| MangeTout |
| (member) |
| 04/09/2008 09:31 |
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Okay, so if I have a dinner party, what should I cook...
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...that I can assemble in the early part of the day, is not too difficult and will not spoil if my guests are late.
Three courses needed so please could you give me your favourite, fail safe dinner party/supper recipe.
And what do you do to really put your guests at ease and ensure they have a great evening. I've been watching 'Come Dine with Me' and I've seen lots of things go wrong! Eating dinner at nearly midnight was one thing!
Look forward to your replies.
| nella |
| (member) |
| 04/09/2008 09:45 |
Re: Okay, so if I have a dinner party, what should I cook...
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Here's what I do.
Starter - a)three different kinds of melon slices always good.
b)salad with slice of terrine and brown bread
Main - some form of stew/casserole. If lamb stew, serve with couscous and green veg. Carrots and parsnips in the gravy.
If beef stew, lots of mash and greens with the carrots as above.
Dessert - Fresh fruit salad with ice cream or sorbet or, if you have time the previous day, lemon posset (Gary Rhodes recipe) or syllabub.
Then fill up on cheese with bread and biscuits.
All easy peasy and not too expensive. Enjoy!
| Janmac |
| (member) |
| 04/09/2008 10:29 |
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Re: Okay, so if I have a dinner party, what should I cook...
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My easy menu is :
Home made terrine - made earlier and frozen - served with gooseberry chutney and some salad leaves
Cod with a lemon, parsley and garlic crumb top. Make the crumb top earlier and add to the fish. Keep in the fridge to set before cooking whlst the guests are eating their starter. Serve with little roast potatoes and mixed green veg- beans, mange tout etc. You can par boil the potatoes and then put them into a hot oven dish with oil and salt when you guests arrive . By the time the fish and veg are done , they will be lovely and crunchy. Serve the fish with some home-made tartare sauce- good mayo, finely chopped gherkins, shallots and capers.
dessert - home made lemon meringue pie with cream or another prepared cold dessert.
All easy , quick and delicious!!
| MangeTout |
| (member) |
| 04/09/2008 11:01 |
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Re: Okay, so if I have a dinner party, what should I cook...
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Mmm. Perhaps nella and janmac should both host a dinner party and invite me!
| Brenda1948 |
| (member) |
| 04/09/2008 11:07 |
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Re: Okay, so if I have a dinner party, what should I cook...
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My easy menu is:
Starter - selection from the deli counter (artichoke hearts, sun dried tomato etc etc) with fresh crusty bread
Main - either a fish pie, which can be made the day before and kept in the fridge, or made the weekend before and frozen, served with whatever vegetables are in season, or
some sort of casserole, served with swede and potato mash and a green vegetable
Pudding - in winter, some sort of crumble, which can be made in advance, and served with cream or custard (and I've never met a man yet who didn't love custard!); in summer, strawberries or raspberries.
I usually serve just one or two different cheeses, and have something delicious to go with coffee.
| anne1005 |
| (member) |
| 04/09/2008 11:46 |
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Re: Okay, so if I have a dinner party, what should I cook...
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My easy menu is
Starter - Tomato, onion, greek feta and basil salad - drizzle with a little good olive oil & a grind of black pepper served with fresh walnut bread
Main - Lasagne & salad or a casserole served with lots of fresh steamed veg - if done it electric steamer can be left keeping hot. Sometimes serve rack of lamb too.
Pudding - homemade crumble & custard or fruit pie & icecream or if i'm really busy - one of M&S delish puds!!!(cheating but hey!!)
A small cheese board with grapes & celery and finally, Guatemala Elephant(Whittards) freshly brewed coffee and a bit of something chocolaty
Anne xx
| kate1 |
| (member) |
| 04/09/2008 13:36 |
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Re: Okay, so if I have a dinner party, what should I cook...
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Hi,
We do this a lot, and I'm all for getting organized hours before.
Will pm you with ideas, as it's the recipes you need, not a description of what people do!
| susieblue |
| (member) |
| 04/09/2008 13:45 |
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Re: Okay, so if I have a dinner party, what should I cook...
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Do something easy, that can be prepared in advance, even frozen and defrosted on the day, so you are not slaving away in the kitchen and missing out. It's you they have come to see, dinner is a bonus. Enjoy!
| MangeTout |
| (member) |
| 04/09/2008 13:57 |
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Re: Okay, so if I have a dinner party, what should I cook...
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I really appreciate all your advise and recipe ideas ladies. Thanks so much. Can't wait to have your PM, Kate1.
Thanks again everyone.
| kate1 |
| (member) |
| 04/09/2008 14:13 |
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Re: Okay, so if I have a dinner party, what should I cook...
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Mange Tout,
Thought I'd sent it...check your inbox now and let me know if it's floating in cyberspace!
| MangeTout |
| (member) |
| 04/09/2008 14:15 |
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Re: Okay, so if I have a dinner party, what should I cook...
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No, kate1, nothing there. :-(
| kate1 |
| (member) |
| 04/09/2008 17:12 |
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Re: Okay, so if I have a dinner party, what should I cook...
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Mange Tout,
Arrrrgghhh! That means I have to write the whole thing out again.......oh, well, will do!
| kate1 |
| (member) |
| 04/09/2008 17:30 |
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Re: Okay, so if I have a dinner party, what should I cook...
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Mange Tout,
Have sent it again!
| MangeTout |
| (member) |
| 05/09/2008 12:52 |
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Re: Okay, so if I have a dinner party, what should I cook...
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Thanks for writing it all out again. I appreciate the time it took to do that for me. I will try and reciprocate with a recipe when I have thought of one! You are so much better at this than me, kate1!
| kate1 |
| (member) |
| 05/09/2008 13:12 |
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Re: Okay, so if I have a dinner party, what should I cook...
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It was a pleasure...love swapping recipes.I find the tried and tested recipes from friends are much better than the ones from books.....so, come on, think!
I'm trying out a new cheesecake recipe for Saturday...YS and his new girlfriend, whom we haven't met yet are coming for dinner.
Will let you know what they are like...cheesecake and girlfriend!