I'm having guests over for dinner whats a nice meal to serve?

Question

something easy and impressive

Answer 1

mac and cheese

Answer 2

easy but expensive

caprese salad
whole beef tenderloin
roasted potatoes
baguettes

the tenderloin and potatoes can be done on the grill even. actually my in-laws are coming to town for a visit tomorrow and this will be our dinner the first night. we just season the tenderloin with salt, pepper and minced garlic and cook it about 30 min. the potatoes we chop into quarters, then toss with olive oil and same seasonings plus basil and oregano and cook in a foil pan about 45 min.

for the salad basically tomato/basil/fresh mozzarella, but i would skip the dried mustard.
http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/recipe_views/views/10124

and for dessert, home made brownies, using the recipe on the "baker's unsweetened chocolate" box. except i only use 2 eggs instead of 3. and make sure you use real butter.

Answer 3

ALL QUICK AND EASY AND VERY IMPRESSIVE!


STARTERS

ASPARAGUS SOUP


"Spring-fresh taste of asparagus--any time!"
Original recipe yield: 8 servings.
Prep Time:
10 Minutes
Cook Time:
25 Minutes
Ready In:
35 Minutes
Servings:
8 (change)

________________________________________
INGREDIENTS:
•4 large potatoes, peeled
•2 cubes chicken bouillon
•2 (10 ounce) cans asparagus
•1 tablespoon fennel seed
•1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper to taste
•1 tablespoon fennel greens for garnish
________________________________________
DIRECTIONS:
1.Boil and mash potatoes. Puree in a blender, and set aside.
2.In large pot, dissolve bouillon in water following the directions on the package.
3.Add asparagus spears, and stir until spears are dissolved. Stir in the potatoes. Season with fennel seeds and pepper to taste. Garnish with fennel greenery if desired. Serve hot.

MAIN COURSE

HONEY AND MUSTARD CHICKEN

"Quick and easy to prepare, and the kids love it too!"
Original recipe yield: 6 servings.
Prep Time:
15 Minutes
Cook Time:
45 Minutes
Ready In:
1 Hour
Servings:
6
________________________________________
INGREDIENTS:
•6 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves
•salt and pepper to taste
•1/2 cup honey
•1/2 cup prepared mustard
•1 teaspoon dried basil
•1 teaspoon paprika
•1/2 teaspoon dried parsley
________________________________________
DIRECTIONS:
1.Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
2.Sprinkle chicken breasts with salt and pepper to taste, and place in a lightly greased 9x13 inch baking dish. In a small bowl, combine the honey, mustard, basil, paprika, and parsley. Mix well. Pour 1/2 of this mixture over the chicken, and brush to cover.
3.Bake in the preheated oven for 30 minutes. Turn chicken pieces over and brush with the remaining 1/2 of the honey mustard mixture. Bake for an additional 10 to 15 minutes, or until chicken is no longer pink and juices run clear. Let cool 10 minutes before serving.

DESSERT

LEMON HEAVEN

"This is the easiest lemon dessert I have ever made, it uses only three ingredients and will always impress guests."
Original recipe yield: 5 servings.
Prep Time:
5 Minutes
Cook Time:
10 Minutes
Ready In:
5 Hours 15 Minutes
Servings:
5
________________________________________
INGREDIENTS:
•3 cups heavy cream
•1 1/4 cups white sugar
•3 lemons, juiced
•3 tablespoons additional heavy cream for topping
________________________________________
DIRECTIONS:
1.In a saucepan, stir together 3 cups of cream and sugar. Bring to a boil, and cook for 2 to 3 minutes. Stir in the lemon juice. Pour into serving glasses, and refrigerate until set, about 5 hours. Pour a little more cream over the tops just before serving.

Answer 4

CHICKEN WITH CUCUMBERS
2 tbsp. olive oil
1 tbsp butter
3 boneless, skinless chicken or turkey breasts
1 large very fresh cucumber (they become bitter quickly, so fresh is best)
1/2 an onion, sliced thin
1/2 tsp. ground cumin
1/2 tsp. ground mustard
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 cup chicken stock ( 1/2 cup water and 1 chicken boullion cube works too)
3 tbsp. sour cream

Heat oil and butter in skillet. Cube chicken and add to pan, cook thoroughly. Take cucumber and peel, slice in half, seed with a spoon and dice small. When chicken is cooked golden brown, remove from pan. Add onion and cucumber. Cover and cook 1-2 minutes. Add chicken stock, garlic, cumin and mustard. Cook 5-7 minutes more until onion and cucumber are tender. Return chicken to skillet. Stir in sour cream. Serve over rice or pasta.


