Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Food/recipes

For related content, visit our food content hub.

dinner/supper for up to 10, veggies included, needs to be prepared in advance. HELP please

23 replies

jeangenie · 03/11/2008 12:05

book club are coming to my place on Thursday evening - I need to cook for up to 10. There are a number of vegetarians. I will have no time on Thursday as am working and OH is out in evening so will have to put both kids to bed before the bookish hordes descend. My friend was planning to come and help but she can't now. Therefore need something can prepare Weds night and heat up. It's my first time hosting and I want it to be nice.

Please help as I am useless at this sort of thing.

Thanks

Accompanying wine suggestions welcome too

OP posts:
notamumyetbutoneday · 03/11/2008 13:03

Not something you can prepare in advance but v quick on the day- I would do fajitas- a mix of chicken, beef and bean/veg fillings then let people assemble their own

jeangenie · 03/11/2008 14:48

thanks!

I really do need something I can prepare before though. My kids are terrible for going to bed so I fully anticipate still being engaged in bedtime activities while my guests are downstairs. I will be home from work and kid collection about 6pm, then have to feed kids and get them bed-ready and in bed by 8 when the book club folk arrive.

any other ideas? am desperate!

OP posts:
georgiemum · 03/11/2008 14:53

Make a nice pasta sauce with tomato and porcini mushrooms - it will be lovely (esp if you slosh in some red wine) with some good parmesan cheese and you can cook easily in advance. Serve with a green salad and crunchy bread. A nice chianti (M&S do a good one for £9.99) will finish it off nicely.

For desert - a cheese board and fresh fruit to nibble on.

I always say that this would be my choice for my last meal!

toobusytothink · 03/11/2008 14:53

fish pie (assuming veggies can eat fish)

mankymummy · 03/11/2008 14:55

for a starter... stuffed peppers.

cut the tops of and stuff with a mixture of rice, sweetcorn, any other sort of veg and then mix with some mozzarella and some pesto. put lid back on.

you can prepare in advance and just bung in the oven for 30 minutes when you get in. serve with salad.

georgiemum · 03/11/2008 14:56

nonononononono. Real veggies don't do fish! I once was offered prawns to start and fish pie for main course. I suppose I was luck it wasn't fish ice cream for desert!!!

bellavita · 03/11/2008 14:56

A meat curry and a veg one?

georgiemum · 03/11/2008 14:59

Curry - yum. I tried the new Patak sauce (Korma) and it was so lovely. I make it with onions, paneer and pean. Very good.

notamumyetbutoneday · 03/11/2008 15:03

for the veggies, a tart with roasted tomatoes/roasted veg/goats cheese etc? made with puff pastry.

for the meat eaters- some kind of pie that could be prepared in advance? afraid i dont have any recipes tho.

or a meat lasagne and a veg lasagne, with garlic bread and salad?

bellavita · 03/11/2008 15:04

IMO a curry is better the day after anyway, so op could do some naan bread, poppadoms and pickles to go with it - these can all be bought so do not take any time to put on a plate.

The rice can be done in the microwave for quickness if you don't want to wash it, or if you do want to do it on top of the gas, then wash it in the morning, then all you have to do is put some water in the pan and stick the gas underneath it.

I love Pataks too.

Tinkerisdead · 03/11/2008 15:05

Ive done chilli's before, veg and meat just reheat in big stewpots and let people help themselves. Bulk it out with tortillas, bread rice or jacket potatoes.

Tillyscoutsmum · 03/11/2008 15:06

Caremalised Onion & Mushroom Lasagne

Serve with crusty bread and salad.

Recipe below (sorry its long, I just cut & pasted from website). Its a weight watchers one so feel free to add extra butter/cheese/full fat milk, if you prefer

1 tablespoon olive oil
2 large onion(s), thinly sliced
1 clove garlic, crushed
1 sprig fresh rosemary, finely chopped
100 ml water
2 teaspoon vinegar, balsamic
2 teaspoon muscavado sugar, dark or light
1 pinch salt, and black pepper, freshly ground
5 spray low-fat cooking spray
250 g mushrooms, closed cup, sliced
1 tablespoon butter
3 level tablespoon flour, plain
600 ml skimmed milk
135 g lasagne sheet, (9 sheets)
40 g parmesan cheese, finely grated
1/8 teaspoon nutmeg, ground, optional
Instructions
Heat olive oil in a large non-stick frying pan over a high heat. Add onions and cook, stirring occasionally for 6-8 minutes until golden brown. Add garlic and rosemary and cook for 1 minute. Stir in water, balsamic vinegar and sugar. Cook until water evaporates ? about 1-2 minutes. Tip into a large bowl, season with salt and pepper and set aside.

