Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Food/recipes

For related content, visit our food content hub.

Help! Cooking for 6 next weekend and I have no idea what to make.

85 replies

pharmachameleon · 25/05/2024 11:09

We have 6 good friends coming for dinner next weekend and 5 kids. I am fine with the kids food but I'm really stuck with what to cook for the adults. Has anyone got any foolproof recipes that are nice in summer but are fairly easy to make? No veggie-maybe beef or chicken?
It's for my 50th so I'm bloody raging I have to cook but it's just the way it worked out 😂 So I'm trying to think of recipes that are a bit more special but I'm not the best cook so need to be easy. Thanks!

OP posts:
Thread gallery
9
AtleastitsnotMonday · 26/05/2024 12:22

If you're worried about the dumplings in the arabiata just leave them out and serve with garlic and Parmesan flat breads on the side.

TheSandgroper · 27/05/2024 08:12

Slow cooker ham with salads bought in? Ham doesn’t need to be for Christmas.

Ineffable23 · 27/05/2024 08:20

I think I would be pretty tempted by a Cook meal if you aren't a super keen cook.

Alternatively, I like a tapas style menu where the majority of it can either be made ahead or baked at the last minute. I always try and avoid anything that needs to be fried immediately prior to consumption when I am catering because it needs too much intervention.

I have a great chicken thigh recipe with pomegranate and plums: http://catherineskitchen.com/2019/11/16/chicken-with-plums-honey-pomegranates/
I seem to remember this as reasonably low effort, but I think one did have to add things at different times through the recipe so it required a bit more intervention than lots of Diana Henry's recipes. I'd really recommend "from the oven to the table" - all fairly easy dishes which range in fanciness from the everyday to the more special.

Chicken with Plums, Honey & Pomegranates – Catherines Kitchen

http://catherineskitchen.com/2019/11/16/chicken-with-plums-honey-pomegranates

OMGitsnotgood · 27/05/2024 14:26

I fancy making this chicken and rice dish

You could buy some bhajis and samosas to serve alongside or a fresh salad with yoghurt and mint dressing served on the side

Chewbecca · 27/05/2024 18:56

I do joint my own chicken for chicken basque, mainly because it is cheaper that way. 2 bone on breasts and legs is the outcome. I just go for it with scissors. I just use chicken Oxo though and skip the oranges and use any old herbs. I always use the oven bake method, not hob top as it tends to get a little burnt on the bottom.
I find kids like it too. You do need a big pan so a massive one if you are doubling up, or doing 1.5x

I adore Ottolenghi but the effort level is on a different planet to Delia. (Also love that chicken stew recipe but it's definitely a winter warmer).

How about this BBC good food chicken tray bake? Nice and easy & tasty.
www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/amatriciana-chicken-traybake

I've enjoyed everything from Cook so if you do that, just get whatever is your own favourite! Their puds are fab IMO.

pharmachameleon · 27/05/2024 20:49

Right. I'm actually really stricken by stress now. I'm so stressed and overwhelmed I can't think what to cook. Why TF did I offer to host?
There is no way I'm jointing a chicken. And I don't have a pan big enough to do 2 chicken basques. So that's out the window.
The Cook meals-aargh! DH doesn't fancy them as he would rather cook fresh. He's cooking and is less of a cook than I am but he's insisting!
The traybake recipes do definitely look really, really nice but I'm hoping for something slightly more fancy.
I'm really sorry everyone. I don't mean to be fussy or ungrateful as you've all been a great help but I still don't know what to do.
The chicken with lentils recipe linked looks nice but is it curry-like? I feel sick and stuffed with a curry. Plus my DS is allergic to lentils so I probably shouldn't cook that.
My DH has airily thrown 'Greek' into the mix so maybe I should think about that....

OP posts:
OMGitsnotgood · 27/05/2024 20:55

The chicken with lentils recipe linked looks nice but is it curry-like?

It has curry-like spices, fairly mild, but looks like it's essentially chicken and rice. You could leave the lentils out. I'm going to serve it with a cucumber, tomato ans red onion salad to lift.

