dinner party help.....again please

[sashmum]

Ok having fairly informal dinner party next weekend for boss, need some help please.

Starter is Warm goats cheese salad on toasted walnut bread with walnut dressing, have done this before and its very nice.

Main is....well thats the problem, i just can't decide. Dh wants dauphouis (sp?)pots, roasted cherry toms and roasted garlic and poss lamb.

The thing is what type of lamb should i do, there will be six of us, and ideally i would like not to spend all evening in the kitchen. Was thinking poss leg of lamb and doing a nice sauce type thing. Trouble is i've spent so long looking i'm completly confused don't really want to do stew/casserole thingy either.

As far as desserts go not really a prob as will prepare a couple in advance so guests have a choice....

Help me decide please, all ideas very welcome, thankyou lovely mnetters xxxxx

Oooh ooh, lamb and anchovies. I know, sounds AWFUL but is DELICIOUS and EASY and great for entertaining from this book

I am happy to cheat and send you the recipe tomorrow but in a nutshell, you stud a leg of lamb with anchovies and rosemary and garlic and then roast it fairly slowly with butter, wine and stock. It is fabulously easy ad incredibly tasty (no fish flavour, don't wory). Such a good dinner party dish because you shove it in and leave it but is dazzling when served.

Oh, and goes well with dauphinois potatoes - I serve it with mash sometimes too. Then you just need something on the side.

do you need to add anchovies as i really can't stand them, oh and what else would you serve besides the potatoes???

I don't like anchovies either. Really.

It just brings out this delicious saltiness. Absolutely ZERO anchovy flavour (pretty impressive seeing a I once sent back a pasta dish because it tasted "funy" and it turned out they'd cooked it with anchovy oil... )

I think the last time I did it was with mashed potatoes and greenbeans on the side. I kept it really simple.

thanks that does sound nice, might have a trial run this weekend

Okay, I'll bring in the detailed recipe tomorrow or if I remember, tonight from home.

thankyou so much

HI! So sorry - i got distracted this morning by DP lying pathetically on the couch clutching his sore tooth so didn't bring the recipe.

But... I did read it last night so here's the overview (for shopping purposes) and I'll send you exact amounts later tonight:

Leg of lamb (he says 1.8kg for 4 ppl. I say 1.8 kg for at least 6, maybe more!)
Chunk of butter (I think it's about 50 g)
Fresh rosemary
Small jar of anchovies in salt
Garlic clovies, peeled and sliced in threes
1/2 bottle white wine
1 lemon
black pepper

Make slices in the fleshy part of the lamb and insert into each one a piece of garlic, some fresh rosemary, half an anchovy. get them really deep.
Mix up remaining anchovies with the butter and smear all over the lamb (you weren't expecting a low fat meal I hope? )
Place in roasting try and squeeze lemon juice over and generous grinding of black pepper
Pour the wine into the roasting dish, tucking rosemary, lemon etc in around the meat.

Then you cook it quite hot (200 I think) for about 15 minutes, then turn temp down to 180 and cook for remainder of time, depending on how well done you want it. Leave to stand for 15 minutes, carve and serve with mashed potatoe.

DELICIOUS. Honestly. You will be amazed.

Okay, exact amounts are
1.8kg leg of lamb
2 50g tins anchovies
a small bunc rosemary
4 large garliccloves
75g butter, softened

Overn temps are 220 degress first for 15 minutes.
Then down to 180 for another hour or more, depending on how you like the meat.

Let me know how you get on.

thanks for recipe, i feel really awful as you have gone to so much trouble but have just found out two of the guests don't eat lamb!!!!!! ARRRGGGHHHHHHH

So back to square one, was thinking of beans on toast at this rate

Going to look up exciting things to do with chicken now

That's okay! You can use it another time.

Heck, you can't go wrong with a good roast chicken surely? I always shove loads of lemon and garlic and onions in mine and roast with stock/wine in the roasting tray to make it extra moist. And butter under the skin if I'm feeling decadent (try not to do that too often though! )

Or a good chicken casserole?

I really MUSt start entertaining again. I'm getting waaay too involved in other people's dinner party plans...!