Ok, so 9, yes 9 for dinner tommorow, what do you think of this menu?

[Carmenere]

Dp has a colleague from Japan coming to stay with us and it is his birthday so dp has invited a few? mutual friends over.

Basically I have a really small kitchen but am a pretty good cook and have devised the menu below:

Samosa?s and bahji?s(bought) for starters served with raita and chutney(home made)

Goan king Prawn curry
Bengali chicken with mustard seeds
Spinach and chickpea curry
Goan coconut chutney
Steamed rice (all home made)
Naan bread(bought)

Chocolate birthday cake(home made)

All served with lots of beer

My reasoning is that I can make most of the curries in advance and I can buy good quality samosas and bahjis in the local asian wholesalers, and it will be easy to serve.

But would anyone mind if the starters were bought?

[SSShakeTheChi]

Who would know that they are bought?

Not sure if I would have chocolate cake straight after the curries and beer. Perhaps some light dessert and then the chocolate cake and coffee a bit later on.

No doubt that was your plan anyway, right? That's all that springs to mind. Sounds yummy all round.

[womblingalong]

Hi,

sounds delish, I don't think anyone would notice that the starters were not homemade, especially if you are going to fry them yourself & do homemade chutneys. Can I come?

Happy Coooking

WA

[compo]

Nobody would mind if the starters were bought definitely.
Sounds yum to be but do you know if they're all ok with hot food? I only ask becaude it would be my Dad and sister's idea of a nightmare!!!

[ComeOVeneer]

Sounds good. I wouldn't mind at allif the starters were bought.. Actually that reminds me, I have 10 for lunch on Sunday, best have a think about what to make.

[Hulababy]

Sounds great. If you don't tell anyone they are shop bought, would they necessarily nknow for certain anyway?

[TeeCee]

Think it sounds lovely.

What strength are the 2 main dishes? I'd say to try and do one mild and one medium hot, unless you know your guests like their curries hot.

Don't see any problem with buying a few bits ready made at all.

[Gingerbear]

Can you make room for one more?]
Sounds lovely.

Agree about choc cake though - might be too much. Perhaps serve much later? Or how about making some Kulfi (or buy when you buy the samosas?)

[Carmenere]

Tbh I was a bit iffy about the cake but it is his birthday and I thought I'd better do one. I'll find the lightest recipe possible, might do a type of choc mousse cake?

Yes I am going to make the curries not too spicy as I'm pretty sure most of the guests like heat (they eat a fair bit of fruity curry in Japan) but the prawn curry is a coconut base so should be ok and the veggie one isn't hot at all.

[Enid]

make a pile of chocolate brownies instead

then people can take one if they want

[princessmel]

Mmmm yummy Carnemere.

I think it sounds fab.
I don't think I could manage cake though. I'm not a very puddingy person anyway.

[sunnywong]

bloody delicious

Japanese like a bevvy or two I believe, are you going to get some Sapporo is that the stuff? or some Harp on special offer and tell them it's a local delicacy?

[Mercy]

Sounds great

Could you post the recipe for the Bengali chicken when you have a mo'. Thanks.

[Mercy]

Asahi is good too.

[Carmenere]

Somebody said recently that Sapporo over here is just harp. Dp is a beer nut so will I'm sure provide a selection. And yes apparently he does like a bevvy or two!

[Carmenere]

I meant that Harp make Sapporo over here and it is more or less identical

[sunnywong]

really??????
it's all in the packaging innit

I will be emailing you the menu for the ACDC memorial gig I 'm working on on friday

off to a Himalayan restaurant now xxx

[Gingerbear]

You must post the recipes missus or we shall hound you forever.

[Gingerbear]

Bloody Nora Sunny, THAT is a long way to go for dinner!

[Carmenere]

lol GB
There is a Nepalese restaurant near us that is pretty fab, must be somewhat similiar I would think. Or is it just curried yak and yak butter in tea although I suppose us putting milk in our tea must seem boak to the Chinese and Japanese.

[Gingerbear]

Think sunny has gone - she has a backpack and hiking boots to get ready for her long trek.

What does Yak taste like? Or Yak butter come to that.

[Carmenere]

No idea but I believe it is very fatty because they need it to keep warm up there.

Please do email me the dead rockers menu. I was telling dp about you doing the ACDC gig and he was most impressed. They were on the tv at teh time.

[sunnywong]

They didn't offer Yak Butter in Applecross

we had lamb braised with spinach and chicken dumplings

schweet

[Carmenere]

Right here is the Bengali mustard chicken recipe, dontcha just love the Mad Hoor!
here

[Carmenere]

And this is the chocolate cake I am going to do but I am going to put cream and raspberries in the middle and baileys in the icing.

[Gingerbear]

How did it go, oh hostess with the mostess?