Need an (easy) amazing starter, main (a curry) & pudding for a novice!

[LadyOfWaffle]

We were originally going out to an Indian restaurant for a meal with my mum and a friend, but because of the DCs I thought it would be easier for them to come here [fool]. The only curry I have made is boil the rice, fry the chicken and stir in the sauce! Can anybody give me somne guidance please? My mum is apparently getting some spices tomorrow (no idea what yet) so I guess I will need to tell her. I only really like Tikka, so nothing too hot! Thankyou so much

Does it have to be indian?

Well... I guess not, my mums friend only eats fish and chicken though I think. Let me double check...

Chicken 'kebabs':

Chicken breasts - one per person - cut into thick strips (about 2 cm thick), and then marinade in:

chopped garlic (as much as you like, but at least one decent sized clove)
chopped ginger (a piece about an inch long)
juice of a lemon or lime
black pepper
oregano
chilli flakes - if you like it hotter
curry powder - if you prefer something milder, but only add a little

Marinade for an hour or so, and then cook under the grill or on a griddle. They only need cooking for about 5 minutes, so keep an eye on them. If they're overcooked they will be tough.

Serve with a wedge of lemon/lime

Makes a nice starter.

Phew, just got off the phone. Anything fish or chicken, so doesn't have to be curry.

Would those kebabs be a starter?

Can be either - makes a nice starter served on some shredded lettuce and a bit of yoghurt.

white chocolate cheesecake, is fabulous, easy to make and you can prepare it the day before and forget about it too - its my most requested desert

shall link you the receipe if you like?

ultra easy pudding - bake some soft fruit (bananas, peaches, plums, whatever) and serve with vanilla ice cream. just halve the fruit, dribble some honey or maple syrup over the top and bake till soft. lovely!

Oh my, cheesecake! Yes please I shall probably have to make 2 if it's done the day before I have been googling chicken tikka massala, alot of specialist ingredients there...

That's starter and pudding sorted Thankyou so so much !

i can give you ome pretty authentic and easy recipes, are you ok to do chicken for starter and main course or isthat too much chicken?

LofW be warned it is a complete sweet tooth crowd pleaser, just don't let them know how easy it is to make or you'll end up like me doing them all the time

white chocolate cheesecake here

chicken and mushroom stroganoff for mains

cream of leek and courgette soup
for starters

Apple and Orange Crumble for desert

oh, and it's always easier to do a soup as starters, I think...as it canbe prepared well in advance and then just be reheated...

If you're not that confident a cook, I'd suggest buying in the starter - some bhajis, samosas etc, to serve with a salad and some natural yoghurt mixed with salt and pepper and mint, maybe some mango chutney.

Jamie Oliver has a really easy curry recipe which can be adapted to meat, fish or veggie - will try and google it for you.

Pudding - I like the sound of the baked peaches with icecream. Mango and icecream would be good too.

I would always do 2 puds - just in case one goes wrong!!!! fresh strawberries, blueberries and mango with some orange juice, brandy and vanilla sugar will complement the cheesecake well. Serve with thick clotted cream.

As for curry - get some pataks paste - not sauce, you can get it in tikka strength. Softeen some sliced onions then stir in the paste and the diced chicken or whatever meat you want to use. once it has all been covered with the spice paste and cooked for a minute or so, tip in a tin of diced tomatoes and a tin of coconut milk and then add as mnny mushrooms as you like. let simmer on stove or in oven for about an hour, and 10 minutes before you want to serve (at the same time you put the rice on) stir in about 50g of ground almonds. Serve the good old fashioned army way with side dishes of raisins, peanuts, chopped chillis and lime pickle and mango chutney.

So many ideas now - thanks guys! I think chicken will be an OK starter aswell as in the main, I can't imagine soup then curry I have jotted down all these though for future ref.

Littleducks - that would be great! My mum says she knows of a shop in Slough to get the bits Sainsburys won't have so I'd like to give it a whirl My sister is in India right now & learning to cook, she would be like this that I can't whip up something

dizzy - I saw hobnobs on the first line & was sold! Thankyou

I use the tesco own hobnobs - they taste the same all bashed up and mixed with melted butter

its a lovely cheesecake - have just sent DH into work with another requested one for a girl he works with!!!

oh and you can dress it up with whatever you like, strawberrys/blueberries/raspberries etc but it really CAN hold its own without any additions added

Agree with janeite suggestion re pud (and the idea of using Patak's paste)

You need something lightish and or fruity after curry.

Jamie's easy sauce

lol...well you did sayt it didn't have to be curry

that was me! not janeite!!

the cheese cake sounds fab - but you can melt the choc on medium in the microwave to make it even easier.

Also, if you search the mn recipes, I put one in there for chicken and avocado stroganoff which is vvvv easy, if you don't want to go down the indian route with your sister.

MuchLess agree completely I never use a bain marie now for chocolate, microwave is def the way forward!

30seconds at a time inbetween checking it though - nothing worse than scorched chocolate

yup - vvv true - and not in a melamine bowl - which I did before I realised you shouldn't put them in a microwave - it ruined the bowl, the choc and the microwave