Need inspiration for a dinner party on Friday

[GirlWithTheMouseyHair]

Lowdown is I've been I'll the last few days so have no energy but have two new friends for dinner on Friday. Cooked for them before (Parma ham wrapped asparagus then mushroom risotto with tender stem broccoli ) they're not massive appetites but love good
food.

Trouble is I'm in temporary accommodation in America with very limited stock cupboard, waiting til we move into our proper house before raiding the herbs and spices section of whole foods and all my cookery books are still on the boat! Oh, and my rice steamer, potato masher and even half decent wooden spoons!

Got some put lentils in and going to the farmers market tomorrow, was thinking a light soup to start (preferably doesn't need blending!) but not sure apart from that, help!

Puy lentils! One of the men can't eat anything from the pepper family...

Fish?

How about a sort of puy lentil salad thing that you can prepare in advance to start? You could grill some fennel / courgette etc and mix that in with cooked lentils.

Then fish parcels, cooked with the veg in (perhaps some asparagus and baby leeks) and served with new pototoes. Presumably that is all possible from the farmers market.

Can you then just serve a nice bought tart or something for pudding? Or even ask them to bring? Or just get some good chocs to have with coffee?

I'm interested to see how you get on! We're moving to DC in the summer, and will be in a similar situation with 3 kids. Where are you?

Agree with the lentil salad idea but I'd go with roasted beetroot and goats cheese on top and some kind of citrus salsa dressing.

For main, what about something simple but where quality is everything, which you can do with a farmers market. eg lamb cutlets grilled (with just rosemary if you're me, or a pesto crust if you want to get a bit more poncy), lovely butter and parsley new potatoes and then some kind of veggie side dish - I always think aubergine goes brilliantly with lamb? I roast it, and then make a dressing of yoghurt,tahini and lemon. Otherwise simple grilled/steamed green veg always work well.

Brill ideas, was thinking fish anyway and yes of course beet root, goats cheese and lentil salad! Especially doing in advance as I'll have bath and bedtime to contend with just before they arrive. I normally cook my lentils in bouillon powder but didn't bring any with me so will have to chance American stock

We're in LA, massive adjustment but only been here a month, DS starting nursery now which will help and we move into our rented house in the next 2weeks which will make it infinitely better too

My favourite and easiest dinner for when people come:

Chicken pieces, (sausages sometimes) red onions, new potatoes, garlic, fresh rosemary stalks, loads of olive oil, cherry tomatoes thrown in for the last bit.....all cooked in a big lasagna type dish until all the oil and meat juices make a sort or oily gravy. Pile it onto a big serving dish and serve with a big spoon to pick up the juice. Serve with salad and crusty bread. All in one dish ready to go whilst you put the kids to bed!

oooooh that sounds good - no other liquid? potatoes and chicken in raw?

I would change the combinations: do goats cheese and beetroot salad to start, or even put them on blinis to hand round with drinks, then combine the fish/lentils by doing salmon, lentils and salsa verde (chopped not blended: anchovies, garlic, lemon, mint, parsley, capers, Dijon mustard).

Yep...everything in together. Lots of oil. Cook long and slow and cover with foild if getting too crispy and brown. If you use sausages they produce a lot of liquid and the tomatoes help at the end.

Done! Got fennel to whack in too so substituted rosemary for parsley and lemon, thanks for the inspiration