Really need help with a dinner menu please

[Millie1]

We've been entertained many times by friends - she's a marvellous cook and meals are restaurant quality. I could never ever try to emulate what she produces but I must have them to dinner. What on earth can I put on the table????? Whatever I cook needs to:

Take into consideration 4 children to look after so I don't have all day to prepare.

I live in the country so ingredients can be tricky but I can do a big Sainsburys shop a couple of days beforehand.

Preferably would like to do something which is prepared in advance as much as possible - do not want to spend evening slaving over a hot stove.

And I need three courses. I'm fairly competent, not scared to trying something new but time is my enemy .

Any ideas please to help me create the impossible! I've thought about lamb shanks in a rich sauce with mash of some sort - haven't cooked them before so I'd need reassurance that they're a guarantee to be tender! Although that said, anything goes as long as I can get the ingredients and don't need to do a practice run!

Thanks

Can you make a pavlova? Derina Allens recipe is made the night before in less than ten minutes so all you have to do on the day is whip the cream and chop the strawberries...its looks very impressive but is really simple.

What about salmon for mains? Quick and easy with some new potatos and veg..

Not sure about starters..

Sorry - Delia Smith not Derina Allen

A Lamb Tagine for main, served with cous cous? If you look on the BBC website, there's a delish Simon Rimmer one, which can be done as far in advance as you like if you freeze it. And cous cous only takes a minute or two.

Pavlova is a great idea for pudding.

I'm hopeless at starters so perhaps someone else will have ideas for that.

For starters I would do roasted peppers

Look pretty, foolproof and you could make them the day before, but make sure you take them out of the fridge well in advance so that they aren't cold, they should be room temperature. Serve with nice bread.

here is a delia version

For main course, I think a stew or tagine would be great.

Also, nothing beats a delicious roast chicken, with gratin dauphinoise (foolproof) and a green salad.

One way to 'up the ante' would be to throw in a couple of really good cheeses at this point with some oatcakes and a glass of good port or red wine. I'm thinking a lovely bit of soft chevre and a slab of gorgonzola (should be completely room temperature and oozy)

For pudding, pavlova perfect. Or a pile of brownies and icecream and raspberries. And the French would think nothing of providing a gorgeous shop bought tart. With nice coffee or - and this is good - fresh mint tea - just a bunch of fresh mint in clean teapot, pour on boiling water, leave for a couple of minutes. Very cool and classy.

I would do this for main course. Every time I serve it (which is a lot!) I get asked for the recipe! It tastes really indulgent but is dead easy to make!

How about a chocolate fondant for pud? Done to death I know but a real crowd pleaser!

I would do something they wouldn't make themselves. Maybe Mexican? tacos are always fun, and perhaps beer and margaritas?

You can buy the taco shells, fry the mince (or for vegetarians, make a bean thing), grate cheese, make a salsa, and let people help themselves.

Bunny, that looks delish. I know what we're having for supper tonight!

Link won't work for me - suspense is killing me, what is it?

By the way what a lovely compliment the OP has given to her guest. I'd die happy if someone said something like that about me!

The website's being glitchy. Works now for me though.

It's an Italian Salmon and broccoli bake. Made with mascarpone, sundried tomatoes - it is bloody gorgeous! Every time I go back home to Ireland, allegedly to relax, I end up in the kitchen making this dish for all my family!

For pudding, how about Nigella's Clementine cake (from How to Eat). Gorgeous & v easy. It doesn't need icing or anything. I would serve it with a few sliced strawberries in the middle & a dusting of icing sugar at the last minute. Serve with creme fraiche. It's gorgeous & very unusual - its just made of boiled clementines (or oranges), sugar, ground almonds, eggs & baking powder. The clementines take a while to boil, but you can make the cake in about 10 minutes once they're ready.
She also makes chocolate orange, apple & lemon versions.

what about peaches with parma ham for starter? (Sounds weird combination but gorgeous!) Stone fruit coming into season now. Great easy recipe on BBC Good Food (site down at the minute)

Agree with pavlova, fab dessert. Pile high with strawbs and raspberries. Delicious.

