Menu ideas 12 for dinner Saturday

[reindeesandchristmastrees]

Help me plan this please

need yummy and ideally relatively impressive ideas that I can do most ahead on the day

3 courses for 12 - no fish or shellfish and no tomatoes

thanks 😘

Apple, goats cheese and honey tarts or just goats cheese and onion tarts
Then some sort of stuffed or wrapped chicken breast like this or if you want to make it more summery, then this recipe
For pudding, cheesecake is an obvious make-ahead option, but I’d go for mini pavlovas with lots of summer berries

I would do something like a tomato and mozzarella salad with a nice Pesto Dressing.
I would do something like coq au vin for main served with rice and green salad.
Something like cheesecake for dessert.

Do you want a formal, plated meal or self serve more casual affair?

I would do Mexican, the below (other than guac) could be made ahead.
Carnitas (I love recipe)
Refried beans
Roasted vegetables (peppers, onions...)
Tortillas
Tortilla chips
Guacamole
Pico de Gallo (one version with and one version without tomatoes)

For dessert a Tres Leches Cake - perfect as you have to make this the day before to allow time for it to soak up the flavour.

Not enough information re type of food, style of hosting etc.

But for me, for that many in summer I'd be doing some kind of large roast that can be served at room temperature with salads or steamed vegetables with some kind of sauce. eg a huge rib of beef or a slow cooked lamb shoulder, or multiple roast chickens. Roasted veg and couscous on the side or a few good salads or a pile of greens with a tahini/yoghurt dressing.

Starter I'd probably do a selection of pates and nice breads.

Dessert can be anything but I tend to just serve magnums! Shop bought tarts etc all good.

I’ve made Nigella’s slow cooked lemon and garlic chicken many times for a crowd served with roasted new potatoes and salads. Easy and mostly make ahead. www.nigella.com/recipes/slow-roasted-garlic-and-lemon-chicken

I’m not sure how formal you want to be. But last week we did a meal for 11 which was an informal friends get together thing.
The starter was cold meats/dips/ bread olives etc The main - Nigellas Ham in coke which always tastes delicious, minted new potatoes ( jersey royals) with two different salads, French bread. Dessert - pavlova and a chocolate torte.

Salads and desserts find ahead of time / potatoes put on whilst started are being eaten and the ham can cook and sit quite comfortably under foil and stays warm until you are ready.
I always try to do as much ahead of time so I don’t miss the socialising !!

I second sharing starter of olives, bread salami etc. nigellas ham is amazing! You could also do slow roast lamb with new potatoes, salads and home made coleslaw. I do a lovely coleslaw with finely grated carrot, sliced onions, sliced fennel. Then mix in equal parts of mayo and Greek yogurt with crushed garlic and lemon zest. Loads of parsley on every thing! Pud pavlova or mini Erin mess in individual glasses or tea cups.

Eton mess!!!

Oh I like the sound of this

DH has just mow said he wants lamb tagine - anyone got a fab recipe with ras el hanout (because we have that0 and preserved lemons?

Going to do a tarte au citron for at least one of the puds

In terms of mains this is always my go to when hosting as it’s incredibly tasty and looks like you’ve put way more effort in than you have. Plus it leaves plenty of time to actually catch up with your guests.

https://www.recipetineats.com/slow-roast-leg-of-lamb/

As you've decided on a Moroccan dish for the main course, I'd keep that theme going with a starter of small Moroccan style dishes like lebneh with pine nuts, aubergine pate, yoghurt with cucumber & mint, little spiced chicken pastries, flat breads, a couple of different houmous, beetroot salad etc.
You could do rice and couscous with the main dish.

Perhaps a lemon and orange water sorbet or strawberry and rose water sorbet to finish?

Smoked mackerel pate with real Melba toast (salad garnish)
Boeuf Bourguignon with green veg and dauphinois potatoes
Fruit salad or a pavlova
Cheese
Vast majority can be made ahead of time

Or strawberries and cream with shortbread biscuits

Some alternatives:
Gazpacho or chilled cucumber soup
Crudites
Gravad lax

Lamb korma
Lamb vindaloo

Trifle
Citrus fruit salad
Pineapple in lemongrass syrup with a crisp biscuit

Vichysoisse
Beef and ale pie
Creme caramel or panna cotta with a cardamom tulip

Picky stuff to start - olives, hummus, bread, oil, balsamic vinegar type things
Bought lemon tart etc plus posh ice cream and berries for pud

*tuile - don't you just love autocorrect?