Alternatives to Sunday dinner

[Linda51]

We have some friends coming for dinner in a couple of weeks, they only like plain type food so I tend to cook roast beef and yorkshire pudding, roast chicken etc. like a Sunday dinner, has anyone got any ideas for a change but still keeping to something simple. Thanks

[JB]

Just try a variation on what you would normally cook - for example try lamb chops grilled/roasted with fresh mint, new potatoes roasted with rosemary (I normally do those with garlic too but it maybe too much if they like plain food!)

For veg, cauliflower with a nice cheese sauce and my favourite at the moment - peppers, onions, courgettes, tomatoes etc all cut up chunky and roasted with olive oil (and again for me fresh herbs and garlic)

But anyway, all things that they will be familiar with, just cooked differently!

[JB]

Just had another thought - macaroni cheese as a side dish instead of/as well as the potatoes........and lots of crusty bread!

A nice change from a Sunday roast!

[lindapinda]

Hi Linda51,my mother makes a really gorgeous but "plain" dish,mince cobbler.It's basically good steak mince (and onions if you like) cooked with bisto,to make the base,in a casserole dish,and topped with "the cobbler",which are basic scones minus the sugar.Its cooked in the oven for about 20mins,and served with whatever veggies you like,peas,carrots etc.It is just a wee bit different,but really yummy!

[curiosity]

OOh... Mince & dumplings or sausage casserole

[Clare A]

All the stew/casserole options already mentioned. Your friends might not have had beef braised in beer or red wine, but might really like it. Shepherds/cottage pie, a variant of which, Hampton pie, is made with corned beef to which you can add almost anything - chopped onions & mushrooms, a little mustard, Worcestershire sauce & tomato ketchup make it tasty - with the mashed potato topping it needs nothing more than some green beans and gravy. Toad in the hole made with really good sausages. Chicken portions roasted with lemon and a bit of herbs if your friends will stand them are nice too.

[Romeo]

Go for fish for a change. Try cod rolls in parsley sauce (drool!) Or salmon steaks.

[Eels]

Either get really good stewing steak and make a steak and ale pie, OR casserole some premium butcher's sausages with a generous splash of cider.  Delish!

Can you tell what my food motto is?  Sling in some booze!

[ceebee007]

What about a fish pie?  Use a couple of different fish (maybe cod, salmon or smoked haddock).  Cook the fish gently, combine with a white sauce (I like to add a chopped leek at this stage and/or mushrooms and courgette) and top with mashed potatoes and grated cheese.

[Pinotage]

If its a success, why change?

I can imagine your friends talking about your roasts at home and really looking forward to their next visit.

I vote to do that same.

 

I've got some friends like yours; last time I mentioned that I was going to something different - slow braised in wine lamb shanks - they were a bit solemn and made various hints so I went back to a lamb roast and when they had the plates put in front of them they were delighted and we had a jolly evening.