Menu for a dinner party - need inspiration

[princesspeahead]

Right. Have a quite major dinner party coming up on the weekend. Two other couples - a client of my dh's and his american wife, and a french couple where the bloke trained as a chef. So not much pressure there, really.

Need inspiration for the whole thing - starter, main, pudding. I'd like two of the three courses to be essentially done in advance (don't mind last minute touches). Don't want anything too heavy, and want to feel vaguely spring-like.
Thought for main course maybe I could marinate some lamb fillets in something or other... serve with dauphinoise potatoes (too heavy?), or couscous, or pea puree or something? Haven't got any thoughts about anything else.....

please, someone help me!

god that sounds good frenchgirl. double cream or single? have just remembered that I'm also feeding 6 adults and 8 children for lunch on monday so that would be nice and easy. and dh would be in heaven. which he deserves, since he sent me, for no discernable reason whatsoever, a dozen red roses today.... ahhhhhh

if your dh reminds my dh to send ME some red roses for no reason, then I'll tell you about the cream...

he he he
I'll guess at double

actually, I don't know which I normally use as I am a creme fraiche girl by nature, but I think single cream's fine. It has to be Green & Blacks white choc though as has vanilla in it and is to die for.
ARGHHHHH!!!!! why am I telling you all this when I am trying to lose some weight!!!!!

How about...

Avocado, mozarello and tomato starter (slice them and place them along side each other an plate - looks a bit like the Italian flag). Mix together some really good EV Olive oil and lemon juce and dribble over. Sprinkle with shredded basil and some seasoning). Dead easy and very tasty (goes very well with a good Australian chardonnay).

Lamb fillet sounds good. Nick Nairn does one where he mairnates it in olive oil, garlic and rosemary for 12-36 hours (the latter in the fridge) before cooking (involves sealing all the sides in frying pan and then, from memory, a wee bit in the oven), and then slice thickly. Serve with baby new potatoes that have been shaken in basil butter (melt a load of butter and stir in chopped basil). Drizzle extra basil olive oil around the plate.

For pudding try a lemon posset. Good Olde English recipe, simple and can be made in advance. Can't remember the exact recipe, but you boil up the cream, put in some lemon juice and zest and put into pretty glasses in the fridge to set. Decorate with some raspberries (which go well with the tartness of the posset).

If you're going to serve cheese, do so BEFORE the dessert, to impress the French chef!

My mouth is watering. We really do need to start entertaining again!

JanZ I thought possetting was puking up your milk when you're a baby - not very appetising name is it? Sounds delicious though.

I found this recipe:

Jill Dupleix's lemon posset

Occasionally you find a cookery book that makes your heart sing, and Jill Dupleix's Very Simple Food (£20, Quadrille) is one of those. This recipe, a version of a medieval one, would make a pleasing Christmas dessert. Serves 4.

450ml double or whipping cream
125g caster sugar
60ml lemon juice

Combine the cream and caster sugar in a saucepan and bring to the boil, stirring. Reduce the heat and bubble for three minutes, stirring constantly, without allowing the cream to boil. Remove from the heat and add the lemon juice, stirring well. Taste, and add a little more lemon juice if you so desire. Leave the posset to cool for 10 minutes, then stir once and pour into four 100ml ramekins, Chinese teacups or espresso coffee cups. Chill in the refrigerator for a few hours before serving, with tiny spoons.

Or have a look here for another version. He says leave it overnight - it just goes to show how tolerant this recipe is!

The reason I thought of it was that my Mum did it at the weekend and it really IS scrummy!

CD - I hadn't thought of that! No resemblance, I promise you. This make a smooth, rich, delctable dessert!

A really simple but tasty starter is this: oven roasted tomatoes with feta