Nouvellenovel · 27/05/2024 21:17

pharmachameleon · 27/05/2024 20:49

Right. I'm actually really stricken by stress now. I'm so stressed and overwhelmed I can't think what to cook. Why TF did I offer to host?
There is no way I'm jointing a chicken. And I don't have a pan big enough to do 2 chicken basques. So that's out the window.
The Cook meals-aargh! DH doesn't fancy them as he would rather cook fresh. He's cooking and is less of a cook than I am but he's insisting!
The traybake recipes do definitely look really, really nice but I'm hoping for something slightly more fancy.
I'm really sorry everyone. I don't mean to be fussy or ungrateful as you've all been a great help but I still don't know what to do.
The chicken with lentils recipe linked looks nice but is it curry-like? I feel sick and stuffed with a curry. Plus my DS is allergic to lentils so I probably shouldn't cook that.
My DH has airily thrown 'Greek' into the mix so maybe I should think about that....

I ordered mix and match pies and made a pan of mash and some mushy peas.
Godard’s pie and mash shop is brilliant. Delivery excellent.

https://www.goddardsatgreenwich.co.uk/about-pie-mash/

About Pie & Mash

About London's most traditional dish of pie mash and liquor

Pie & mash is one of London's most traditional meals. Visit our pieshop in Greenwich for an authentic taste of London!

https://www.goddardsatgreenwich.co.uk/about-pie-mash/

pharmachameleon · 27/05/2024 21:22

Thanks @londonmummy1966
@Nouvellenovel pies would be good fun (?!) but I think the weather has to be lovely at the weekend. I think I want something light and summery.

OP posts:
cunningartificer · 27/05/2024 21:24

Have you tried Diana Henry's oven to table or simple? Brilliant foolproof recipes; especially like Moroccan chicken with dates for a special occasion but pretty much everything works... and a cook roulade for after!

Chewbecca · 27/05/2024 21:29

Ok - a dead easy, prep in advance Greek ish menu

http://nicholasclee.blogspot.com/2008/04/lamb-with-lemon-and-garlic.html

this is a Delia recipe from How to Cheat, really easy and tender

plus these potatoes

https://www.deliaonline.com/recipes/collections/delias-summer-collection/oven-roasted-potatoes-with-garlic-and-rosemary

a Greek salad - toms, cuce, red onion, slab of feta, sprinkle of herbs and drizzle of olive oil & white wine vinegar

tzatziki - peel, re,ove seeds and coarsely grate a cucumber. Squeeze out liquid and mix into a tub of fage Greek yoghurt with a crushed clove garlic. S&P. Finish with drizzle of olive oil and white wine vinegar

Lamb with lemon and garlic

Not all the recipes in Delia Smith's How To Cheat at Cooking involve cans, frozen things, or other pre-prepared foods. There is a wonderful...

http://nicholasclee.blogspot.com/2008/04/lamb-with-lemon-and-garlic.html

EveryOtherNameTaken · 27/05/2024 21:31

SilverHairedCat · 25/05/2024 11:20

Order in from Cook!

https://www.cookfood.net/menu/order

Highly recommend the veg lasagne even if you're not veggie.

I love Cook!!

The food is so good. I hear lots of people pass it off as home cooked and it doesn't have that processed flavour like some.

Muchtoomuchtodo · 27/05/2024 21:36

What about a bbq style meal? You could cook the meat indoors if an actual bbq doesn’t appeal. Doesn’t have to be fancy, marinade some salmon fillets, good quality sausages, some chicken skewers or similar.

pasta salad, three bean salad, new potatoes or small jackets, tomato/ mozzarella salad, fresh bread etc to go with it

Fruit (a mixture of berries) with cream and / or ice cream for dessert.

i’d love that! It can mostly be prepared well in advance (preferably by your husband!) and should go down well with kids and adults.

Thesonofaphesantplucker · 27/05/2024 21:58

Just for anyone interested, I frequently cook the BBC good food chicken arabiatta. The first time I did it, I accidentally added a tin of mixed beans in tomato sauce (instead of one of the tins of chopped toms), it was AMAZING and is now added every time!

