If you were on Come dine with me...

[2in13]

Just for fun (and for inspiration) If you were to go on Come Dine with Me, what would you cook for your starter, main and dessert?

I'm planning to cook a 3 course meal to celebrate something with DH and I'm in need of some inspiration.

I try to add some variety to our weekly meals anyway and I enjoy cooking but I'd like to do something a bit special and perhaps make an effort with the presentation.

In January...

Celery & stilton soup
Fillet steak, baked potato (not microwaved) with sour cream & chives, and veg (buttered swede, baby carrots, perhaps some kale or tenderstem broccoli)
A flan of rhubarb and almond paste, with creme fraiche

In summer

Salad Caprese
Baked rainbow trout stuffed with herbs, new potatoes and salad
Strawberries, home made shortbread & cream.

Oh no, I wouldn't say it out loud! In fact I would happily drink it and revel in the nostalgia 🍷

Having said that, on a trip to France I had two very formal meals with the "right" wines for each course. It did make a big difference (but who can be arsed?!).

There's an important detail missing from this menu, that could take it from a winner to last place.

What flavour Angel Delight?

Definitely no bruschetta, goats cheese or Eton Mess as sooooo many contestants do those!!

Starter: Chicken satay with peanut sauce
Main: Massaman curry with rice
Dessert: Cheesecake

This is what I want to eat right now anyway!

Bangers and mash followed by a couple of Mr Kiplings.

Something with prawns/salmon

Roast lamb

Bailey's chocolate mousse

On a serious note I’d do risotto for starters, garlic glazed salmon, pak choi and gnocchi for main, crème brûlée for pudding.

Prawn cocktail purely because I love it
Duck in a black cherry sauce with sauté potatoes & seasonal veg
DM’s chocolate steamed pud with chocolate sauce - she used to make it when I was a kid & it was to die for!

I think I would go pseudo-Italian

starter: mozzarella arancini with a tomato sauce

main: baked sea bass with roasted mediterranean veg and lemony new potatoes

pudding: budino

A former colleague was on come dine with me. We used to get loads of letters to the office from prisoners asking for her to go and visit them/ be or pals/ go on a date when they were released. She got told off for creating an embarrassment and so much extra post

I'd go 80s/90s school dinner.

Starter: tomato soup in a mug (we had that at break time in secondary)

Main: cheese and onion quiche in huge squares with chips and beans. Turkey drummer as meat alternative.

Pudding: pink iced sponge with sprinkles and pink custard or butterscotch tart with Birds custard. Mix and match allowed.

Coquilles St Jacques
Coq au vin, creamed potatoes, petits pois á la francais
Tarte Tatin with homemade vanilla ice cream

😂😂

Change the wine to Chianti and you're a winner 🤤

Yum, haven't made/had a roulade for yonks!

Warmed goats cheese on a giant crouton with apple, lettuce and walnut salad

Beef in a red wine jus with sugared roasted carrots, honey roasted parsnips and dauphinoise potatoes

Profiteroles with hot chocolate sauce

I love thinking about this!

I'd serve champagne & cocktails to welcome everyone with prunes wrapped in smoked bacon & baked till crispy & gooey. So simple & always a winner.

Goats cheese, pear & walnut puff pastry open tarts with green salad to start.

Italian chicken parcels (chicken breats stuffed with dolcellate cheese & fresh sage, wrapped in prosciutto & browned in a pan, then cooked a sauce of tomatoes, garlic, white wine & mascarpone) served with slow cooked garlic & rosemary potatoes & salad

My homemade tiramisu (which has amaretto & lemon in it) it's my Italian friend's Nonna's recipe

I'd also serve rosewater & pistachio marshmallow meringues with strawberries & cream

Red & white wine

Starter: 5 hours in the pub
Main: choose from the takeaway menu
Desert: cab home

Oh goodness. When can I come round? May I have an extra parcel please?

Cup a soup - with a twist

Frozen turkey, burnt Maris pipers, carrot crush with a knob of stork

Wall's Vienetta - with a twist

A la "our" Denise 😂
RIP Caroline 🙏

Baked figs with prosciutto, blue cheese, balsamic vinegar & honey.

Sage & butternut squash ravioli.

Raspberry sorbet ice cream float with raspberry gin & Prosecco.

@Bundtbake don't forget the Oxo cube gravy. Can I have a leg please?

Anyone serving goats cheese is getting a zero.

@BouleDeSuif of course!
And the blue punch 🥺 with the whole banana....