Anyone be good enough to help with meal for 12

[PrettyFeckinVacant]

My friend and her family are emigrating in 2 weeks time so their house is all boxed up ready to go.

I have (in a mad moment) offered to do sunday dinner for them for the next 2 weeks.

As the weather seems good for the weekend I was going to do salmon fillets, jersey royal potatoes and salad.

Now, I want some leafy salad but I also want a bowl full of chopped up tomatoes cucumber and red onion - but which herbs would you put in that? Mint, maybe?

Any other ideas??

And, of course, there will be some nice crusty bread

Parsley I reckon

Tomatoes need basil, I think.

Mint would be better in the green salad - or even better chopped over the potatoes!

i would put dill in it I think or chives, not mint

actually I wouldnt eat it cos I hate cucumber

Flat leaf parsley over everything because it is lovely.

oooh herb Wars!

Dill AND mint in toms, red onion, cucumber.

Olives and feta too.

Don't do salmon (too fiddly for lots) do a couple of chickens.

I did think of parsley but wondered if it would be a bit tough.

Maybe basil would be best - I do love basil and tomatoes. But do I chop or shred??

largeg&t, if I roast the salmon fillets it shouldn't be too fiddly

If using basil, shred it.

shred because shredded anything sounds better than chopped

good luck, it sounds lovely

Thanks janeite and MrsB

Was also thinking of just offering lots of strawberries and cream after - keeping it simple.

Ooh, and Pimms

Yum to Pimms. Can I have raspberries instead of strawberries though, please?

What a kind friend you are. I think largegandt's herbs and extras sound vair good. I have just discovered coconut ice cream and am tapping fingers waiting for PYO strawbs to try with it - am sure it will be delish.

Oh and btw if you regularly have Pimm's, you must make it yourself, its much cheaper and much stronger, so you can add more lemonade (if you like....).

I was going to make it myself but haven't done it before taffetacat.

I did have a couple of large glasses at the Edinburgh Taste Festival last weekend and they were lovely - lots of cucumber and strawberries in it.

Does anyone put anything else in their Pimms??

1 measure gin
1 measure red vermouth
half a measure orange curacao

The orange curacao is a bugger to get hold of. You can get it online but the min delivery fee is £6. If you are in London, Gerry's in Soho sell it, otherwise its hard to find.

I make it when we have big parties, having one next weekend. I put cucumber, orange and lemon slices and mint in it and then a strawb on the side of the glass. I don't like soggy strawbs.

Right, I didn't know it needed any more alcohol. That will explain how pissed I felt last weekend . I am in Scotland so not much chance of finding orange curacao but will try tomorrow.

Aaah, mint, yes I knew there was something green in there. Thanks taffe

The recipe I give is for cheat's pimms which is 40%, whereas the pimm's you buy in the shops is only 25%. I am a bit confused when you say need more alcohol? You know that its one or the other? ie you don't add gin etc to the bought pimm's? You really would be trollied then.

Right, I see, thanks for clearing that one up. I would have been adding gin etc to bought Pimms

I shall just buy a bottle of pimms and a dd the fruit etc.

Thanks so much for the tips

A homemade Pimm's recipie! < agog >

I think i love you Taffetacat.

I make pims like this...

1 bottle part vodka
1 bottle part gin
2 bottles parts sweet vermouth (martini rosso)

Plus strawberries, orange and lemon slices, cucumber and mint (five a day?) ladel out and top up with fizzy water or lemonade as required.

Also mint in your salad i say! It loves tomatoes, seriously, try it. Even better than tom and basil imo. And it will suit your cucumber better...and compliment the pims!

Thanks all for your help - it went really well.

I tried to keep it simple and we just had salmon fillets, wrapped in pancetta and roasted. A pile of lovely jersey royals. Some green leaves and a bowl of chopped tomatoes, cucumbers and red onion with basil because Tesco had run out of mint, but that turned out to be fine because friend said she hated mint!!

After was lots of lovely strawberries and blueberries with lemoncello whipped cream on top - yummy

And, of course, the Pimms went down well

Now, I need to think what to give them next Sunday

limoncello whipped cream O.M.G.!! Waht a brilliant idea

How about a share-y thing for next time? Fajitas or tacos or something? Or a mahoosive BBQ'ed fish if the weather is nice?

Well, my fingers are crossed for a sunny day and then we can whip the bbq out - makes it a bit easier - shall check for weather nearer the time.

The limoncello cream is an idea from Nigella's Anglo Italian Trifle. Just for a small amount whisk 1 egg yolk with 30g caster sugar till pale. Whisk in a slosh of limoncello. Whisk in a 250g pack of mascarpone - add another trickle of limoncello. Beat egg white till fluffy, then fold into mixture. 'tis very morish