Dinner party - help!

[DSM]

I'm having a dinner party on Saturday, only 4 people but I am having a panic about the meal!

For the starter, I am making goats cheese and caramelised onion tartlets, and the dessert is being brought by guest. But I am stuck for a main course! Last time they came I did stuffed chicken with ricotta and spinach, so would like something quite different.

Was thinking steak, serve with balsamic rocket, maybe with some mash and veg in serving bowls on the side.. Does that sound good? Will it be easy to make when they are here, after the starter?

Any better ideas would be very welcomed. No fish though, I can't eat fish.

Thanks ladies!

Steak sounds good to me, although how easy it will be depends on your definition of 'easy' I guess - if your guests all eat their steaks differently, it can be quite a challenge getting it right, eg; rare, medium, well done etc. Unless of course you are a steak wizard and are very good at doing them. If you are, or if your guests are happy eating their steaks as they come, it will be very easy.

I get quite stressed out just doing steak for me and dh, but I'm a bit of a perfectionist. If doing steak, maybe do some homemade 'chips' instead of mash? Cut large potatoes into chunky wedges, sprinkle with some olive oil, s & p, and maybe some herbs or paprika, and put in the oven for about 40 mins gas mark 6/7. You don't need to much oil, just enough to create a light coat for the potatoes, and they taste delicious. Or do the same just with baby new potatoes cut in half - again really nice and with the mini potatoes its a little bit different.
Green beans and asparagus would be nice veg, or peas, and you could do them with a simple mint butter perhaps?

Do you like lamb?

I did a very slow roast shoulder of lamb (think it was Jamie Oliver recipe)

www.jamieoliver.com/recipes/lamb-recipes/slow-cooked-shoulder-of-lamb-with-roaste

It was a really easy recipe and a hit with the guests. Plus no phaffing when the guests were there, I think I served it with roast potatoes and red currant jelly and some green veg as well.

Oh, like the idea of the chunky 'chips', thanks.

Lamb sounds good.. Bit different, we don't often have lamb. I'll check that recipe out.

Thank you!

Any other ideas welcome as always.

Stupid question - if I were to make those potatoes you suggested, would I cook the baby potatoes first or put them in the oven raw?

I think I would go for a goulash/ragu/coq au vin style thing that could be made entirely in advance, and then just warmed through. Some of the dishes benefit from being made a day earlier and allowing the flavours to develop. Chunky Beef and Chorizo Stew is one of my favourites, and can be served with cous cous. Always gone down well.

Just pop in the oven raw - I tend to get the mini baby potatoes, and cut the larger ones in half and leave a few smaller ones whole. Put in a oven dish and drizzle with the oil and s&p, if you went with the lamb recipe you could maybe add some rosemary and thyme. Give it a quick shake/stir to coat the pots in the oil, then straight in the oven. Check them about half way through and give another stir. I find at 40 mins they are nice and crispy on the outside, so if you want them less/more crispy, you can check them and turn the oven down/leave them in 5 mins longer depending.

I too find steak quite stressful so would avoid that.

I generally tend to make slow-roasted things for dinner parties, or stews/casseroles etc. I also like baked pasta dishes eg rigatoni al forno, the Greek pastitsio, etc.

I avoid like the plague anything that needs last min preparation at dinner parties unless it's dessert. Whipping dream: I'll do. Frying steak: I won't.

Stroganoff? Fry the meat, onions and garlic early on in the day. Just assemble and warm through after the starter.

Thanks everyone - BIMB I'm definitely making those wee potatoes, they sound delicious! And very easy. Which I like.

Thanks for the thoughts.. An advance prepare does seem easier..