Please inspire me with a meal for two (me and friend)

[Judyandherdreamofhorses]

My friend and I have a rare opportunity for her to come over tomorrow evening. All kids in bed, no DH's.

I want to do a nice meal. But it must be either really quick and easy (but not a ready meal) or a prepare in advance meal.

Neither of us vegetarian. No strong dislikes.

I feel so uninspired. DH has been doing most of the cooking for the last year or so. Now I have a brand new kitchen and can't think what to cool in it!

Our current favourites are,

enchiladas
fry a finely chopped red onion and pepper in some oil until beginning to soften, add in turkey mince
(approximately 100g per person) and cook until done (around 8-10minutes). Add some frozen peas or
sweetcorn and cook for 2 minutes more. Spoon in 2 heaped tbsp red pesto and 1tbsp tomato puree. You
can add 25g grated cheese if liked here (we don't as DH hates cheese). Spoon into tortillas and roll up.
Slice in half and put into baking tin. Top with HM tomato sauce and/or grated cheese. Bake until golden
on top at 180degrees (approx 10-15mins).
meatballs
finely chop 1 onion, grate a peeled apple, crush a clove of garlic, crumble a chicken stock cube and add
to a bowl with 500g lean beef mince (or mixture of beef and pork mince) and 2 tbsp tomato puree. Use
your fingers to combine ingredients and then roll into small balls. Coat with flour and fry in a large pan
until all sides are brown and they are cooked through (approx 15mins). Serve with HM tomato sauce
and pasta (in our house it's crusty bread as DH hates pasta).

lamb chops? pan fried with herbs and seasoning, half oil half butter, crushed garlic clove.. Cook briefly on both sides til brown. set aside to rest, covered with foil. open tin of white beans, rinse, warm through in pan juices. tip meat juice from plate in. serve with mixed leaves and lemon vinagrette.

Enchiladas sound nice but a bit fiddly for the time I've got. Lamb chops with beans would be good. Friend isn't to keen on pasta, I've remembered. I've got a nice chorizo and lentil stew recipe too. Might do that.

I'd go the casserole route. It's winter, it's cold, you can put everything in a casserole dish well in advance and all you have to do when your friend arrives is pour the wine, toss the salad and break a little bread!

Traditional things would be Boeuf Bourguignon or Beef in Ale, Cassoulet with Pork and Beans, Chicken Casserole. Chorizo Lentil Stew sounds perfect. For another day I can heartily recommend the Pataks ready-made curry sauces as being very tasty and authentic. Use boneless/skinless chicken thighs and cook slow.

How about nigella's prawn and mango curry? I was introduced to it a while ago and it's a staple now. Recipe easily googled

All v quick, can be prepared in advance and is ace

Have a fab eve!

Evening sadly postponed due to sick kids.

But that mango and prawn curry looks great and I think I'll try it tomorrow. Need some new staples. Thanks.