Dinner inspiration

Got some friends coming over for dinner tomorrow. Want to cook a meal but totally out if ideas. Looking for something than can be done in a couple of hours but looks impressive? I'm quite a good cook (modest too!) so will consider anything as long as it can be done in a couple of hours after I finish work .

Previously I've cooked..

Lasagna ( who hasn't!)
Greek lamb with Orzo
Arni Kleftiko
Paella ( my signature dish!)
Burritos ( from scratch, not a kit!)

Not too keen on Italian dishes. Can anyone fill me with inspiration?

 

Baked Salmon in a bath of vermouth (spel?) with fresh dill on top. ( baked at 350 degrees for 20-30 mins) Get a good jar of Mango Salsa (leave out for room temp). Make a pan of polenta. (cook while the Salmon is baking --takes ruffly 30 mins. Roasted asparagus in garlic.(takes maybe 6 mins in hot oven of 350 degrees)
Present the dish as : A nice size hill of polenta, lay a slice of the Salmon on top, spill about 1/4 cup of the Mango Salsa over all, and set on the side the asparagus. Dessert: just get some Ice cream and several jars of interesting toppings, and whip cream. Glass of white wine. For an appitizer: try a nice brie and crackers.
If this is after work, this whole meal will take you rufffly 30 mins to cook. this is one of my favorites quick, but looks elegant meal.

 

Catalan chicken, lovely. It's a one pot dish so dead easy to cook, it's the prep that takes the time up!
Smoked mackerel with horseradish,beet root and chilli. Gorgeous.

Risotto ( but your not a fan of Italian!)

Duck with a plum and port sauce, roasted veg and asparagus.

And a lovely pud like apple or rhubarb crumble ( a proper pud!) with custard. Non of the latest namby pamby desserts of today.

 

While abroad a friend and I had a meal challenge, it was getting more and more wierd until I came up with bog standard steak and kidney pudding!

Cheers, Tony.

 

I once had a steak and kidney pudding that was still frozen solid in the middle when I cut into it to eat it. That was novel. Quite possibly poisonous, but novel.

 

How about a taco casserole? Basically, it's a lasagne done the Mexican way. Do a spicy beef mince and layer with cheese sauce and taco chips. For starters I do Guacamole, Salsa and Nachos and dessert was a simple ice cream (possibly home made at the time).

We had the head chef of The Bell, Aston Clinton, Buckinghamshire coming to dinner as his partner and I worked together so we were friends. I couldn't think of anything to do and you just cannot compete with a head chef of a posh place, so I made my taco casserole. Jack had three helpings (and he was a skinny man) and said it was the best meal he had had in a long time. When we went to his (a lovely thatched cottage with four antique classic cars and several antique motorcycles in the garage) we were served .... pizza !!!!! (but it was home made) ...

Sometimes simple can go down better than posh.

PS All of what I have suggested can be done the day before if necessary (but that's today for you) and put in the fridge to pop in the oven when the guests arrive.

Best of luck and let us know what you do ...

Boa sorte e bom apetite!

 

Thanks everyone, some great ideas. My partner decided we are having Spag Bol. Fairy nuff. Not my cup of tea but everyone else will like it and I'm finishing with Zabaglione, on hot poached peaches for dessert.

Lots of good ideas here though for th weekends ahead!


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These are the recipes that I like too!!! Plain wholesome food!!

Val