Dinner party - give me feedback please!

[fraktious]

DH has invited a colleague and his wife for dinner on Saturday night. I have met them twice and think they're very nice and could become friends (especially as she's due with their first and DS is nearly 6mo). I don't want to go very traditional and formal because I need to reserve that foe high ranking people to make them feel special because I want it to be relaxed.

I need something quick to cook as I'll need to put DS to bed just before they arrive but in keeping with pregnant woman restrictions. How does this sound?

Sesame beef and mushroom with stir fried noodles, broccoli, carrot, chinese greens and hopefully baby corn and mange tout with garlic and black pepper sauce.

Dessert? I was thinking maybe fruit in spring roll pastry to keep with the oriental theme? Or I have a yummy mini strudel recipe.

You main course is quite rich with gutsy flavours. I would probably offer something light and delicately flavoured for dessert... posh ice-cream, fruit etc.

Sounds delicious! Yes I'd just go for sorbet as a dessert - much easier.

If I were you I'd do the greens on the side either steamed or boiled for a few minutes tossed with some oyster sauce or in the hot wok with a little garlic, that's the way I grew up with it in China - greens usually separate from the protein/carbs.

The alternative to doing something quick to cook is doing something that is slow to cook but will happily sit in a warm oven waiting until your DS is settled - lasagna, moussaka, pot roast of some sort, etc.