help me. I need a dinner menu for tonight

[Cappuccino]

dh has invited an old friend round for dinner who happens to be in the area

I haven't 'entertained' for ages due to illness and can only make Kids Teas

I want to make something really nice because he is a really old friend and one of those people who has people round a lot (ie Proper Grown Up Person)

but I can't afford to throw money at it ie no trips to deli for pricey cheese and olives

and it has to be quick

thank you thank you

Chicken and mango with apricot jam? Sounds pukeish but is easy and quick to make and devine with mash and green veg.

do a roast cappy, with Yorkshire Puddings

everybody loves a roast

I have a quick coq au vin recipe that is easy and lovely!

Serves 4

8 chicken thighs
4 rashers streaky bacon chopped
8 shallots
225gs chestnut mushrooms (can't get them out here so I would have used ordinary mushrooms)
2 tbsp brandy
300ml red wine
200ml chicken stock
2 tbsp tom puree
1 bay leaf
salt and pepper

Heat oil fry chicken until golden set aside
Add bacon shallots and mushrooms fry stirring for 5 minutes
Return chicken add brandy and cook 1 min
Pour in red wine and stock stirring well add tom puree and bay leaf season and bring to simmer
cover and simmer gently for 15 mins then cook uncovered for further 10 mins or until chicken is tender
serve with mash

I have tried this and it is very nice

McDreamy that does look possible

is there anything else?

what about starters, do we do that? or not?

can I give him cake for afters?

could I do these warm with a tomato/avocado salad?

would that be good?

I can make them really easily and then freeze some for kids [hopeful]

I wouldn't bother with a starter based on the fact that

a. It i a last minute dinner invitation
b. Midweek dinner tend to be more supper occasions than formal dinner parties. Maybe some chips and a dip?

Let me have a think about dessert!

I can make a chocolate pudding

I can make a CHERRY TART oh god I had forgotten I could do that

I think just coming on here is therapeutic foodwise

Vanilla pannacotta with raspberry coulis.

individual lasagnes

I need you all here for moral support as much as anything

it has been a really long time

comeoveneer you can't just pop up and post that and then DISAPPEAR

as if we all have an old family recipe for that

Sorry door bell rang. Give me a mo.

ooh the cherry tart sounds lush

You can make me one and bring it to me in RLI

Panna cotta
3 gelatine leaves (or packet of powdered gelatine)
250ml milk
250ml double cream
1 vanilla pod, split lengthways, seeds scraped out
25g sugar

Coulis

175g/6oz sugar
175ml/6fl oz water
splash cherry liqueur
350g/12oz raspberries

To serve
sprigs fresh mint
icing sugar

1. For the panna cotta, soak the gelatine leaves in a little cold water until soft.
2. Place the milk, cream, vanilla pod and seeds and sugar into a pan and bring to a simmer. Remove the vanilla pod and discard.
3. Squeeze the water out of the gelatine leaves, then add to the pan and take off the heat. Stir until the gelatine has dissolved.
4. Divide the mixture among four ramekins and leave to cool. Place into the fridge for at least an hour, until set.
5. For the sauce, place the sugar, water and cherry liqueur into a pan and bring to the boil. Reduce the heat and simmer until the sugar has dissolved.
6. Take the pan off the heat and add half the raspberries. Using a hand blender, blend the sauce until smooth.
7. Pass the sauce through a sieve into a bowl and stir in the remaining fruit.
8. To serve, turn each panna cotta out onto a serving plate. Spoon over the sauce and garnish with a sprig of mint. Dust with icing sugar.

Make affogato for pudding. Tis pudding and coffee in one and absolutely lovely.

Make espresso coffee. Put vanilla ice-cream in bowl. Pour coffee over. If you have liqueur stuff then you can add (Ameretto?)

Yum.

Or my famous roast salmon for main.

Put salmon fillets in ceramic (not metal) dish that can go in oven. Squeeze over a good bit of lemon juice. Slosh in soy sauce. Crush a few garlic cloves and add. You can grate lemon zest in too. Marinate for as long as you've got. Put in 220 for 15 mins. Tis truly delish. Have with greens and couscous.

Banoffee Pie?

Buy a sweet pastry case if you don't fancy making your own.

Heat a tin of condensed milk with half a pack of butter, keep stirring until mixture goes a deep golden brown (takes about 15 mins) allow to cool before pouring into pastry case, refridgerate.

Whip up a tub of double cream and when toffee mixture cool add to top in peaks and decorate with grated chocolate.

expresso/ icecream sounds good

comeoveneer your recipe sounds lovely but it is very long so therefore must be too hard

now I am dithering between cherry tart and coffee thing

MamaG I can bring you whatever you like, darlin

I think I am going to do the individual lasagnes tho because I can preprepare and then bake - I do like the breathing space that baking gives

It is a doddle to do, takes 10 mins at most. I regularly do it, really try it sometime you will be surprised.

All sounds yum

Salmon, Potato and Celeriac bake is a good "throw it in a pot and stick it in the oven for 2 hours" recipe if you fancy it.

Do the affogato, it is greater than the sum of its parts if you see what I mean. Super super easy, plus it is MAN-PUDDING!

Nigella approved

Er McDreamy isn't that just a offee pie. ? Shouldn't it have some banana in it somewhere?

Pavlova for dessert - yum. Beat 3 egg whites until stiff. Beat in half of 175g caster sugar. Add 1/2tsp vinegar, 1/2 tsp vanilla essence, 1 tsp cornflour and rest of caster sugar and fold in gently.
Pour onto baking parchment on a baking tray and cook for 30 mins at 150C then reduce temp to 100C for 30 mins. Take out of oven to cool.
Serve with loads of softly whipped cream and the fruit of your choice (put cream on just before you serve).
Will take you 5 mins to prepare and you'll either have most of ingredients or get in any grocery shop.
Rx

Pate mushrooms to start?
Large flat mushroom each. Remove stalk & pop under grill for 5 mins till softened. Plonk on a pile of pate & smooth around. Add a dollop of garlic butter and a pinch of mixed herbs. Pop back under grill for another 5 mins & serve with a small leafy salad.

Main - chicken parcels:

Chicken breast or 1/4 each. Put on a square of foil. Top with sliced onion, mushrooms & pepper. Season, dot with butter & a little single cream if you like. Wrap up in foil parcel & bake at 180 for 30 mins till chicken cooked

Pud - shop bought cheesecake or gateau or whip up a nice homemade cake