Coat same frying pan with low fat cooking spray. Place over medium-high heat and add mushrooms. Cook for about 2 minutes until browned, then add to onions, stirring to mix.

Preheat oven to Gas Mark 4/180°C/fan oven 160°C/ 350°F.

To make sauce put butter, flour and milk into a non-stick saucepan, all at once. Heat, stirring constantly with a small whisk until the sauce boils and thickens. Add half the cheese. Season and add nutmeg, if using.

To assemble, spread a thin layer of sauce over the base of a baking dish measuring about 18 x 28cm. Place 3 lasagne sheets on top. Spread with sauce and half the onion mixture. Lay 3 more lasagne sheets on top. Repeat with sauce, onion mixture, final 3 lasagne sheets and remaining sauce. Sprinkle the rest of the cheese evenly over the surface.

Bake for 30-35 minutes until golden brown. Rest for 5-10 minutes before serving.

jeangenie · 03/11/2008 15:09

wow! you lot are good. Am at work now so in a rush but will check back in later to see what might be on the menu...

OP posts:
Swedes · 03/11/2008 15:18

Roasted vegetables and goat's cheese quiches (buy ready made pastry tart bases from supermarket) with green salad and chunks of bread. Wash down with red wine.

janeite · 03/11/2008 19:25

Either a huge veggie lasagne, with salad and garlic bread: for everyone.

Or a meat chilli, a veggie chilli, rice, tortilla crsisps, guacamole, soured cream, cheese.

Icecream and chocolate cake for pud!

jeangenie · 04/11/2008 07:56

thanks everyone

am not so sure of my capabilities making chili or curry, though they sound great...think will go with either the roast veg and goat cheese tart or the pasta and porcini sauce...oooh, just remembered the carmelised onion lasagne, that sounded fab - can you make lasagne the day before and reheat? and a goat cheese tart - can you make it all day before and just bake on the day?

(can you tell I don't cook much? well, not in advance anyway!)

OP posts:
Swedes · 04/11/2008 10:15

jeangenie

Goats Cheese tart
BUY savoury flan cases from supermarket

If you have time roughly chop

1 aubergine
3 courgettes
4 red onions
6 large toms

place on baking sheet, drizzle with olive oil and roast for about 30 mins at 190 (until the edges become charred)

Distribute amongst flan cases (I would make 3)

(If you are very short of time sautee 6 finely sliced red onions add a table spoon of marmalade or jam (trust me!) once soft and distribute amongst the flan cases)

Place rings or chunks of goat's cheese on top of veg. Whisk six eggs add a splash of milk (an eggcupfull) and distribute amongst the tarts. Place in oven and bake at about 180 for 15 - 20 mins. You can do all of this the day before. On the day just chuck them in the oven to warm through - cover with foil so as not to get them too browned.

Rougly chop a handful of basil and chuck it over the tarts before serving.

Tillyscoutsmum · 04/11/2008 11:54

Lasagne can all be "assembled" the day before and kepy in the fridge. Just bung in the oven for 30-35 mins when you need it

witchandchips · 04/11/2008 12:03

I think i would do some dips either made or brought with bread sticks, olives and bits of veg (this could double as children's tea perhaps). Leave this on the table for your guests to nibble at while you put your children to bed.
For supper i would give potato dauphinoise a couple of salads and a mix of veggie + meat sausages
Fruit compote and ice-cream for pudding

jeangenie · 04/11/2008 20:28

thanks again - decided on teh goats cheese thingies in the end (mostly cos I love goats cheese) and have bought the pastry cases, most of veg and cheese. Couldn't find courgettes anywhere but will check again tomorrow. Plan to serve with large green salad. Is there any other sort of salad I could throw together too for variety? or could I have a few things like arthichoke hearts, olives etc to nibble alongside?

I'm crap at this sort of stuff but luckily have a sainsbury's nearby and MN on hand!

OP posts:
Tillyscoutsmum · 04/11/2008 21:26

I really like tomato and red onion salad. Lovely ripe beef tomatoes cut into thick slices, with thin slices of red onion and marinated in a load of olive oil, balsamic vinegar and salt & pepper (overnight is fine). Rip a bit of fresh basil on top just before serving

Have a few olives etc. out for when guests arrive whilst you finish off dc's bedtime/throw salad together etc.

Swedes · 04/11/2008 23:27

Throw a few walnuts into the green salad - they go well with goat's cheese.

And have a lovely time!

Swedes · 04/11/2008 23:31

How about a waldorf salad - chopped apple, chopped celery, some walnuts, tossed in some mayo? It will go well with the goat's cheese tarts.

New posts on this thread. Refresh page