Dinner party menu

[CustardLover]

I have got to host a dinner party for 8 people tomorrow night with a few tricky parameters:

1. I have hardly any time right before it (bedtime for DC) but will have about two hours in the morning to shop and cook.
   
2. one guest is kosher
   
3. another guest is pescatarian
   
4. another guest is nut-free
   
5. (probably least-important) I have been vaguely trying to do Slimming World and lose half a stone so it would be great to choose healthy options
   
   So obviously I have done fuck-all preparation or shopping - any ideas for a (veggie?) starter I could make tonight that will work tomorrow? And a pud? I think a fish-bake will be a good main so was thinking sea bass fillets with Greek-style veg, olives, rice etc
   
   Help! TIA

[CRbear]

Sounds like you have to go for fish! A fish lie (as long as there's no prawns in it) ? Interesting salad with sun dried toms, seeds etc? Crumble/sticky date cake with caramel sauce/ steamed pud and custard for dinner? Wintery, hearty but not too labour intensive? Good luck- sounds like a tough set of criteria! And I'm a chef...!

[CRbear]

Fish pie * of course!

[Twistmeandturnme]

Honestly? with so many limitations I'd go Indian veggie banquet.
Lots of different dishes and maybe a fish dish if you are sure everyone can eat it.
Not necessarily great for slimming world but if you make sure some of the dishes are low fat you can just pick out those ones.

[Crumbs1]

I think I'd go maybe a spiced parsnip soup to start - easy to do in advance and cheap. Then maybe seabass or brill on a lemon and herb rissotto with chilli butter atop followed by something make ahead like vanilla cheesecake with blueberry and lime compote.

[Twistmeandturnme]

I don't know enough about the kosher rules to know if fish and dairy can be eaten together (and don't know a fish pie recipe without dairy in) but am sure someone knowledgeable will be along. If it is allowed a fish pie would be lovely at this time of year.

[CRbear]

You can't mix meat and dairy but I'm pretty sure fish and dairy is ok- definitely check! It would have to use veggie cheese though

[PovertyJetset]

I would go for

Horn made mushroom pate with a small salad a toast points
Your fish main sounds delicious
Chocolate and raspberry roulade for pudding
Cheese and biscuits

Or
Beetroot and fetat salad with toasted seeds for starter
Fish
Roulade or lemon posset

[soundsystem]

Fish and dairy together is fine for someone who keeps kosher (although not all fish is kosher). Your fish main sounds lovely!

As your short of time tomorrow I'd go for a veggie soup for starter, as it can make in advance and just hear it up. And it will be lovely and warming in this weather!

[SecondaryQuandary]

I'd not do fish as it needs care when you have no time. I'd go for something veggie you can make ahead.

Pumpkin laksa - there's a Nigel Slater recipe online
Vegetarian chilli - a good JO one online
Or a veggie curry with daal perhaps

All improve with being left to develop flavour.

I'd not bother with a starter as they are all filling. Instead I might do some fuck off cheese after pudding.

[SecondaryQuandary]

Oh and re your dieting just eat the main.

[CustardLover]

Thanks so much. I've decided to go with stuffed peppers to start (a slimming world recipe with mushrooms and veggie cheese) and I can prepare them in advance. Then Jamie's fish tacos www.jamieoliver.com/recipes/fish-recipes/mexican-fish-tacos/ so I can avoid the cream / guacamole and instead have spicy rice and salsa and then a fuck off pavlova. Only question is whether I can roast the fish in advance and then warm it up or just do it when people arrive - probably the latter as it won't take long and they can all drink margaritas while they wait! Phew! And thanks a lot. I like the soup ideas and reserve the right to blend the peppers into a soup tomorrow if the weather stays so cold!