please could I have your fool-proof dinner party recipe? Preferably one I can prepare in advance.

[mckenzie]

We have friends coming to dinner saturday night - I'll be cooking for 6 adults. I'd really like something I can prepare earlier, either friday or saturday afternoon.

Please inspire me. I'm bored of my usual things. It doesn't need to be fancy. Just tasty food simply cooked but with an edge would be great. I have a slow cooker and the usual pots and pans so in theory, I should be able to do anything you suggest but go easy on me please.
I'd rather be enjoying my guests company than fretting about blanching the carrots.

Many thanks in advance.

I would do:

Beef Stroganoff with big sliced open capped mushrooms in a rich, creamy sauce (a dash of brandy makes its even yummier) with wild rice and long stemmed brocolli

or

Italian style meat balls with fresh basil and a bought tomato sauce you could let them simmer in a slow cooker for most of the day would be delicious with crusty bread and fresh linguine pasta

or

Salmon marinated in yoghart and spices - sits all day int he fridge marinating and takes minimal time to cook in oven. Serve with Pilau rice and nan bread

or

Huge Chilli - put the pan on the table, with a bowl of rice and nachos and let everyone dig in

Roast Ham with roastie potatoes and red cabbage - again put it all on the table and let everyone dig in

thank you so much daffodil01. Now I'm spoilt for choice! Do you have a recipe for the salmon marinade by any chance? I really like the sound of that. Plus selfishly I love fish

chicken basque can be got ready in advance, and then put on the stove later, or reheated. is lovely with a green salad and lots of crusty bread.

This is yummy, most prep can be done earlier in the day then just a few mins at the end to cook the salmon and greens

Thai pumpkin and seafood curry

I second chicken basque, it's fabulous.

Pepperpot beef
Pepperpot Beef

2.25kg/5lb atewing beef diced
Plain flour seasoned with ground ginger for dusting
Vegetable oil for frying
5 x 400g/14oz cans of tomatoes
3 tablespoons soft brown sugar
5 tablespoons red wine vinegar
3 tablespoons sweet chilli sauce
3 tablespoons of worcestershire sauce
3 garlic gloves
2 bay leaves
3 red and 2 yellow peppers

serves 10

Toss the beef in seasoned flour. Brown the meat in smal batches in some vegetable oil and place in a large ovenproof dish. Place the tomatoes, sugar, vinegar, chilli sauce, worcestershire sauce and garlic in a blender and blitz. Pour the sauce over the meat, tuck the bay leaves in and bake in an oven preheated to 180/350 for 1 hour. Deseed the peppers and cut into chunks. Remove the casserole from the ove, add the peppers and return to the oven for 30 mins until the meat and pappers are tender. Serve with rice and a spoonful of creme fraiche or greek style yoghurt.

And Nigella's instant chocolate mousse for pudding, in ramekins with strawberries and dollop of cream.

wow, thank you. Bizarrely, I used to make Delia's chicken basque years ago as my staple dinner party dish. Pre DCs, pre DH even. I'm going for a trip down memory lane and I'm going to make that, followed by the chocolate mousse. thanks again

Instead if doing a starter do mixed crudites and hot pitta with dips, olives or perhaps those little quiches you can get, over drinks, and tell everyone it's instead of a starter.

great idea spendthrift. thank you

For the salmon I do

Salmon portions, cut across so you get a "chunks"

Natural yoghart mixed with ground coriander, crushed garlic, grated ginger, pinch of chilli powder, squeeze of lemon juice.

Marinade all day then put on a foil lined baking tray, fairly high heat so it crusts on the outside and blackens slightly but is lovely an moist on the inside

Ive noticed others have given starters and desserts, I never thought! If I was doing the salmon I would do probably chicken tikka or onion bajhas for starters or just popadums with fresh homemade chutneys, salads and dessert fresh fruit as the salmon is very rich and filling

thanks daffodil although it looks like I will have to save the salmon for another day as just found out one of our guests doesn't like fish . We all love the sound of it though so it's definitely going in my box for one to do next week. thank you.

Netto and charlottebronte-thanks again for reminding me about the chicken basque. I did it last night and it was so easy yet so tasty. And I loved the fact that I could put the pot on the table for guests to serve themselves. Definitely one that I will do again.

Snapsnap - Pepperpot Beef sounds like an Avoca recipe? Google Avoca Baked Chicken with plums, ginger and soy - really easy and feeds 8