Simple but elegant dinner menu ideas needed please?

[Pennies]

I've got some friends coming for dinner on Friday and I want to do something nice, but noting too flash or complicated, and ideally stuff I can mostly prepare tomorrow night. Can anyone help?

Tomatoes with mozzarella and basil for starters.
A large pasta dish for main. Something that you could just throw altogether and serve in one big bowl, with bread and a nice salad.

And my fave for dessert. Eton Mess. Double cream whipped till thick, crushed merangues, strawberries and raspberries all mixed together in one big mess.

Easy peasy!

I cooked this when I had friends over the other week. It went down really well, just served it with new potatoes, green salad and crusty bread.

Oh delicious, I'd love that. Sadly, however DH hates pasta. Sounds unbelievable but totally true. Very very annoying.

Oh whilst we're at it he also hates cheese and anything to do with apples (or fruit of any kind , pretty much, except blueberries).

Great chicken dish. Will put it to the committee (namely DH)

Pennies, I believe I must be married to your dh too!!!

I never thought I would hear anyone else say what you have said lol.

Chicken dish looks fab. I'm going to do that tomorrow.

It's annoying isn't it. When he's out I gorge on spag bol and eat fruit salad!

it was really simple, I actually used chicken legs as it was cheaper and cherry tomatoes instead of halved big ones just cos it was easier.

Me too

I have never used Boullion and dont have any either. What could I use as an alternative? (thinking of the potatoes)

go to marks and spencer they are bound to do something yummy to go with it that you can just shove in the oven.

lol

I would think that you could leave the bouillion powder out, its only gonna slightly flavour the potatoes. Alternative would be dice some potatoes, coat with oil, garlic and some mixed herbs and roast in the oven while the chicken is cooking,