The dumplings really do bring the whole thing together. I make the dough in the food processor and just divide it up. So, so easy!

thedendrochronologist · 27/05/2024 22:04

Sorry this has landed on you op!

Do Greek souvlaki style chicken and salad with tzatziki and houmous and pitta bread or flat bread

Nibbles - pita chips and dips

Tzatziki made the day before is easy yoghurt grated cucumber garlic and lemon

Houmous made day before

Main
Marinate the Souvlaki in yoghurt and spices the day before - is traditionally on skewers but I'd do them in cubes in the oven try getting a Greek style rub pre bought- I have the Angus and oink one but the Schwartz one will be fine just get extra if also put some lemon in to bakes as it looks fab when cooked

www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/chicken-gyros

Greek Salad agin get a recipe but roughly shredded iceberg, tom, cucumber with seeds removed and diced, sliced red onion and loads of feta cheese and black olives plus dressing Prepared morning. Have a look at how things are chopped and presented makes a difference

Desert - rubbish at this ! I'd buy ice cream from shop!

AlisonDonut · 27/05/2024 22:08

Huge salad, make a shed load of pizza dough and a range of toppings and let everyone roll their own.

pharmachameleon · 27/05/2024 22:17

@thedendrochronologist and @Muchtoomuchtodo I think we'll do a combo of these thanks so much!!
@AlisonDonut we've got an Ooni pizza oven so we're doing this for the kids.

OP posts:
trampoline123 · 28/05/2024 11:49

My usual go to dishes when cooking for a few ppl are:

Lasagne and salad, cut fresh French stick
Roast a chicken with salad and new minty potatos
Thai green curry with chicken and prawns and put baby corn and mange tout in it. Poppadoms too cos I just love them.
Fajitas

I saw you like thai and found this recipe I'm planning on making soon www.recipetineats.com/pad-kee-mao-thai-drunken-noodles/

SpaceOP · 28/05/2024 12:53

OP, this is where you need to go with something very simple that looks impressive. You are stressed and unhappy about cooking (for very good reason) and don't feel confident.

In this situation, I agree that chicken is not a good option (outside, possibly, of a tray bake). It's too easy to stuff it up.

I would go with beef. A large rib of beef (for 6 people I'd go with 2 ribs). You could go for a fancy sirloin rib but I'd go for the bog standard rib as it is insanely forgiving. You calculate the cooking time according to this website But, and here's the genius part.... if your oven is a bit hot/cold or you cook it for a bit too long/ too short... it doesn't matter.

Then, as it's summery you want, don't do a full roast with all the trimmings. Too much time and effort. Plus, this way you can serve the meat warm/room temp and just leave it to rest for whatever time is necessary while you're doing other things.

Instead, go for a summer version with salads. Last time I did this I did buttered new potatoes, a mixed colour tomato salad and a lovely big fresh green salad. I also made a "green sauce" (chopped herbs, capers, garlic, oil) for the meat which I served sliced on a platter.

Other salad/side options I would consider would be roasted veg and couscous, griddled aubergine with a tahini dressing, some kind of mezze style bean dish (I did the ottolenghi beans with green tahini the other day and it was very nice), a really good slaw (without mayo I'd think but that's up to you) or something with mushrooms. But frankly, whatever salads you like, would be fab, I'm sure.

That's my 2 cents worth.

How to cook and carve a rib of beef

Bone-in rib of beef is a rolls-royce cut, and the default choice for butchers and chefs when roasting a joint for a special occasion. Find out how to cook rib of beef with our butchers cooking guide.

https://greatbritishmeat.com/blogs/butchers-blog/how-to-cook-rib-of-beef

thedendrochronologist · 28/05/2024 14:16

pharmachameleon · 27/05/2024 22:17

@thedendrochronologist and @Muchtoomuchtodo I think we'll do a combo of these thanks so much!!
@AlisonDonut we've got an Ooni pizza oven so we're doing this for the kids.

You can make awesome pita in the ooni (although I have a gozney sure it is the same principle!