Your go to meal when entertaining

[anotherpain]

What's your go to meal when having guests over for food? The simpler the better!

I've invited family over at the weekend and was going to make a lasagne filled with Banoffee pie.

I could do with inspiration though. No one has allergies etc. the only thing I won't cook is fish!

lasagne filled with Banoffee pie.

erm what?! Is that a typo for followed by banoffee pie

A lasagne filled with banoffee pie? That certainly is fusion cooking!

It reminds me of the trifle lasagne in Friends.

Haha definitely typo 😂 filled should say followed!

😂 you put beef in the trifle!

Steak is a winner or Thai curry

I’d hope so. I think lasagna is nice but quite a lot of work. I do a slow cook bolognaise sauce and serve with tortellini (shop bought) which is popular. Couple of large salads, roasted beetroot and feta with baby spinach. Chargrilled peppers and artichokes (from jars) with cherry tomatoes and rocket.

My lazy desert is key lime pie. Biscuit base is just mashed up biscuits and melted butter. Juice and zest of four limes with 400g cream cheese and 400g icing sugar. Set in fridge over night little bit zest on top.

If you are already planning a lasagne, I'd have an Italian inspired salad on the side: lettuce, tomato, fresh basil, balsamic glaze, red onions, olives etc or a Greek salad (not Italian I know!
Plus garlic/herb bread

For my own dinner party/gatherings, it depends on the season and who is coming. A luncheon on a hot, summers day might be quiche, various salads, new potatoes etc

An evening meal in the winter- rib of beef, yorkshires, cauli cheese, carrots, peas, cabbage/bacon

If the in-laws are coming, I often do prawn cocktail as an entree.

If our 6"7' friend is coming, I do more meaty options. Slow cooked pork ribs in a sticky hoisin sauce, peri peri chicken, corn on the cob or whatever is in season.

I love layered Italian dishes as they are the perfect excuse for focaccia and all the effort can be done ahead of time. Ixta Belfrage has a number of great recipes - ragú & aubergine parmigiana, butternut & sage lasagne gratin, and prawn habanero lasagne.

Honey and mustard ham with jackets or dauphinois, plus greens and maybe coleslaw.
Eton mess is a very low fuss pudding.

I bloody love lasagne and want one now
There's a Nigella meatballs dish which was loved when k made it
Dessert I always make a cheesecake and a pavlova on rotation but change up the flavours

Coq au vin or beef bouguinon followed by Bakewell tart.

beef tenderloin with 3 sauces
or Seafood Cioppino

I nearly always make a modified Eton Mess - mixture of mascarpone and lemon curd instead of cream and mixed berries instead of just strawberries. Or I buy dessert.

Meatballs and spaghetti are always a winner-
And not too expensive - this feeds a family of 7-
Pork mince 500g
One large onion- grated or put in blender
2 cloves of garlic grated or put in the blender
1 egg
Mixed herbs 1tsp
Salt and pepper 1 pinch
1 slice of bread grated or put in chopper/ blender
Cheese- cheddar or parmesan handful.

In one bowl add onion, garlic and bread-mix and allow to soak for 5 mins
Add mince, herbs, egg, cheese.
Make into balls-
Cook under grill or in air fryer until browned

Sauce- one onion chopped finely
2 cloves garlic
1tsp basil
1tsp parsley
1tsp oregano
1tsp salt
2 cartons passata
120 ml water

Glug of oil - add onions and salt,
Cook for couple of mins, add garlic and herbs, then add passatta and water boil for a couple of mins- reduced to low, add meatballs.
Cook pasta
Serve!

It depends on the season and who's coming but smoked salmon with a tangy dressing and good bread, Rib eye steaks, flat mushrooms sliced and fried with a finely chopped shallot, garlic, add red wine, parsley and Creme fraiche, my Italian roasties and a crisp green salad, followed by strawberries, Cadbury flake and excellent vanilla ice cream, never fails to please.

Totally depends on who is coming but here's a few of mine:

Lasagne with caprese salad
Salmon en croute with veg
Curry - lamb or chicken and a veg one too
Red Thai curry with rice. Usually summer rolls too
Lamb steaks with dauphinois
Shepherds pie
Chicken pot pie
Spag Bol

Mary Berry’s Lamb Rogan Josh- you need a fair few different spices etc to make the curry paste with a pestle and mortar, but it’s worth it and has been an absolute winner every time. Lots of scope for interesting side dishes too. I make it in the biggest pot I can find (it starts off on the hob but then goes into the oven) and just lob some fresh coriander on it and put it on the middle of the table.

works equally well with beef.

Fajitas! It's informal and people can choose their own combination of fillings and condiments. Vege/chicken/beans + cheese, guacamole, salad etc 😋