Three course lunch menu- can people rate / comment?

[ComeTheSpringLobelia]

Hi everyone,

I am hosting about 7 people for lunch later this week. I am a good cook, but a nervous and anxious hostess.

The guests like good food. The only dietary need is to avoid fish. I would prefer to do as much prep the day before that I can. These people are my friends- and also all good cooks - but I would like to prepare something decent for them.

This is my current plan;

• Tuscan bean soup- although largely broth based and a clear soup so it is lighter than a pottage
• Lasagne with spinach and butternut squash in the meat sauce as well
• Green salad with a lemon dressing (usually I also put sliced pears and walnuts in my salads, but am undecided)
• Ice cream sundaes- just for fun. Vanilla and chocolate ice cream with chocolate fudge sauce, mini marshmallows and topped with crushed nuts.

I am considering dumping the soup for nibblies over champagne. If so then they would be bought in and maybe devilled eggs which are my favourite things ever.

In the past (precovid days!) I have always served chicken as I am comfortable with that. But this time I thought something else.

Grateful for thoughts!!

I’d do canapés, the salad as a starter with the pears and walnuts, lasagne minus the spinach and squash, and something more sophisticated for pudding: it’s all grown-up food then a random swerve into Pizza Hut sundae bar territory. Affogato or a fruit tart maybe.

This all sounds great. Do the soup too and then there is an option if people don't like the lasagna. I wouldn't personally like butternut squash in lasagna.

Ice cream is fine but a bit unimaginative after all those fab other things.id still yum it down.

I think the lasagne sounds great.

I have to admit though that I would expect a homemade desert, ice cream (unless homemade) wouldn't really cut it for me.

Butternut squash and spinach has no place in a classic lasagne!

Agree. Butternut squash and spinach would be nice in a vegetarian lasagne with ricotta or something like that but not just in with the meat

I agree with those saying BNS and spinach seem out of place in a meat lasagne. Fine chopped small as a way of sneaking extra veg in kids but for adults I'd say if you want to use BNS and spinach, have courage in your convictions and make a veggie BNS and spinach lasagne, that way the flavour of the BNS won't be fighting against the meat. There is a recipe on the BBC Good Food website.

I would prefer canapés over soup, which seems too heavy along with lasagne as well.

Sounds delicious. However, I might want to sleep it off on your sofa.

Olives plus a bit of what you fancy to begin.
I'd be tempted to move the salad to starters, get some of those mini pears and poach then in a wine stock mix and serve balanced on your lemon salad.
Spinach in lasagne, yeah. Butternut squash just makes me think of those awful proteinless veggie meals.
Sundaes are fun, you know your friends, retro style or vamp it up with adult versions?

Not sure on the pumpkin and spinach in the lasagne, and please keep salad simple

I love the sound of it overall though but although love the sound of the soup some people can be funny about those beans

All great advice thank you!

I am surprised at the aversion to the BS and spinach in the lasagne though! I had it myself at someone's house and she claimed it was a Jamie Oliver recipe. I have googled mightily but am only coming up with vegetarian versions, so maybe it was her tweak. I'll omit that though and just do a regular lasagne.

Nibbles for starters then. Plain salad on the side.

Retro sundaes would go well I think. I'll bring in a third more interesting ice cream flavour as well.

@AdventFridgeOfShame you would be welcome to sleep it off on my sofa!

Thank you everyone.