What to cook for friends tomorrow night?

[tethersjinglebellend]

There will only be four of us- I fancy a sit-down dinner rather than a buffet.

Is there something that requires minimal effort but is really impressive?

No roasts or stews though...

Any ideas?

Hello you!

Impressive as in posh or as in tasty? I think NYE and curry is a good combination - spice is good after all the rich food over Christmas. :)

Ooooh, hello Remus; how are you?

Posh, tasty, both are good. I don't know at all... had the norovirus last week and it's sort of put me off food so my mind is completely blank. I like the idea of spices, but not sure about a curry... unless you can tempt me?

The following are nice:
Chilli with home made guacamole, sour cream and rice
Slow cooked beef in chianti with pasta
Luxury Fajitas (basic but always a winner)

What about Mexican or Thai - with Mexican you can make cocktails accordingly. Makes a nice change from all the Christmas food and root vegetables.

Nigella's Rudolph pie is posh cottage pie - with venison, yummy.

A substantial duck salad looks impressive served on a big platter.

I'm fine, thanks. How are the littlies?

Maybe no to curry then, if you're still feeling a bit fragile.

Pudding - buy some posh biscuits. Mix up some whipped cream and some Greek yoghurt or creme fraiche. Add posh lemon curd and a squeeze of lemon and serve in tiny glasses with the biscuits. It's light but delicious.

How about Greek? Baked feta, a Greek salad, maybe Kleftiko if you eat meat, baked giant beans etc?

Mexican would be a great excuse for Margaritas.

Replies, great

Ok:

-Chilli and fajitas are a bit everyday dinner IYSWIM, so wanted something a bit more impressive...

• I don't like beef, sorry, should've said. Ditto lamb. Oh, and duck. And venison. Christ, I'm a bit of a nightmare Thanks for suggestions though.

• I've never cooked Thai, but could give it a go...?

I like the sound of the pudding, Remus. Might give that a bash actually. Can only think of vege moussaka for Greek... Oh, and the little ones are driving me utterly, utterly MENTAL, which is why I need an easy recipe

Remus, margaritas were the cocktail of which I was thinking but I have had too much gin tonight to remember.

Have already mentioned Jamie Oliver's brownies on another thread, can be made with the DCs, shove in a pile on a naice plate, sprinkle on glitter, shove in some sparklers, looks impressive.

Ok, so pudding and drinks sorted

Any more ideas on the main course?

www.letsmunch.co.uk/index.php/open-lasagna-of-mushrooms-pine-nuts-and-thyme/

I made this for friends a few months ago and it was absolutely gorgeous - none of us is vegetarian, I might add, but we all lived it. Very easy, too.

Loved it, not lived it, obviously

I was going to suggest beef Wellington because that's what we have every new years eve . but if I had non beef eaters round I'd either make risotto or chicken thigh with Philadelphia ( or similar) stuffed under the skin then roasted on top of chunkily chopped leeks, served with potato dauphinoise .

I'm doing nigella's couscous with spicy veg stew and aromatic lamb meatballs. Meatballs and stew are done, just need to make couscous and decide on a pud. What about something chicken-y with spices and a couscous?

That lasagne sounds lovely. Oh I wish my dds would eat mushrooms. Grrrr.

What did you decide on, Tethers? We're having Chinese duck pancakes but with tofu instead of duck.

That sounds really good, Remus- can you PM me the recipe? I love tofu. I feel your pain with mushroom haters; they are my favourite food and I am the only one who likes them. I made a fantastic mushroom wellington (with stilton sauce) the other day, so bollocks to the lot of them

I went for Nigella's Spanish chicken in the end, but added some peppers and tomatoes. Piece of piss, was lovely.

Mushroom wellington sounds gorgeous.

The tofu thing was lovely and so easy - I got the recipe in the Waitrose mag.

Get block tofu and wrap it in a tea towel then weigh it down with a plate and some tins in the fridge for a few hours.

Mix some five spice powder with some oil.

Slice the tofu and smother it in the spiced oil on both sides.

Stick it in the oven for about 45 minutes until crispy then slice into thin strips.

Meanwhile shred some spring onions and some cucumber.

Have it with bought Chinese pancakes and some sauce. The recipe said to use Hoisin sauce but I forgot to buy it so we had sweet chilli sauce plus some soy into which I mixed honey and some red chilli. I've googled since and have seen a couple of recipes for homemade plum sauce, so will try that next time.

We had ten pancakes and one block of tofu between 3 of us which was big for a starter but not enough for a main.

Well I am too late as always but, for future reference, I would recommend Delia's Moroccan Chicken. Very nice and looks impressive.

Jamie Oliver's hunter's chicken is a good one. or H F-W's slow roast shoulder of lamb with merguez spices. Ok it's a roast, but it's not your average roast!