural yogurt.
Or cottage pie, with veggies.
Or tagliatelle with a smoked salmon & asparagus sauce if it's in season.
Dessert - baked banana with vanilla icecream & toblerone sauce (melt small toblerone and mix with cream)
Or strawberries if in season

Fruball

I would make:

Starter. Minestrone soup (tinned toms, ham stock, all the veg and broken spaghetti)

Main. Chicken and mushroom risotto OR Tagliatelle with chopped bacon, courgette ribbons, shallots and mushrooms, creme fraiche and parmesan.

Dessert. A simple tiramisu style dessert with rum/marsala/baileys/whatever I might have in (boudoir biscuits, coffee, whipped cream and marscapone layered in a wine glass)

OR

Starter. HM Leek and potato soup with grilled cheese on slices of baguette

Main. Chicken casserole with roast potatoes and green veg

Dessert. Frozen berries (defrosted) layered with whipped cream and icing sugar (in wine glass again)

Never_Enough_Money

Thanks for all your suggestions, I am def going to try them, I always dread having people over for dinner as I can't decide what to cook and spend ages looking at recipe books to carry on and always cook the same old things. Or I give in and buy expensive ready made things to pop in the oven. So now I have gots lots of new inspiration :j

pickledonionspaceraider

I would do

Starter - paprika, lentil and basil soup
Main - Lasagne and garlic bread
Desert - Apple pie and custard