Dinner menu

[Budlet]

I am cooking dinner for friends on Saturday. I would really welcome some ideas for simple, tasty easy dishes - starter, main and pudding. Any suggestions?

[NazNomad]

Home made tomato soup starter?
http://www.theanswerb...s/Question955743.html

[Budlet]

That's a starter sorted then! Even I can manage that one.

[NazNomad]

Main ... Chicken & Porcini with Couscous (one of Jamie's that I've used a lot)

Double up quantities for 4 people ...

2 skinless chicken breasts
1/4 cup dried porcini mushrooms
25 ounces mixed mushrooms, torn up - I use normal button muzzies, works fine
1 cup white wine
3 tablespoons butter
1/4 cup fresh thyme
2 cloves garlic, peeled and sliced

1. Using wide tin foil, make your bag by placing 2 pieces on top of each other (about as big as 2 shoeboxes in length), folding 3 sides in and leaving 1 side open.

2. Preheat the oven to 220C/425 degrees F.

3. Mix everything together in a bowl including the chicken.

4. Place in your bag with all the wine juice, making sure you don't pierce the foil.

5. Close up the final edge, making sure the bag is tightly sealed and secure on all sides, and carefully slide it onto a roasting tray.

6. Place the tray on a high heat on the stove top for 1 minute to get the heat going, then bake in the middle of your preheated oven for 25 minutes.

7. Remove from the oven, place the bag on a big plate, take it to the table and break open the foil.

I serve this with couscous, but it would work with pretty much anything, rice, spuds, whatever ...

[NazNomad]

Budlet, lots of people have made that soup, it's a real winner.

[Budlet]

NazNomad - you doing anything Saturday night? You don't fancy cooking for me do you???

[NazNomad]

No problem ... :-)

[society]

Yes, I verify that this soup is absolutely delish. And I made it without the bacon.

Keep those recipes coming Naz, I'll try all of them but omit the meat.

[NazNomad]

Dunno about dessert.

Poached pears with a choccy sauce?
A crumble?
Tiramisu?
Jazz up some 'boring' vanilla ice-cream with honeycomb & Baileys?

[NazNomad]

Yeah, the bacon just adds a bit of 'smokiness', it's not a must-have.

[Budlet]

Do you put the chicken breasts in whole or slice them before putting them in the foil bag?

[NazNomad]

whole

[NazNomad]

If they're particularly thick, just score 'em a bit.

I just posted this in the birdwatching thread by mistake, oops, LOL

[ann_h]

Dessert - make a sponge mix (100g each of SR flour/sugar/butter with 2 eggs, with an extra level tsp baking powder). Put into a flan dish then arrange well-drained tinned fruit on top, pushing it in slightly. The sponge will rise around the fruit, no need to cover it.
You can add flavours according to the fruit - eg, add a little cinnamon to the sponge with apples, ginger with apricot. Sprinkle brown sugar (with or without extra spice, as you like) lightly over, or with pears you could use a chocolate powder/sugar mix.
Bake at about 150-160 for half an hour until firm.

You could serve this with creme fraiche, or make a custard really thick using half the normal amount of milk, and less sugar than usual; then whip in a tub of single cream. Naughty but lovely. Again, you can add things to this if you like -eg choc syrup, Bailey's, or a good slug of vanilla.

The sponge pud only takes about 5-10 minutes to mix up, and same for the custard -but there is no reason you couldn't make it early so long as it is covered to stop it drying out.
Then when the chicken comes out, switch oven off and pop pud in to heat through while you eat.

Have fun!

[mccfluff]

this site is ace, loads of dinner party ideas, hope you have a great night

http://www.bbcgoodfoo...ns/easy-entertaining/

[Budlet]

Thanks to everyone for all your help. Fingers crossed!

[beattie819]

The good food site is fantastic, Ive just got lost in it for the past hour or so. Now I will have to look up quick and easy recipes!!