Menu ideas for pre-Christmas dinner party.

[Alanamackree]

I’m planning a dinner party for the weekend before Christmas. I definitely don’t want to serve anything too christmassy like turkey or ham. I’m feeding 16, no vegetarians or special diets but a few who don’t like fish.

What are your tried and tested winter dinner party menus?

Delia's slow cooked brisket in Guinness is really easy and delicious. Serve with mash or dauphinois prepared the day before. Pavlova is super easy, baked the night before and left in the oven to cool.

The brisket recipe is on another thread but I don't know how to link it, sorry.

For a large dinner party, I like to serve soup for starters because I can make it ahead and freeze it, and usually have it simmering away when the guests are arriving. My favourite winters soups are spicy butternut www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/12808/butternut-squash-soup-with-chilli-and-crme-frache or a parsnip soup. Try the Hairy Bikers' creamy parsnip and apple or James Martin's curried roast parsnip and veg crisps.

For mains, I've had success with this sausage and rosemary ragu served with pappardelle pasta. www.sainsburysmagazine.co.uk/recipes/mains/pappardelle-with-rosemary-and-sausage-ragu
I also found these stuffed chicken breasts very easy but effective and tasty. www.goodhousekeeping.com/uk/food/recipes/a535544/stuffed-chicken-breast-recipe/

I usually offer a choice of two desserts - something decadent and something lighter/healthier. In the winter, the lighter option would be something like maple vanilla roasted plums or baked apples www.rivercottage.net/recipes/baked-apples

Mmmm! I’m getting hungry reading these.

Any thoughts on wine?

A beef bourginon, mash and roasted celeriac is really easy and can all be prepared ahead.
Antipasti starter of cheeses, figs and cured meats is incredibly easy.
Pear and chocolate crumble for pud with ice cream- really easy Nigel Slater recipe online.

Wine I’d go with a nice Malbec and a Riesling or something (not that I know much about pairing wine and food I just like them!)

I'd make a lamb tagine or cassoulet (there are vegetarian versions of both).
For dessert,Pavlova or trifle maybe