chilli for a dinner party?

[pinkcowprint]

hi,i am doing a chill for some friends,is there any way i can present it or do anything to make it to look like i have been slaving away all day instead of chucking it all in a slow cooker and whacking timer on?
i was thinking of doing a side of nachos each with jalapenos and melted cheese,and a trio of dips,guacomole,sour cream,cucumber and mint,could i set them on top of each other,into something,cant think of the name them metal tins,that you set little thing in?? just to make them look a bit fancier?
i am doing starter from scratch ,and baking my own dessert,just can't be bothered slaving away all night in the kitchen for the main!

[B00]

Why do you need to prove you've been "slaving away all day?" Your friends aint gonna say " im not eating this, cheeky cow just slammed it in the SC!!"

Your meal sounds lovely, they should be pleased you've gone to so much effort for them.

[nannybooby]

I do similar to you to jazz it up a bit and add sides of gratted cheese, shredded lettice and an onion salad - fine slice red and white onions ,cfine chop cuecumberand tomatoe mix with fine chopped corriander its lovely. Also make a side of chopped fresh chillies for those who like it hot hot hot.

[rowanwitch]

How about serving it in large red or green peppers slice the stalk end off hollow out and roast inthe oven for about 10 mins stuff with the chilli and stand on a little bed of rice with the stem end back on like a cap

[pinkcowprint]

oh my god rowan that sounds bloody great!! haha,boo,i know what you mean,they won't think that but they all did fancy stuffed this and that etc when they fed us lot,you just watch come dine with me don't you and want people to go,"wow!she can cook!!" haha,we'll prb have that much to drink they won't care what we are eating!anyone know a good drink,punch for parties?

[boxtops]

For chilli, you want something cooling, like lager!

[pinkcowprint]

another thought,could i stuff the chilli in large chillies?or will this be ear steaming stuff??

[boxtops]

I wouldn't! A really nice mixed salad with raita (to cool) and cucumber sticks (to cool) would go down much better with me!

[Eve]

You can make the rice look more fancy by putting it in little bowls and letting it settle in the shape before upending onto the plate. You could put things with colour in the rice such as thinly sliced coloured peppers to make it more fancy and put a little garnish on the top.

[pinkcowprint]

ok,anyone any tips on cooking rice for 8 people???

[B00]

Few bags of microwave rice, ding it for coupla minutes then voila!! Jazz it up my flinging peas, onions etc in it, also bulks it up a bit too.

[Eve]

I used to work in a restaurant kitchen and we used to cook it in advance (make sure you store it safely though!) and then microwave to order in the bowls upended on a plate to warm and set it. You could always do multiple ones on a plate with something microwave proof under each to be able to transfer them intact to individual plates then slide out whatever is underneath and let settle before removing the bowls.

[Eve]

Oh and you could use taco shells to pu chilli/rice in. You can make your own to size/shape by frying tortillias in oil but you need to get them into shape and turn whilst frying so although they are quick to make you are pretty limited to making one at a time.

[venator]

I made some chili bowls out of bread for a party last week, and they were impressive! A basic bread dough, but with a good amount of olive oil and herbs, moulded over oiled bowls. Baked at 180 for 15 minutes, then eased off the bowls and given another 10ish mins until they look done.

They were a bit wobbly on the plates, but enormous fun.

I didn't serve them full, but put out the chili in a big Le Creuset casserole with a ladle.

You could buy some small loaves, cut off thye top, oil or butter them and bake until crisp.

If they leak or collapse, it might add to the fun...

[pinkcowprint]

ooh thanks for all your answers,im quite excited now!thanks for all the ideas,im going to have a practise this weekend!