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Food for Dinner party

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Linda51 | 13:06 Wed 07th Jan 2009 | Food & Drink
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I'm cooking for eight prople next weekend, has anyone got any good suggestions as to what I could make so that I am not in the kitchen all evening. A couple of people coming only like very English cooking. Also any good ideas on a nice starter I always seem to do melon. Thanks.
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some sort of casserole or hotpot that you can bung in the oven and forget about, perhaps with dauphinoise potatoes which again can be done in advance and forgotten about, and maybe spicy red cabbage done with either cranberries or apples, another one done in advance.
for a starter smoked mackrel pate with melba toast, or that good old standby prawn cocktail but with avacado and lime juice mixed in with the prawns. all do-able in advance and just take a couple of minutes to assemble when you're ready to eat.
gone are the days when i was prepared to slave for hours in the kitchen and miss out on all the fun. hope you have a good time.
Bonoffee pie for pudding is always a winner and you can make it a day in advance!
steak
Serve a nice prawn cocktail in half an avocado.
Pork chops with cream and mushrooms courtesy of Delia. Ideal for a dinner party as it doesn't need last minute attention and it tastes great too! 8 large pork chops trimmed of any excess fat, 16oz. mushrooms, 7 fl. oz double cream, juice of a very large lemon, 2 tabs. plain flour, 2.5 teasps. chopped fresh thyme or 1.5 level teasps. dried thyme, 2.75 oz. butter, salt and freshly milled pepper.
Place a very large sheet of cooking foil in a roasting time. - large enough to wrap the chops in. In a frying pan brown the chops of both sides in butter and transfer them to the foil, season with salt, pepper and thyme. Chop the mushrooms roughly and fry in the same pan as the chops - add a little more butter if needed. Pour in the lemon juice, let bubble for a minute then stir in the flour with a wooden spoon until you have an awful soggy-looking mushroom mixture. Spoon evenly over pork chops and spoon a little double cream over each one. Now wrap loosely in foil and seal very securely and bake for 1 hour at Gas 4, 350F or 180C. Serve the chops with the juices poured over them. As it is very rich some simple steamed veg. goes very well.
For starters: You can buy smoked salmon trimmings fairly cheaply. Just lay a few pieces on a few rocket leaves or similar, a squeeze of lemon juice and some mayonnaise coloured with a little tomato ketchup and finished with a sprinkle of cayenne pepper. Where's my invite??!!
If you have a slow cooker you could put a nice joint of meat like lamb in it to cook away.

Bung a load of root veggies in an oven tray, drizzle with olive oil and leave to roast.

Peel and parboil some potatoes in advance and store then use them to make some mash mixing in some wholegrain mustard for an extra taste.

You can make a nice red wine gravy with the meat stock.

Pate and toast is an easy starter if you have a 4 slice toaster or large grill or pre-make some little tartlets and serve with some rocket and drizzle with dressing.
Homemade soup is always popular with more reserved palates...Come dine with me showed a lovely recipe lately that appeared to go down a storm....a creamy onion soup with sherry...this can be made in advance and re-heated. Or dates wrapped in smoked streaky bacn....so easy to cook and absolutely delicious.
Main course, how about chicken stuffed with someting, pate, cream cheese onions and peppers, garlic mushrooms etc or a filling that would please your guests and then wrap in smoked bacon or parma ham, serve with daupihoise potatoes and green beans. All easy to prpare in advance and cook later.
Dessert is easy of course, homemade fruit tart and cream or custard.
All dishes can be made well in advance and require little attention once the dinner party starts.
I love to cook.....xxx
lasagna is a great one as you can make it day before and then you stick it in the oven when your guests come. it tastes even better than freshly made. not very english but you can't please everyone ;o)

i often don't bother with starters and do a couple of side salads and pudding instead. a nice plum and apple cruble is delicious this time of year. if you make crumble make sure you put flaked almonds in the actual crumble - delicious

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Food for Dinner party

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