Help me plan menu for small dinner party please!

[MiniMilk0610]

I know there's a similar thread active at the moment but I need help with my menu too please!

There will only be 4 of us eating so hopefully not too stressful (altho they'll be arriving at 8, usually get DC to bed by 7-7:30 ish, will try to get DP to do as much of bedtime as possible!)

Pretty set on having Chicken, Chorizo & Leek Risotto for the main course (I've cooked this quite a few times before so fairly confident) but need ideas for starter & pudding?

Starter I'm thinking of something with goats cheese. Quite like the look of Gordon Ramsey's Warm Goats Cheese Salad but does anyone have any alternative suggestions??

No ideas for pudding...I'm definitely more of a savoury cook normally so preferably something simple!! DP is really fussy when it comes to puddings & basically only likes chocolate stuff with no fruit, nuts etc involved but I get so bored of never having any yummy fruity desserts so think I'm going to make the most of having guests over to make something I wouldn't normally bother making just for me, & will just buy DP an individual chocolate pudding of some sort.

Male guest loves all puddings, especially things like crumble, sticky toffee etc but would like something lighter & more summery ideally...any ideas?

Thanks, sorry post is bit long!!

Here's my recipe for a wicked alcoholic chocolate mousse.... sort of Angel Delight for grown-ups! You can make it the night before and keep in the fridge until required. Dress it up before serving... a few blueberries or mint leaves on the top and dusted with icing sugar.

Per person....
1 egg, separated
2oz best quality dark chocolate
1 tablespoon liqueur/spirit of choice (cognac is good)

Method

• Whisk the egg whites in a clean bowl until they make peaks
• Melt the chocolate in a glass bowl over hot water and stir in the liqueur. Allow to cool a little
• Whisk the egg yolks in a third bowl and gradually incorporate the chocolate/liqueur mixture
• Fold the egg-white a few tablespoons at a time into this mixture
• Pour the resulting chocolate goo into ramekin dishes and chill for at least an hour.

Easy peasy goats cheese/blue cheese/feta salad.

Heap rocket and frisee lettuce onto starter size plate and top with toasted pecans and quarters of pear. I think this is best with blue cheese but goats cheese would work well if it's the crumbling sort rather than the roulade.

It's really simple and impressive if set out neatly. Drizzle with a simple french dressing.

Oooh yum, thanks for all your suggestions

That chocolate mousse sounds really nice Chil1234 but I'm a bit funny about raw eggs, don't know why as I'm sure I used to eat raw cake mixture etc as a child but for once its me turning down a recipe due to fussyness not DP!

I would love to do that blue cheese salad luciemule, but thats another thing that DP is fussy about I'm amazed he's agreed to eat a salad that potentially has nuts in it tbh not sure he'd go as far as coping with pear in it as well!!

Pavlova is a great idea Herecomesthesciencebint DP wont be happy but sure everyone else would love it...will have to just get him a bought choc pud like already planned! How do you make meringue though, any fool proof recipes? I've never made it before so think I will have to practise lots beforehand!

Thanks everyone, keep the ideas coming!