Dinner party menu?

[Rockchick1984]

I've got to cook a nice, 3 course meal for 6 next weekend. I'm an ok cook, but normally only make simple meals eg spaghetti bolognese, fish pie etc.

Please can you suggest a menu for me, I want to make it look impressive but can't afford to spend a ridiculous amount on ingredients

I recently made plaice fillets with lemon risotto which was lovely and not expensive. It was a Tom Aikens recipe from his fish book. You might be able to find it or something like it online. Creme brulee is a lovely, easy pudding. You could put a few raspberries in the botom of each.

Mmm, I love risotto so that's definitely a possibility, thanks!

The key thing will be to do starters and puddings that you can do in advance. That way you're not panicking in the kitchen trying to get everything sorted at the same time.

Do you have any restrictions, like vegetarians, or people who don't like specific ingredients?

When i cook 3 courses i keep the starter simple so something like pate or baked camembert. I had a really delicious dinner out last night, roast chicken with sage mash and creamy mushroom sauce. came with fine beans. Would be easy to recreate I think

I'm the only really fussy one although I have one guest who won't eat raw tomato but I'm not a big fan of them either. I think easy starter will definitely be the way to go, what would I serve with baked Camembert?

If your not an overly confident cook then I'd go for simple dishes you can prep well in advance...

Starters: Pear, brie and walnut salad.

Main: Salmon en croute with baby veg, sounds really complicated but is a doodle esp if you use ready made puff pastry. Tesco are doing a side of salmon for a tenner.

Dessert: Panna Cotta with mixed berries you just need to heat milk and cream in a pan and add gelatine according to volume of liquid. Once the mixture is cooled pour into moulds and leave to set overnight. Dip each mold in boiling water for 5 secs to release or alternatively go for an eton mess or cheesecake

Really, really easy starter (and it is absolutely delicious too):

Mushroom Pate
250g mushrooms
30g butter
3-4 garlic cloves, peeled and finely chopped
250g cream cheese
Salt and freshly ground black pepper

1. Clean and trim the mushrooms, and chop them finely
2. Heat the butter in a large frying pan over a medium heat. Saute the mushrooms and garlic, stirring frequently for 10 minutes or until all the moisture has evaporated. Leave to cool for a few minutes
3. Blitz the mushrooms in a food processor until smooth, then add the cream cheese and blitz again until well blended
4. Season to taste and then leave to cool completely
5. Refrigerate for at least an hour for the garlic flavour to develop
6. Serve in generous dollops on crostini, or triangles of toast

Keeps very well in the fridge for up to a week

You could make it look more impressive/posh by serving individual portions, in quenelles or shaped rounds and garnish the plate with little pea shoots.

This is an embarrassingly easy starter but tastes fantastic.

And for pudding - another embarrassingly easy but gorgeous dish - lemon posset. Only uses three ingredients - lemon, cream and sugar. You can serve with little biscuits of any kind.

uktv.co.uk/food/recipe/aid/596540

And for the main course:

salmon en croute

I've made this a couple of times. It's much nicer, I think, made with puff pastry - and if you buy two ready rolled sheets it's even easier!

Mmmm, the pâté sounds lovely!