For a dinner party main, is it boring to serve

[WinkyWinkola]

chicken breasts, filled with basil and Camembert, seared in a slice of Parma ham on asparagus?

I'm kind of weary this week (already!) and the thought of sweating over a new recipe makes me even more tired.

Any suggestions for starter and dessert?

Sounds lovely. Fish starter? Scallops? Mackerel pâté ?

Pudding smashed up ginger biscuits, poached pears and vanilla ice cream/Marscapone/double cream. Puff pastry layered with strawberries/rhubarb/apple and double cream - drizzle some maple syrup and icing sugar over top.

The main sounds lovely.

If it's a warm day a chilled soup such as gazpacho which can be made in advance (serve with garnishes and croutons bought from supermarket to make it look like you've slaved all day with it), or asparagus wraps with mayo.

For the dessert what about Raymond Blanc's Rhubarb and Lemon Tart. It's quite easy especially if you use ready made pastry.

bon appétit

Sounds lovely to me. I think gazpacho sounds like a nice starter as well, sounds perfect for this time of year.

Sounds really lovely!

For pudding, how about strawberries in balsamic syrup with basil? It's delicious.

Mix 2 tbsp of caster sugar with 1 tbsp of a really good balsamic vinegar (please don't try it with the cheap stuff). You can double or treble this depending on amount of strawberries, and also adjust it to your own taste. Pour over your berries and leave for about 10 minutes, any longer and you'll have strawberry sauce.

Just before serving, sprinkle in some shredded basil leaves.

Lovely with some really good vanilla ice cream.

Strawberries and cream in a meringue nest? Eton Mess that good old standby?

Oh you're all so helpful. Many thanks.

I like fruit salad as a pudding option. Apparently that's boring. I was surprised.

Soup is always dull. Unless eastern style

I love soup me.

Eton mess for desert ? just break up Meringues, mix with whipped double cream and raspberries and strawberries, sprinkle with flaked almonds.

Its always my standby.

Sorry, completely ignored the fact that basil was in the main course .

Was just over excited by my recent discovery of the deliciousness of strawberries with balsamic dressing and basil.

LOL AT ETON MESS KLAXON

I think, unless you're on Come Dine With Me, any food served to you by someone else, not in your own house, and which you do not have to buy, cook, or wash up, is by definition, not boring, and anyone who says different is plain rude.

My favourite Eton Mess in disguise (I dunno, call it Harrow Mess, or Bedales Mess, or something) is meringues and mango chunks with a couple of passionfruit scooped out over the top. The colours are pretty, and the contrast between the sharp passionfruit, thick cream and slightly chalky mango is very moreish.

Grange Hill Mess is also an option. That would be Hartley's strawberry jelly, mixed with Dream Topping, and optional Bird's Custard. and a sausage on a fork to garnish