Help for a terrible cook

[Besttobe8001]

I have a new flat and have invited 3 close girlfriends round for dinner next week. I don't really cook but my new kitchen is lovely and I'd like to try and make something.

Can you suggest something as a starter and main course, my friend has offered to bring pudding. Ideally something that doesn't require like an extra tin or whizzer that I won't have.

I would like it to be something kind of classic French or Italian food that doesn't take ages but tastes nice and crucially I can't really really mess up?

Could you do a tomato and mozzarella salad with olives and nice crusty bread for starter/nibbles. Then a simple but tasty pasta dish for main? Maybe creamy mushroom or carbonara?

If you’ve got a grill, for your starter, you could make toasted goats cheese on rounds of French bread, two slices per person, serve on a bed of mixed salad leaves, and drizzled with a herby French or Italian dressing.
For a main course, salmon fillets wrapped in a foil parcel and baked in the oven, you could serve that with boiled or baked new potatoes and a green vegetable, broccoli works well with fish, or get a pack of mixed spring vegetables from the supermarket and cook as per instructions.

Have a lovely night!

Camembert wheels baked in the oven with garlic and rosemary. Serve as a starter with fresh bread and roasted vegetables eg small roasted potatoes, cauliflower, broccoli etc.

It's easy, very tasty and also communal which is lovely when eating with friends.
We use forks or the little two pronged things you get with fondue.

Bruschetta to start, followed by fresh linguine with chilli, cherry tomatoes, garlic, fresh crab (buy ready prepped in Waitrose), lemon juice and plenty of fresh parsley and black pepper. Yummy and takes less than 10 minutes.

All good ideas, best to practice the night before then you won’t panic on the night, dont forget the Prosecco!.

I'd go for a lasagne for the main, with a nice salad and some garlic bread.

If you have individual ramekins, then I’d do baked ricotta, with the tomato topping from here if you’ve got time.
Chicken wrapped in prosciutto is an easy main.

www.deliciousmagazine.co.uk/recipes/rigatoni-with-sausage-and-fennel-ragu/

This is delicious and very easy to make. Any good quality sausage is fine, they don't need to be Italian. You can make the sauce the day before, or just leave it on a low simmer so there's no rushing about.

As others have mentioned, bruschetta is an easy starter and you can make the topping ahead of time.

@AtleastitsnotMonday

Bruschetta to start, followed by fresh linguine with chilli, cherry tomatoes, garlic, fresh crab (buy ready prepped in Waitrose), lemon juice and plenty of fresh parsley and black pepper. Yummy and takes less than 10 minutes.

The crab sounds amazing! And I am right near a Waitrose so can definitely do that thank you.

Bruschetta looks easy enough too.

Thanks so much all of you.

@hellcatspangle

https://www.deliciousmagazine.co.uk/recipes/rigatoni-with-sausage-and-fennel-ragu/

This is delicious and very easy to make. Any good quality sausage is fine, they don't need to be Italian. You can make the sauce the day before, or just leave it on a low simmer so there's no rushing about.

As others have mentioned, bruschetta is an easy starter and you can make the topping ahead of time.

That looks delish!

It really is @JadeJeans, it's one of our go to pasta dishes these days.

You could also think about something like coq au vin which is easy enough, and you could make the night before then just reheat when you need it.

Coq au vin would also be my recommendation. Can be made in advance and is delicious and very French too. Serve with crusty bread.

As a starter just do some deli olives and bread sticks.

Does CAV have to be made with mushroom?

@pearsandpeaches

You could also think about something like coq au vin which is easy enough, and you could make the night before then just reheat when you need it.

Do you have a good recipe for this please?

www.ocado.com/webshop/recipe/Coq-au-vin-blanc/189093?selectedCategories

My recipe is very similar to this but doesn't have the tarragon in it. The original recipe I use was an Ocado one but it's no longer up on the site.

I serve with French bread. It's easy to make this recipe and it tastes divine. I like that you can make it the day before or earlier in the day and just heat it through to serve, that way it doesn't take you away from your guests.