Butter Bean Salad
2 cans butter beans, rinsed and drained, 15 ounces each
1/2 red bell pepper, diced
1/2 green bell pepper, diced
1/2 red onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, peeled and minced
1 teaspoon ground cumin, 1/3 palm full
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1 large lemon, juiced
Coarse salt and freshly ground black pepper

Combine all ingredients in a medium bowl. Toss to coat beans and vegetables evenly in dressing.

Chili-Lime Corn
4 ears sweet corn, shucked and cleaned
1 lime, juiced
1/2 stick butter, cut into pats
Chili powder, for sprinkling
Salt

Simmer corn 6 to 8 minutes in water. Drain and slice corn from cobbs. Squeeze liberally with lime juice. Add pats of butter and a sprinkle of chili powder and salt, to taste


Creamy Lemon Pie
1-3/4 cups cold milk
juice from 2 lemons, strained
1 package instant vanilla pudding
1 package instant lemon pudding
1 small box lemon jello (do not add water..just add the powdered jello)
1 8-oz. tub Cool Whip, thawed
1 graham cracker crust

Pour milk into large bowl. Add dry pudding mixes and jello. Beat with wire whisk 1 minute. Add lemon juice; beat an additional minute or until well blended. (Mixture will be thick) Gently stir in whipped topping. Spoon into crust.

Answer 5

starter: Salad leaves, toast and pate, cut the toast into triangles and drizzle some dressing over the salad leaves.

Main course: roast chicken, roasted potatoes, cauliflower cheese and peas.

Dessert; Eton Mess, which is simply whipped cream, chopped strawberries and crushed meringue nests all stirred together.

Answer 6

Hi, Baked Ziti: ( also: french bread,egs, 2%milk,butter, wine,)
! box of Ziti(preferabally Barilla pasta, )
2. 1 or 2 jars of your favorite brand of Tomato sauce(if you like lots of sauce)
3. 1 tub of ricotta cheese
4. parmesan cheese
5. 2lbs. of mozzarella cheese(if you love cheese
6.!lb italian sausage(out of casing, or in bulk)
7. 1 lb. hamburger
8 4 cloves of fresh garlic
9. olive oil
10. seasonings: basil,oregano,salt to taste....

Sautee fresh garlic in hot olive oil til tender, add sausage and ground beef til there isn't any pink left.Add 1 or 2 jars of your favorite sauce,add 1 tablespoon of basil, oregano and salt too taste( if you have extra red wine in your refrigerator add that too) Cook on simmer for 1 hour or 2 til tastes blend together...
Get a large pot and fill with water and boil the water,add entire box of Ziti(if you
can't find Ziti,use penne, bowties,whatever shape that appeals too you).Cook pasta til it is aldante....pour water and boiling hot water in collander removing "all" of the water.
Get out your hand mixer (or beat by hand ) ricotta, 2eggs, ! cup of prmesan
cheese,and 2% milk til. Beat til the ingrediants are smooth,I never know how much milk that i use ,til i find a sem-thick smooth mixture.

Get out an 13x9 pan and spray with Pam non stick spray. Add Pasta too sauce
and pour the pasta and sauce in an even layer tilcovers the bottom of the baking pan,add Ricotta mixture and than smooth it over with a knife, add morrarella cheese..Repeat til you are finish eith ingrediants(most of the time ,their is enough to make another small pan for an eas supper during the
work week).....serve with parmesan cheese....

make a big salad with romaine, and iceburg lettuce, spinach,roma tomatoes,
cucumbers,yellow and orange peppers, radishes (whatever you desire).when you are ready to eat @ 5 minutes before hand add favorite salad dressing,( hidden valley has easy homemade ranch dressing packet,
and other flavors, be sure you read the directions on back and get all the ingrediants that you will need, they are easy too make)

Have Hot crusty French Bread too( put in oven for last 20 minutes of your Ziti baking-perfect timing)

Serve with a red wine and water with lemon......

Dessert: Go to your favorite bkery and pick something rich : Tirimisu is perfect
for a perfect ending...Good-Luck..........have a wonderful dinner..This is easier than it sounds,you will see....it is delicious.....all of it!!!!!!!!!!Any ?'s e-mail me....

Answer 7

i think ur not a Filipino but we usually serve here kare-kare or sinigang paired with patis (for dipping sauce)...then later on coffee

Answer 8

Well, depends on what type of food - Western or Asian or Mexican, etc.

Try www.allrecipes.com

Best of luck!

Answer 9

Spaghetti and garlic bread sounds good!

Answer 10

three words
sticky
date
pudding