Cooking for 10 people main ideas, PLEASE help

[raisinbran]

I really can't cook but agreed to host 10people for dinner on NYE. After a bad Xmas day experience I am very worried.

Please just give me the most basic, straight forward, fool proof receipe you know. I don't really mind what it is as long as not beef. I would prefer to have it in the oven ready to just pull out but needs to be more than just a lasagne or chilli.

I will do fruit or pate starters and desserts.

Thanks

I have a nice recipe for chicken thighs marinated in lemon and garlic, roast the whole lot in a tray with baby potatoes. Serve with green salad and crusty bread?

Desert White chocolate cheesecake, Anthony worrall Thomson brownies and ice cream or banoffee sundaes

Starter Er.... Bruschetta with garlic mushrooms or a lovely fresh salsa?

Geordieminx

Great, For the main how much would i need to buy and how long and what temperature. I need idiots guide please.

Thanks for responding.

I tend to allow 3-4 thighs per person, can use drumsticks but I'm not a fan of them.

Hang on 5 and I'll get the recipe for you.

Best to start this the evening before you want it, so 30th, as the longer it marinades the tastier it is.

The recipe I have serves 4/5, so I would do this reciepe twice, in 2 large oven proof dishes (not tins)

12 chicken thighs/drumsticks
4 heads of garlic
1kg of salad potatoes
2tsp chopped parsley.

For the marinade:
8tbsp olive oil
2tsp Dijon mustard
1tbsp balsamic vinegar
1 tsp fresh thyme
4-8 sprigs of rosemary.
A few pinches of light muscavdo sugar
2 lemons.

First make the marinade by whisking oil, mustard, vinegar ad herbs. Season with black pepper and a large pinch of sugar. Cut the lemons in half, squeeze the juice into marinade. Put the chicken in a non metallic dish and soon the marinade over it, add the remaining lemons and leave to marinade over night.

90 minutes before you want to eat preheat oven to 200 degrees. Cut the tops off the garlic, and halve the potatoes, put them in roasting tin, drain the marinade over them, add the garlic and cook for 45 mins.

After the 45 mins add the chicken, rosemary and lemon to the tin, toss it about, making sure the chicken is skin side up and roast for another 45 minutes (it's ok if the chicken is on top of the potatoes)

Serve with nice salad and crusty bread. House will smell gorgeous!

Thanks your a star i plan to do a little practice run. x

It's dead easy, can't really go wrong. I tend to add a bit more to the marinade than less if you know what I mean? You can let it marinade for a few hours but it's so much nicer done overnight. The chicken skin goes lively and crispy and the lemon and garlic is really fresh.