Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Food/recipes

For related content, visit our food content hub.

You are so clever and wise, MNers <flattery> and I just KNOW you can get me out of this fix <desperate>

46 replies

AddisonMontgomerySheppard · 20/05/2009 11:18

Okay
So, I have 2 couples coming for dinner (there'll be 6 of us) at the weekend. It is wednesday and after a week of flapping about and flipping through recipe books I still have NO IDEA what to cook.

I need things that can be pretty much made in advance as don't have much time on the day and also eating in the kitchen so don't want to be faffing when I could be chatting!

Current thoughts
LOTS OF WINE

Mixed antipasta (i.e. cheating by buying bits from supermarket and artfully placing on plates) to start

LOTS OF WINE

main course =???????? LOTS OF WINE

Indiv cheesecakes for pudding

LOTS OF WINE

Nice chocolate and coffee

LOTS OF WINE

Any suggestions HUGELY HUGELY APPRECIATED

OP posts:
Overmydeadbody · 20/05/2009 12:04

oh yes, well cooked leg of lamb, where the meat just flakes away

Joggler · 20/05/2009 12:04

You want the fish's frozen chocolate mousse slice for pud.

notwavingjustironing · 20/05/2009 12:06

would that make it salmon mousse ?

bellavita · 20/05/2009 12:08

Addison - for antipasta (coming from an italian background) what you need is -

thin sliced salami from the deli (or do you have a continental shop) thin is better because it tastes nicer rather than having a fat slice that you have to chew and chew. Go for Milano

Mortadella - again, sliced thinly. You can buy this from the deli ie. Sainsburys or again the continental shop.

I would arrange the slices of salami on a huge plate, around the edges, overlapping slightly, then, half the mortadella slices and roll them up and place in the middle of the plate.

A couple of tins or jars of anchovies (drained).

Tuna fish mixed with lemon, flagelot beans and lots of chopped parsley and some pepper for seasoning.

Olives

Sliced tomato, topped with nice mozzarella and some basil, drizzled with olive oil and seasoned.

Next is the cheat thing - a jar of sainsburys peppers, artichokes and mixed mushrooms.

Honestly, they will love this.

How about doing some milanese steak which you could serve with salad and some garlic green beans?

Bash your steak until fairly thin, dip in egg (with crushed garlic in it) then into breadcrumbs. (You could do this the day before and it will happily sit covered under some clingfilm in the fridge). Will take minutes to fry - so very quick.

Green beans (eaten room temperature). Put into boiling water and simmer till al dente, drain. Meanwhile mix (to your own taste) olive oil, vinegar, salt and pepper, a couple of cloves of garlic chopped. Pour over beans and mix.

Overmydeadbody · 20/05/2009 12:11

bellavita that all sounds amazing. I have copied your post into my recipe file.

orangina · 20/05/2009 12:12

My favourite prep in advance and then bung in the oven recipe at the moment, is the DELICIOUS Ottolenghi chicken w lemon and zaatar. You need zaatar and sumac (both available at m eastern shops), but you marinade it all the night before, then arrange on roasting tray and bung it in the oven for about an hour I think. I use just thighs and drumsticks (not a huge fan of breastmeat), so isn't expensive either. Completely DELICIOUS. Serve w salad, yoghurt and flat bread (or some rice if you can be bothered to cook some more).

Recipe here on someone elses blog.

orangina · 20/05/2009 12:13

this saffron recipe from Moro is delicious too. I did the zaatar chicken with this a few weeks ago and it was DELICIOUS.

bunnymother · 20/05/2009 12:14

Hello! Have another couple of suggestions in case you fancy some more options.

We had same sort of dinner party (w me on juice as am v pregnant right now) the other night and I served:

Lasagna: make spag bol sauce the day before, and then just spread between lasagna sheets and top w ricotta/cream/milk mix instead of bechamel sauce - delish but v easy, and then top w grated cheese (cheddar, mozzarella and parmesan mix is best, but I just used cheddar). Easy peasy and everyone loved it.

