First dinner party since newborn, help me!

[BingBangB0ng]

We are having 6 friends over on Friday evening, it’ll be my first time hosting since my 7 week old was born.

My toddler will go to bed an hour before guests arrive, but my newborn will probably still be about. Luckily my husband will be home all day so it should be fine for me to cook.

I’m vegetarian but most of my guests aren’t.

I’ve been dithering a lot, but have decided to just keep it easy and do simple Italian recipes

• Peperonata antipasti, maybe on a crostini with or without some mozzarella, maybe with no crostini and a whole bursts for each place

• Mushroom risotto (I know it’s a bit boring, but I make a really good one and can do it with my eyes closed) with a green salad. With something else to make it more interesting??

• Maybe a flourless chocolate cake? Nigella’s with amaretto? If it wasn’t winter I’d probably do these poached peaches with zabaglione (www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/poached_peaches_with_69782). I’d still like to do something fruity and simpler, rather than baking, but I can’t think of what

Has anyone got any thoughts on the best exact starter configuration, what (vegetarian) thing might go nicely with a mushroom risotto, other than a green salad, if anything, and desserts? Also, what to drink. I’m useless at wine selection never mind pairing. I also thought it might be fun to give people a cocktail on arrival if anyone has any ideas for that.

Thank you in advance!!

If most of your guests aren’t vegetarian, I feel that you need to give them something gutsier than mushroom risotto for the main course. Also, a green salad seems a bit odd with risotto. I’ve never seen the two served together.
I’d do risotto for the starter, stuffed in portobello mushrooms, topped with shavings of vegetarian hard cheese.

For mains, you could do:
Lentil ragu (I’ve seen red wine or balsamic versions if you want to make it fancy) wit tagliatelle or cheesy polenta.
Or Tuscan bean stew and ciabatta
Or Aubergine parmigiana

For a fruity pudding, Amaretto baked figs

Other dessert options:
Tia Maria semifreddo or chocolate semifreddo
Almond cheesecake
Torta della nonna
Lemon polenta cake

Here’s what I mean by the risotto mushrooms

I'm no vegetarian and I think your menu sounds delicious! I always serve risotto with a nice green salad to cut through the richness. And I think risotto followed by pasta would be way too heavy!

That all sounds gorgeous to me. Love risotto and love a flourless chocolate pudding. A green salad sounds a good accompaniment. Maybe a plate of colourful mixed roast vegetables such as butternut squash/beetroot/cauliflower?

Only other thing I can think of, and I'm sure you've already checked, it that some people are strongly anti-mushroom so maybe check with your guests first.

I hope your tiny tot and bigger tot are feeling sleepy on the night!

Looks great but I'm more impressed you're hosting a dinner party with a 7 week old!

Are you mad?
Chill out with your baby. No rush for hosting dinner parties

Maybe she's looking forward to it!

I hope so! Just seems a bit early that's all.

Honestly if I was your guest I’d be so gobsmacked you were hosting and cooking I’d be delighted with anything. (parent of non sleepers here).

Your menu sounds lovely but I personally find it tricky to cook risotto in large quantities. Also a few weird people hate mushrooms. What about a curry?

Possibly a takeaway curry… no seriously, I have switched to having takeaway “dinner parties” with a couple of groups of friends, it’s fab! So low stress.

Sounds delicious, I love being cooked for, so will your friends.

I'd maybe do Mojito cocktails, the fresh mint will work well with your other dishes. You could go the Italian route of Negronis or Aperol Spritz, but I prefer a mojhito!

With the risotto maybe oven roasted tender stem broccoli or asparagus?

I think wine is personal choice, I like a nice chilled Australian Sauvignon Blanc, peasant that I am.

Don't forget amaretto biccies for after dinner with coffee, they'll go with your Italian theme too.

Maybe keep the starter simpler by just buying some nice antipasto like stuffed peppers, burrato, lovely tomatoes, maybe sliced meats if you are ok with that lay off out in middle to share , at least if baby kicks off you've got food . Main and desert sounds lovely , if you did salad and maybe focaccia, again if something happens and the risotto doesn't! You could have those with the starter. I'd just serve raspberries and Greek yoghurt with the choc cake.

Sounds great.

I am omnivore and love a great risotto followed by green salad.

I don't like either mushrooms or risotto so cannot comment on that, but I've read an unwritten 'rule' of hosting is that if you cook one course there and then, and one is pre-prepared, then one can be bought in.

I'd be tempted to make the first course a little more substantial by laying out a selection of dishes for people to help themselves: peperonata, caponata, shop-bought antipasti if you want, olives, tomatoes, deli meats, mozzarella and a couple of different breads. This can all be prepped in advance.

Second plate - just risotto. Dessert - buy a tiramisu. Cantuccini with coffee and digestifs (Vin Santo for authenticity).

Wine - risotto is a northern Italian dish, from Lombardy in particular, which might help guide the wine choice. Lidl has an Italian 'wine tour' - a special seasonal range - which started last week and contains a few things that you don't often see in the likes of Asda. They have a Nebbiolo from Langhe called Santenzo which will give the character of Barolo without the price, but I personally think you get far better value and taste with Puglian or Sicilian wine.

My 7 week old wouldn’t have let me accomplish even a tiny amount of that cooking and prep so hats off to you! I’d be tempted to serve a Cook ready meal and palm it off as my own 🤣

I think your menu sounds really delicious. Aperol Spritz for a welcome cocktail?

My two had horrific witching hours at 7 weeks so I'd be stuck on the sofa with a baby on my boob.

Uber eats and pre made food is your friend here. Buy the pudding, or do a pot luck where people bring a dish to share.

What about poached pears for dessert? Make in advance, look nice, serve with cream or ice cream and not too heavy.
Menu sounds lovely, as an omnivore I don't expect meat, and definitely not if I am eating with veggies.

Must read op properly! I have done poached pears at Christmas so think of them as a winter dessert.
Dried fruit compote might feel more wintery.

TBH, with a 7 week old baby, I’d be ordering a take away!