Dinner party ideas for vegetarian guests and carnivores alike.

[Alexa808]

Can you please suggest any dishes I can prepare in advance (a day before or in the morning) for a dinner party involving 4 vegetarians and 4 meat eaters.

Should I prepare meat at all or out of respect only prepare vegetarian dishes? I don't wnt to offend but I don't know how 'hardcore' the vegetarians are. Personally it's live and let live.

I'm also not a domestic goddess and though the receipes should be a bit more impressive than pasta & stuffed paprika, I cannot aim too high or it'll all end in tears...

...

I'd do veggie only - not out of respect, but just because it's much easier, and meat eaters should like good veggie food.

Risotto is good, and you can "half" prepare it ahead of time - Jamie Oliver's "Cook" book tells you how - might be able to hunt it down ahead of time.

Vegetable curries are nice - I like mushroom and spinach korma, personally - you could do those ahead, and make nice side dishes like dahl and salads to go with them.

Vegetable tagines and cous cous.

I have lots of fancy recipes from the Cafe Paradiso cook books, so will have a look if you're interested.

I have a Butternut squash soup recipe that goes down well with both if you were planning on a starter-blended, so chopping doesn't have to be master chef standard!(can be made up and frozen)? Also might be worth trying to find out what they do or don't mind. I have 2 veggie friends one eats seafood and doesn't mind chicken stock etc as she just doesn't like the texture of meat! The other shuns meat products of any description (but not vegan!)ie ethical vegetarian!!
I have done a Vegetarian curry for a party once, with a bowl of shredded chicken/prawns/boiled eggs on the side for non veggies! That worked quite well!! Or if they don't mind there is a good indian marinated leg of lamb recipe on BBc website from Indian food made easy along with coconut vegetables!

Thank you very much for your suggestions. Will stick to vegetarian food only and prepare a risotto for mains, really good idea, must check out Jamie's book and for starters a pumpkin soup. hmmm...