Are you having people over this weekend? If so, what are you cooking - I need ideas!

[AnonymousBird]

That's it really... Dinner for four, can't really blow the budget. Starter, main and pud. Doesn't need to be "fancy" cooking, but obviously want to be tasty and absolutely crucially - as much done in advance as possible so very little kitchen faffing time....

I'm having a family bday for ILs. On menu -

Nigel Slater's puff pastry and goats cheese tarts (basically 1/2 a goats cheese log with a square of ready rolled puff scrunched round it, drizzle of honey and thyme, baked 200C for 20min - all prep ahead)

Poussin (probably with pesto/creme fraiche shoved under skin and couple of proscuitto slices over skin) and smashed new pots with parsley (boil, over-boil, smoosh them with fork, good glug of olive oil, lots of salt and pepper and fresh parsley) and veg. Poussin can be prepped ahead.

MIL now bringing dessert (but I was planning to do Mary berry's lemon pots - very, very easy lemon posset thing and all prep at least day ahead)

Oh and doing poussin as it was on offer in sainsbo's!

I am making a chicken pot roast out of the Leon cookbook. Have made it three times now, absolutely foul proof and all in one pot. So very tasty and can be prepped ahead of time so no faffing once guests arrive. Will serve it with steamed broccoli. Won't do a starter just pitta, carrots and humous with drinks before we start. And Nigel Slater lovely cake for pud.

Same situation here.
Chicken liver pate (homemade)+ toasted bread+ salad
Mincemeat stuffed loin of pork (Hugh F - W)+ mash
Apple crumble

All can be done the day before except the cooking of the pork.
Let me know if you want me to write out the recipes.

May I also recommend the belly of pork with apple and prunes by Delia (from Frugal Food). really yummy, dirt cheap, cooks slowly.

Now, you've got my attention with belly of pork... the couple coming, that will be right up their street as well, they are really into good heart British food...

Thanks all.

Will type recipe before lunchtime.

You need a casserole/ pie dish that can go in the oven (or a Le Creuset)
ingredients:
700/800 g pork belly (cut into cubes, asks butcher to do that)
bit of oil
6 juniper berries
1/2 thyme dried or fresh
225g sliced onions
1 crushed garlic clove
110g g prunes (halves and pitted) I used those in syrup last time it was great
bit of caster sugar
1 large cooking apple (sliced)
700g potatoes peeled and thickly sliced
bit of butter
150 ml dry cider

preheat oven at 170 degree/gas mark 3
-brown pork in a pan then arrange at bottom of casserole dish
-sprinkle the thyme and the juniper berries
-fry onion and garlic in same pan till they soften
-put on top of pork and then add the prunes (I see a bit more than 110g last time)
-add the sliced apple over the top then add the sprinkle of caster sugar
-put the potato on the top (overlapping each other)
-put bits of butter here and there then pour in the cider
-cover and bake for 1 and 1/2 hours
-then remove lid, increase temp to 230deg/gas mark 8, cook for a further 20 mns or until the top is golden

I have served it in the past with (frozen) peas. Really nice. Enjoy!
There recipe comes from Delia's Frugal Food. It has a number of cheap good recipes, recommended.