Easy recipes for guests

[Psychgrad]

I’ve invited a couple over for dinner this weekend to thank them for looking after our dogs. Does anyone have easy recipe ideas? I get overwhelmed quite easily and have adhd so don’t like standing over the stove while guests start to arrive. I’d like it to be ready or just need reheating by the time they come. I’m pescatarian so veggie or Pesci options are ideal. I do have the green roasting tin cookbook which I should probably have a look at but it’s gathering dust……

Then roasting things are definitely your friend.

I do roast vegetables with various seasonings, and do a protein separately sometimes.

One I love, which has great flavour combinations is butternut squash, red onion, potatoes, dress in a mix of olive oil, honey and some mustard and black pepper, then add bottled chickpeas (bigger and more flavourful, but tinned is fine) and crumbled feta after half an hour and cook for a further half hour.

All one dish, cut the veg fairly small so it roasts evenly, serve with some crusty bread and all done.

Oh that sounds lovely!

Veggie Chilli that you can make earlier in the day, over a roasted sweet potato, with guacamole, sour cream, cheese etc to add on at the table

Vegetable tagine

Thanks for the ideas but I’ll be in work during the day so won’t have time to prep for a tagine or chilli.

How about a fish pie. All made the night before and ready to pop in the oven on the day? Or a veggie lasagne made the night before? I like to have a dish made in advance so only needs cooking through and the veggies to be cooked just before.

Really delicious easy one that always goes down well:

Side of salmon (or salmon slices) Coat them with dark soy and sweet chilli sauce.

Put a kg of baby potatoes (washed but not peeled) in a roasting tin with chunks of red pepper, onion and butternut squash, peeled and cubed. Toss them in 1 tbsp of veg oil with 2 tsp of sesame oil, a shake of salt, tsp garlic granules or a tbsp of garlic puree, some chilli flakes (not too many) and bake for 15-20 mins. Then put the salmon into the same oven and continue to bake for 25 mins.

They should all come together nicely, so if you put the veg in just as the guests are due to arrive, and then the salmon 15 mins later, then you have time to have a drink and a chat before eating.

Serve with lime wedges. You could add a leafy salad with a bit of dressing if you like.

Buy a cheesecake and some fresh raspberries or strawberries for pudding.

My rule when having guests is not to cook anything that requires use of the stove/hob.

I always make something that can be taken out of the oven and served straight to the table. With made ahead sides and pudding.

What do your guests like? Are they vegetarian? Would the be happy with a vegetarian meal? I wouldn't be keen on vegetarian meal above. I have IBS and that would kill me, lol.

My advice would be to create your menu around your guests likes and needs.

Thanks for all these ideas. Turns out they were both pescatarian as am I, only my husband was the meat eater but he likes veggie meals too.