OH Boss coming for Dinner

Lizzybop

This is my first post on the OS board, so a big hello to everyone!!

I'm looking for some ideas, and hope that someone can help.

My OH has told me that his boss is going to be 'up' all next week (Boss works from office in different area). Well OH wants to invite him round for dinner one day. Don't have a problem with this but am stuck for what to cook for him.

We aren't really dinner party people, and I don't have a large range of stuff which I cook over and above what I normally do for the family. OH says that boss would happily eat whatever we normally eat - but I would like to make a good impression.

Does anyone have any ideas????

All suggestions greatfully recieved.

Thanks

carole.uk

what about a roast chicken dinner then you can use the left overs for other meals, i think things like stews with separate dumplings and bread, pasta dishes with salad, curry and rice aways go down well , you could make a large pot and just put on the table for people to serve themselves i would keep it very informal he might be more nervous about it than you. just a thought you might want to check out he his not a veggie,vegan or allergic to anything

maypole

Well forget about "posh" dinner party food and do something welcoming and delicious. My favourite at the moment if I get company, is a sausage casserole using good quality farm shop sausages I usually do about 4 per person and of course there is usually some left overs but better too much than too few.

I brown the sausages in the oven first slowly. I caramelise a couple of chopped onions in butter in a pan with a clove of garlic so they are nice and sweet, then add flour and cook for a minute or two so that you cook out the flour taste. Add beef stock to that, bring to the boil and let bubble to reduce slightly that gives flavour. I always add a small capful of cider vinegar. I also add a little gravy browning NOT THICKENER, just to give colour. Add a tin of chopped tomatoes a pinch of oregano or basil, black pepper and salt if you like. I add the sausage to this and put in the oven for about 40 mins till all the flavours mingle. let it rest before serving. I serve this in a large dish on the table so they can take what they want. Lovely mash and and vegetables to go with it. It has never failed to please. But you must get good sausages. You can also add a tin of cannelini beans or something like that just to bulk it out. I have even used kidney beans.

The above poster is right, he might be more nervous than you, just tell him he doesn't have to stand on ceremony and dig in. good luck with whatever you do.

Lizzybop

Carole and maypole thank you for your replies.

Good thinking about checking if he is veggie/vegan etc....

Love the sound of the sausage casserole recipie might just try it. Confidence in my own cooking ability is not high!

Have recently discovered a fantastic butcher who does great sausages (fantastic joints for roasting too!)

Once again thank you

CRANKY40

If he's away from home for a week he will probably be eating all sorts of food, and would be grateful for a decent home cooked meal. Look upon it as you doing him a favour and feeding him won't seem so scary.

Jennifer_Jane

Agree with Carole about checking with his PA to find out if he has any dietary restrictions. I ordered a lunch for people without checking and my boss's boss was unable to eat anything as he is allergic to sweet peppers and everything (a posh buffet) had been sent up with sweet peppers - and another person had a gluten/dairy/protein (or something) allergy and it was just absolutely awful. I still hang my head in shame!

As Cranky says, he will be delighted with homemade food rather than hotel food, so I am sure he'll be pleased with whatever you do for him.

Good luck
Jen
x

razra

rather than try and cook something new, I would be inclined to stick with an old recipe that I know works every time and you know the family likes (nothing more embarrassing than Jnr piping up errgghh whats this LOL)

Sods law says the first time I try a new recipe to impress someone it doesn't work!

If he usually eats out all the time he will probably be grateful for good home cooked normal food. I know when I have to go away with work I always want beans on toast etc cos you just cant get it when youre away from home in hotels LOL

Squiggly_Diddly

I don't do "posh" entertaining very much (in face, once in a blue moon!) but something that I would cook, & think is easy, & tasty is lamb steaks in red wine & redcurrant sauce.

Slice a red onion & fry gently until soft. You can also include sliced mushrooms if you like. Remove from pan. Fry lamb steaks until nicely browned on each side. Add red wine (a glassful?), and a couple of spoonfuls of redcurrant jelly, and put onion/mushroom back into pan. Add a bit of gravy as well as it helps "richen" the sauce. Difficult to say how much - maybe about half the amount of wine. Simmer for 10 mins or so to let sauce reduce a bit.

Serve with rice or mash, or new potatoes. Or jacket potatoes. and so on...

Really tasty & really easy.

niccy

get him to come by taxi,ply him with loads of booze,then get other half to ask for pay rise:rotfl:

you could get him to pick up a KFC bargain bucket on the way:T

dorry_2

My favourite recipe to make is Nigella's green thai chicken curry with brown rice and nans
http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=662102 the recipe is here, she calls it curry in hurry! Just make it before he arrives and warm it whilst you put the rice on and nans in the oven.

I used dried corriander, not fresh as recipe says, but did not make any difference to the taste!

This recipe won't let you down, it's dead easy to make and will impress!! I made it for hubby's work friend and he raved on and on about it!!!:D

maypole

Lizzybop wrote: »

Carole and maypole thank you for your replies.

Good thinking about checking if he is veggie/vegan etc....

Love the sound of the sausage casserole recipie might just try it. Confidence in my own cooking ability is not high!

Have recently discovered a fantastic butcher who does great sausages (fantastic joints for roasting too!)

Once again thank you

When you think of a dish to do, why not do a test run first on your family before he comes to dinner, then if you think it is ok, that's what you can give him! Good idea though to check if there is anything he CAN'T eat.

You know you could just always do whatever is your family favourite. I think we all sometimes try too hard to please other people, getting the table just right or whatever, he will probably feel more comfortable if you just be yourself and don't try TOO hard to impress, just make him welcome.