For starter I would do something you don't have to 'watch' so either something made beforehand- a pate or terrine? or a salad- I recently did a Delia one with pears and roquefort which was nice.

For main, a tagine with couscous as suggested would be lovely- Nigella has the pomegranate one which not very seasonal but looks very appetising?

For dessert, Nigellas Irish cream tiramisu is really easy and is best made the night before.

Oh wow! You're all brilliant .

Okay ... I like the idea of the roasted red peppers as a starter. Easy peasy and tasty to boot! Main ... I've never tried a tangine before, it really appeals but I need foolproof recipes. Roast chicken, dauphinois & salad - yum but what about presentation? And what sort of salad? Bunny - that recipe looks amazing! If I can get salmon this week I'll give it a go for kids at weekend - is it nice and rich? Would it be nice with a salad too? Desert ... pavlova - seems too simple. Brownies, raspberries & a special icecream - yum, also fancy Nigella's Irish cream tiramisu - shall have to hunt out the recipe.

Okay but do these dishes 'go' together? Will the meal flow?

Overthehill ... when I say she's a wonderful coook - well, wow! Last time we had asparagus with some sort of a feta salad to start, accompanied by homemade foccacia; main was venison & desert I can't remember (not like me but amazing nonetheless. Time before was Thai and that desert I'll never forget ... licquorice icecream (homemade of course). I must aim for an enjoyable evening, good wine, good company and nice food on the side

Thanks again and keep 'em coming!

Bunny - it must be the irish in us! There is a banana butterscotch pudding in Rachel allens book and it is fantastic and very easy. Delish with some rich vanilla ice cream

I'd do blini with salmon and sour cream and fizz to start.

Grilled lamb with a really good tomato and basil salad, beetroot, fetta and walnut salad with capers and prob an orange, onion and olive salad.
Tabbouleh too.

Tropical fruit salad to finsh.

ooh, that sounds good moondog. Wonder if roasted beetroot would work?

Roasted beetroot (or even just boiled sand peeled) is a revelation. Sweet, earthy andutterly delicious. Slice thinly and dress with a vinaigrette laced liberally with fresh mint. Crumbled fetta, walnuts and capers over the top.

Turns yer wee pink of course.

moondog sorry for hijack, but what would you recommend fizz wise? . I quite like Tesco premier Cru, and Waitrose Blanc de Blanc, but wanted your expert opinion. Just roasted beetroot, onion, and cherry tomatoes. Am on wedding diet, so it got blitzed and will have as soup , but am salivating at beetroot/feta/walnuts.

I'm no expert on the fizz front but I like the Tesco Premier Cru and it has done very well in bling tastings.
Lindauer Brut rose another nice one that often gets good reviews.
I think Prosecco massively underrated too. It's light and gets you blitzed less quickly than Champagne, which may or may not be a good thing.

Drop of Kir/Creme de Cassis in something fizzy also makes it more celeratory.

I suggest you go to a good wine merchant, like Majestic, tell them what you like, what your budget is and take a few bottles home to try. Go for what you like, not what someone else says you should have. Staff are very helpful not intimidating and should get you a good deal together.

It's one of my big treats to drop in about every 3 months and buy a few cases. Big warehouse affair (if you haven't been) so you can wander aisles for while alone, checking out tasting notes.

It would be fun-I'd love to come and help!

Where are you having reception btw-home or hotel? Have you a menu planned?

Good advice re: Majestic. There's one nearby. Will get DP to drive so I can do all the tasting Well, it was really funny about reception. We are doing it in Cornwall where we spend lots of time. DP called up our favorite restaurant in the world to check availability, and the owner said he was closed, but would open for us! . And even better, he said we could choose the menu . I quite like simple stuff like potted crab, seared scallops...

Sorry for hijack. Am turning into bridezilla

God, go for it!
Cannever get enoiugh of hearing about nice celebrations! Enjoy your big moment.