Right I have 6 people for dinner (inc me and dh) on Sat night and havent entertained for ages.

[Enif]

One of them is a fantastic caterer (when you go round to watch the rugby you get homemade sushi and goats cheese and chili jam croutons for example)

What can I make that is impressive (but not TOO impressive IYSWIM) and lots can be done in advance??

Am having uncharacteristic Enid catering black spot.

Also will be the inaugaration of our DINING TABLE rather than being in the kitchen so feel I need to step up the game a bit with nice table stuff.

Now this is when having full time childcare and being a SAHM would be fabby

Enid I know you are sorted but I have to shout about a Delia (I know, I know, but the recipes do work) that I did on Friday night for residents at Hotel Sinclair (so the worst and most stressful entertaining scenario) - fast roasted chicken, with lemon and tarragon. You prepare the bird in advance and then literally whack it in the oven for 45 mins, rest it for 15 while you eat starters and a posh gravy stews on stove. I got a bit clever and roasted root veg and also spuds but you could do rice and any steamed veg (personally I prefer cooking everything in the oven but that is just me) yum yum

Enid ... what's chicken savoyarde? Need to have friends to dinner myself so this has been a great thread!

chicken savoyarde is poached chicken in a creamy, mustardy, gruyere cheesy, heavily tarragoned sauce. It is really yummy. You can poach and strip the chicken and make the sauce the day before. Will post recipe sometime if you like.

I am now making raspberry, lime and white choc cheesecake for pud as I have remembered it is a failsafe make-ahead recipe.

no starter, just nibbles which will be fine as both main course and pud are rich.

Jamie Oliver's 5 hour braised lamb is fab although don't add as much water. 1 bottle of wine and half a wine bottle of water is fine.

Lots of fantastic bread, green salad (if you have to). Yummy, cosy food that puts everyone at ease.

Oh, just saw that you have it under control. Well, if you change your mind...

Drool ... your desert sounds fantastic!! Would you mind posting both recipes sometime that you get a chance ... please!

TIA.

Hope it goes well tonight!

Enid, how was it? I thought of you as we were drinking Champagne last night too and I rememberd that your dh had 4 bottles he was dying to open

lol

it went really well

the food was great and I prepared a lot of it in advance so I didn't look too flustered on the night. The cheesecake was really really good, I will post the recipe.

One of the blokes got so drunk he fell over at the end of the night

Everyone had a nice time and even I had a big glass of a very nice NZ pinot noir

hey and I even wore a Diane von furstenberg maternity wrap top (borrowed from a friend) so I even looked quite glam

Pouch - brilliant - you sound just like my in-laws.

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no but I burped while interviewing my maternity replacement on Friday

Oh good (at dinner, not at burping while interviewing, you classy bird, you)

glad the dinner went well!

So... how did the table look?

Sounds fabulous ... glad it went so well and that you enjoyed it too!