Roasted vege tart: get ready made puff pastry(I used M&S and followed the recipe on the back as follows...) and spread on olive tapenade, top w chopped (roasted if you have) peppers and slices of fresh mozzarella. After 20 mins (while lasagna is baking), take out and put on slices/chunks of fresh plum tomatoes and return to oven for 10 mins (put in garlic bread at same time). When ready take out of oven and top w rocket or torn basil.

Garlic bread: ready made from Tescos - cheap and v tasty.

Might look harder than it was but was actually v easy and crowd pleasers. Another option is a chicken dish I have made for years:

Greek Chicken: put chicken legs or thighs w skin on (approx 1 per person if legs, prob 1.5 -2 if thighs) in baking dish. Top w crushed garlic (as much as you like!), tin of chopped tomatoes, red onion and olives. Also throw in chunks of fetta cheese and sliced peppers (yellow/orange great for contrast) if you like. Squeeze over some lemon juice and sprinkle on dried herbs (oregano is best). Bake for 30 mins. Delish w slices of ciabatta (Tescos and M&S do really good bake at home ones for 10 mins) to soak up sauce.

Sorry for essay!! And enjoy all that wonderful wine!

Overmydeadbody · 20/05/2009 12:17

orangine OMG!!! Please tell me where you buy your Zataar, I really really miss it ( I used to live in the middle east) but have never ever been able to find it in middle eastern shops here, despite looking. I really want to make some Zataar bread. And sumak, I love the stuff, especailly sprinkled on humous, but can't find that eiteher.

tkband3 · 20/05/2009 12:18

For a starter, how about getting a pack of ready rolled puff pastry then putting one of these toppings on. You can either do a big tart or individual ones.

chutney (Sainsburys and Tescos both do a really nice red onion one) and goats cheese

pesto, halved asparagus spears, slices of big tomato, sprinkled with parmesan.

Both served with a rocket salad drizzled with balsamic vinegar. Yum and v. easy . Both can be prepared well in advance and take about 15 mins in oven.

Another vote here for the Jamie Oliver salmon - I did it for New Year's Eve and it was a real hit.

Overmydeadbody · 20/05/2009 12:19

I was also going to suggest a Moroccan lamb tagine with couscous, but want you to make a pie.

orangina · 20/05/2009 13:02

Overmydeadbody... Well, I'm in London, so it's easy to find. I go to Green Valley just off the Edgeware Road.... where did you live in the M East?

orangina · 20/05/2009 13:05

Overmydeadbody... cat me your details and I'll chuck a bag of each in the post to you when I next do a shop!

Overmydeadbody · 20/05/2009 14:10

orangine I heart you!!!

I lived in Saudi for 16 years, practically grew up on Zaatar bread.

I don't have CAT but if you email me at omdb at live dot com I'll send you my details. I'll happily reimberse you if you get me some next time you're shopping!!

Overmydeadbody · 20/05/2009 14:12

I would do anything for one of these right now

Overmydeadbody · 20/05/2009 14:15

mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

blowbroth · 20/05/2009 14:29

If you're going with the new potatoes and asparagus why not buy a whole salmon. I have just bought one from morrisons which I hope will feed 6 adults and 6 kids for only £17.
You wouldn't need one as big, just wrap in tin foil with lemons/parsley/butter whatever you've got and stick in the oven. Dead easy and very impressive. Maybe a hollandaise sauce.

orangina · 20/05/2009 14:31

Hahahahaha! WIll email you now omdb....

AddisonMontgomerySheppard · 20/05/2009 21:47

Okay, am resolved to do a chicken and leek pie
What can I do with??

Dauphinoise potatoes seem a bit stodgy..

OP posts:
Thunderduck · 20/05/2009 22:03

I like garlic mash and broccoli when I make a chicken pie.

orangina · 21/05/2009 10:19

new potatoes. Seasonal, easy delicious. Serve with some fresh mint. Lovely fresh salad. Fresh broad beans (are they in season yet?)

New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Swipe left for the next trending thread