Dinner party ideas

[flyingcloud]

Help!

I have six friends coming for dinner on Saturday night. I have a 9 week old DD so I am a bit sleep-deprived/frazzled.

I live in France so my guests are quite discerning and used to good food and they're all good cooks too.

I have a pregnant woman (who doesn't like any fish) and someone who is not overly keen on green vegetables.

Does anyone have any fancy but easy recipes that I can either cook ahead or do while they are there?

Thank you!

This is easy and delicious with crusty bread and salad

Did this last night - very nice
here

Thank you very much - both look lovely and have given me some ideas.

I've made the stuffed chicken that scurryfunge has linked to and it is very nice

cook chicken breasts with skin on or a whole chicken if you prefer in oven. leave in a warm place whilst make sauce. Using tin you cooked chicken in, on medium heat on hob deglaze with a few glugs of vermouth or white wine, lower heat,add a small carton of double cream and a good few handfuls of chopped fresh tarragon. season to taste.

if used chicken breasts remove them before pouring over sauce. or carve chicken and put sauce in jug for people to add their own.

this is IME a great spring recipe served with new potatoes and green beans. its very classic, very simple but the cream and tarragon make it taste very high end.

I would do a very chocolatey thing for pudding I think. maybe a chocolate nemesis or a dense chocolate almond cake. maybe with a raspberry coulis made from frozen rasps and a touch of icing sugar.