Need some new, inexpensive but tasty dinner party dishes please

[MaggieW]

We have friends over quite a bit to eat but I'm getting a bit tired of lamb shanks, coq au vin and the usual fare we do so I'm looking for dishes that are tasty, inexpensive and which allow me to spend max time at the table ie they can be brought from oven to table and served without any fuss!

Slow roasted pork belly is a favourite in our house. Make with your preferred fruity sauce - plums or apples are both good.

We also do lots of casseroles using lamb shoulder which are delicious and can look very impressive.

Pork steaks in mustard sauce - you can get thin pork thingys pretty cheaply - fry the pork in a pan, 'deglaze' the pan with white wine or cider, chuck in some cream and a spoonful each of grainy mustard and smooth mustard and reduce it to the consistency you want.

Does have to be done at the time but takes 15 mins max.

OOoh love the sound of those - thanks. How do you do the pork belly BL?

Pork steaks great too - don't mind something that can be cooked simply - but just don't want anything that's a right old palaver!

I do a similar thing to Trillian - chicken breasts with skin on though, deglaze pan with vermouth or white wine, reduce, add cream and tarragon.

Tastes very elegant dahling.