Ladies lunch for 9

[WinterFirTree]

Morning!

Next week I am hosting a lunch for 9. (It's for my bookclub).

I have 9 women coming and although I love love cooking I seem to have a bit of a blank. I was thinking I could do a hot and cold buffet and buy alot of stuff in, but I am not sure how well this would go down.

My current thoughts were;

starters - charcuterie platter with melon/figs or smoked salmon / prawns
Main- lemon garlic and rosemary chicken casserole with mashed potato and tenderstem broccoli (or a couscous with dried fruit, coriander, lemon and feta cheese and a green salad)
Pudding- will have to be a waitrose bought in, their trifles or pane frangipane (however you spell it).

No-one has any dietary needs, all lean towards the healthier side of things.

I'd be grateful if people could critque my plans - offer lovely alternatives!

Many thanks. :)

That sounds lovely! Can I join?!

The only suggestion I’d make is to do something like a baked fish parcel - maybe with some fennel shavings or other veg? Could also do with chicken too. You can prep in advance and have sitting on a baking tray in the fridge. En papillote (?) they call it.

Then you get to serve out the meat/fish and veg in individual portions onto people’s plates and leave them to the rice/ mashed potato.

I speak from experience as catering for 9 by yourself is hard work!

Have a lovely lunch

Thanks!

Good idea to prep stuff in advance. I will be a bit pressed for time in the morning after the school run so need to consider what is realistic.

Wow it sounds extremely posh. I'd probably just do some sandwiches!

That's going to be a lot of work. It sounds lovely but I would be astonished to be served such a lavish meal at a lunchtime with friends.

Sadly it's the expected for the bookclub! we meet every 2 months at each other's homes in a rotation and it is always a 3 course meal. To be fair we give a glancing attention to the book and mainly drink wine.

Last time I made a full roast and it stressed me out a bit so am scaling back a bit.

(One of our wealthier members actually gets it catered.... I can't quite stretch to that!).

It sounds lovely but... I'm not a fan of buffets at the best of times & we're still dealing with covid so I discount them totally now.

Your friends might be more relaxed about buffets but it might be worth checking.

@StripeyDeckchair

It sounds lovely but... I'm not a fan of buffets at the best of times & we're still dealing with covid so I discount them totally now.

Your friends might be more relaxed about buffets but it might be worth checking.

That is a really good point that I had not considered.

Right I am changing my mind all the time.

Pudding is settled- chocolate torte and cherry and almond torte made by Mr Waitrose. With madagascan custard.

Starter - prosciutto and melon.

Main- the chicken with greek salad and a hot spinach salad with walnuts and pears and blue cheese.

No nibblies beforehand. That;s a step way too far.

One of my favourite lunches is salmon with avocado sauce. It is based on a recipe in Delia's Summer book.

It is easily adapted to 9 people.

Marinade the salmon fillets in white wine or soy sauce and bake them in the oven for about 20 minutes.

The sauce is avocado and creme fraiche, with a dash of posh vinegar to keep the avocado green. I whizz it up in the nutribullet, but you might want to use the food processor for larger quantities.

I serve it with gnocchi and a spinach/watercress/rocket salad.

Easy peasy.

I much prefer your second menu, sounds divine! As you have no carb in your starter or main, perhaps some sourdough or a flat bread for the table. Not essential but may go down well.

ooh yes a lovely bread! Great idea. :)

@CraftyGin

One of my favourite lunches is salmon with avocado sauce. It is based on a recipe in Delia's Summer book.

It is easily adapted to 9 people.

Marinade the salmon fillets in white wine or soy sauce and bake them in the oven for about 20 minutes.

The sauce is avocado and creme fraiche, with a dash of posh vinegar to keep the avocado green. I whizz it up in the nutribullet, but you might want to use the food processor for larger quantities.

I serve it with gnocchi and a spinach/watercress/rocket salad.

Easy peasy.

Ooh that sounds good. I might try this this week. Salmon and avocado- what a perfect combo.

www.deliaonline.com/recipes/occasions/easter/easter-recipes-using-april-ingredients/salmon-steaks-with-avocado-and-creme-fraiche-sauce

I use salmon fillets rather than steaks (I have not seen steaks recently) and they are a better size for a boozy lunch.

I love that Delia salmon recipe, her chicken basque is also great, plus its a one pot.

Looks both straightforward and impressive! (Always good I think)

This is a fancy pants book club 😂😂 I wan to join!

It's mostly good fun. But not enough chick lit for my liking (my secret weakness )

We have one member who gets a little intense about it all. When she started doing power point presentations we had to nip that in the bud. ;)

Can I come? What book are you reading?

How is that a buffet? Sounds delicious though.

You would be welcome. :)

We are reading www.goodreads.com/book/show/26259833-stalin-s-englishman

I have not yet finished it as DH snaffled it so will no doubt need to speed read next weekend.

buffet was the original vague plan. Loads of charcuterie, smoked salmon, blinis, a quiche. But actually probably more labour intensive than just making a meal.

Buffets always sound simple but are loads of work.

I would do a cheese board rather than a dessert, purely because I like the way people take their time over a cheese board, chatting, finishing off the wine, no one rushes to clear the plates out of the way. So much more relaxed. Grapes, some lovely in season shell on nuts. Perfect.

Sounds lovely.

If it were me it would be Cook or MnS

Your second menu sounds perfect.
Could you give us the recipe for the hot spinach, walnut, blue cheese salad? Sounds lovely and good that there's no carb - easier to get through 3 courses at lunchtime that way.

the hot spinach salad; (I sort of make it up as i go along tbh).

I put a tiny bit of olive oil in a pan and then heat the walnuts. Not too much because they go bitter. The set aside.

Add some more olive oil and a splash of walnut oil and wilt spinach slightly.

Add spinach and walnuts together and mix.

Get a soft blue cheese (I like st agur). Heat creme fraiche on the hob incredibly slowly and on a low heat. crumble st agur and mix well until all gloopy.

Pour on spinach and walnuts. (I do a little bit as it is strong and then have the rest in a sauce boat if people want more)

mix togther well and top with thinly sliced fresh pear.

People really seem to like it. (They say to my face anyway).