Informal dinner on Friday night with friends

[Wellhellothere1]

We have friends coming round to ours for dinner on Friday night after work (two adults, two kids so with us there will be seven in total). I really need inspiration from you all as I have no idea what to cook! My problem is my friend’s husband comes from an Italian family who are all great cooks and he used to work in the restaurant business and consequently he is an amazing cook. I have no clue. Any ideas for something fairly informal, after work dinner with kids? The only thing I need to avoid is peanuts. Thanks

How many courses?

I would probably do a BBQ - I would get sausages,burgers, steak and maybe some chicken thighs or wings and serve with good bread, baked potatoes with cheese/sour cream,coleslaw and a mixed salad and then something like a pavlova for dessert

I think just two courses Gasp My friend is bringing dessert. BBQ would be a good idea yes! We're in Scotland though so I'm not hopeful we'll have BBQ weather on Friday. Mind you I'm sure DH won't mind being outside.

My go to is fajitas 😬 normally do a normal chicken one, then one with mince beef and beans with taco seasoning. Then loads of sides.

I've also done pulled pork served in buns with corn on the cob and wedges. Beef stiffado, with a kind of mezzo starter (shop bought!). I like doing tapas as well but that takes most of a day cooking so might not be suitable.

Great ideas Spam thanks. I haven't heard of beef stiffado. Off to Google!

Chicken and lemon tray bake?

There's a Nigella recipe which is nice, just don't overdo it else it'll be dry.

Spanish chicken and chorizo with crusty bread, or a good chilli made with shin of beef (save with Jamie recipe is excellent), salsa, guacamole and rice. Or a curry - a really good curry can’t be beaten and you won’t be competing with the Italian cook as it’s a completely different type of cooking.
It depends how old / fussy the children are as well.

Nigella's chicken and lemon is top notch.

A bolognese with top quality mince and a decent bottle of wine added to it over twelve hours.

www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/1974662/sea-bass-and-seafood-italian-onepot

I do this with Sainsburys frozen sea bass cocktail, (ditch the squid/calamari - vile) top it up with fresh scallops, add vac packed mussels and use dried fennel seeds as opposed to fresh and lots and lots of garlic. Lots of crusty bread and it is a hit every time.

Sea food cocktail even.

Was coming on here also to say Nigellas lemon chicken tray bake ! My new favourite go to recipe. Couldn’t be more simple

I agree with mamaduckbone with plenty of wine for adults, and garlic bread/sweet stuff for kids.

What about Jamie Oliver’s “my old man’s chicken”

It’s chicken stuffed with mushrooms and parsley, wrapped in puff pastry with a white wine and mustard sauce.

It’s incredibly easy, looks awesome and can be prepared in advance ready to bung in the oven.

For fussy kids I do plain chicken wrapped in pastry and skip the sauce.

Or

We had this last night, beer butt chicken (google it) with potato salad and coleslaw and a green salad.

Thank you so much everyone. Loads of brilliant ideas. I'll have a proper look tonight after work.