Inlaws coming to dinner--I need a NEW recipe!?

Question

They're coming tomorrow. I'm a decent cook, but I've already made all of my "standards" for them at least once or twice. Can you help? Please give me something you yourself have tried and liked, not a link. They're not vegetarian, allergic to anything, etc.

I would ESPECIALLY like something that doesn't involve a whole lot of last-minute prep work. Thanks a million.

Answer 1

Pork tenderloin Au poivre.
thin sliced tenderloin about 1/4 inch
crush some whole peppercorns with bottom of saute pan.
dredge pork in corns
Add to hot pan w/ light coating of olive oil.
brown and turn when you turn add some finely chopped shallots.
when browned remove from pan,add some beef broth and reduce for about 30 seconds,then add heavy cream let it reduce until it is consistency of thin gravy.salt and pepper to taste.Whole process start to finish 5 or 6 minutes.Add pork back to sauce,and serve w/ potato's or rice.
Rice
4 c chicken broth
2 c rice
2 tablespoons tumeric

when rice is cooked rinse under cold water until cool
when you pull pork from pan to make sauce cook rice in saute pan with butter and shallots.Salt and pepper to taste
Steamed Broccolini or asparagus go well with this dish.
Sounds labor intensive , but it's really not.
I've been serving this dish at $17.95 for years people love it
If you want an easy dessert as well
1/2 c brown sugar
1/4 stick butter
2 teaspoons vanilla
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1 1/4 c heavy cream
3 bananas sliced
Vanilla ice cream
Add all except ice cream and bananas in sauce pan on high flame and reduce until thickened about 4 minutes
add bananas and serve over ice cream

Answer 2

How about baked stuffed haddock?

Buy 2 to 2 1/2 lbs. of fillets, haddock or cod along with a package of Ritz crackers, garlic, Worcesterchier (sp) sauce and real butter. Crush the crackers (one and a 1/2 "tubes" of crackers) into a small bowl, add some garlic, w.sauce (just a couple drops) some melted butter (1/4 stick) and mix together until crumbly. You can also use mayo instead of butter if you wish, but you also want these crumbs to be somewhat moist to keep the fish moist while baking.

Put the fish on foil (fi there's skin, skin side down), laid out flat making sure there are no bones and then layer the cracker crumbs on top. Sprinkle with parsley for color.

Bake at 375 for about 40-45 minutes. You'll be able to tell when it's done by peeking into the middle with a fork and it seems to flake, not stick together.

Add some Newburg sauce with some added scallops, mushrooms, shrimp...for topping.

Serve with baked potato and salad.

Simple.

Answer 3

You could never tell how easy this really is. Scrumptious...

Sea Shells with Clam Sauce:

1 pkg macaroni shells
4 strips bacon
1/4 c onion
1 TBS flour
garlic salt
1 can mushrooms undrained
1 can minced clams undrained
grated mozzarella

Cook and drain macaroni. Meanwhile cook bacon in skillet until crisp and remove from pan. To ddrippings add onion and garlic salt and cook until soft. Blend in flour. Stir in mushrooms and clams with their sauce. Cook until thick. Pour over macaroni and add bacon, top with grated mozzarella

Serve with a nice Caesar salad and Garlic bread or Dinner Rolls.

Answer 4

Do they like ham? Very simple, go to your local Golden Baked or Honey Baked Ham store. Buy a spiral-cut ham. Serve at room temperature. Goes great with side dishes of mash potatoes, sweet potatos and vegetable mix and apple sauce.

Don't try to save money and buy a spiral-cut at the big box stores, it will not be the same.


Very little prep time and lot's of great left overs for breakfast!

Answer 5

Italian Stuffed Chicken Breasts

6 boneless chicken breasts with skin
1/4 pound prosciutto
2 ounces fontina cheese
2 tablespoons parmesan cheese
6 sage leaves
1 tablespoon oil
1 cup Marsala Wine
1 cup chicken broth
1/4 cup heavy whipping cream
salt & pepper to taste

Pound chicken breast thin. On each piece of chicken lay a piece of prosciutto, fontina cheese, some parmesan, and a sage leaf. Fold sides of chicken and roll. Secure with a toothpick or skewer. Season chicken.

In a saucepan on high heat, brown both sides of chicken rolls in oil. Add wine and broth, cover and lower heat until finished cooking. Serve chicken with sauce. Remove chicken and stir cream into sauce to warm. Pour over chicken.

Answer 6

I love grilling for guests. Marinate sliced chicken breast in strawberry juice, ginger, garlic, soy and sesame oil. Keep this in the fridge overnight shaking it periodically. Toss it on the grill with a drizzle of honey butter and serve with a hearty green salad offering something like a mustard dijone or basamic dressing which pairs nicely with these flavors. Fast and easy and really yummy.

Answer 7

Chicken Focaccia Sandwiches:

2 (6-ounce) skinless, boneless chicken breast halves
Cooking spray
1 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/4 teaspoon salt, divided
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/2 cup water
1 1/2 cups (1/4-inch-thick) slices red onion
2 1/2 cups red bell pepper strips (about 2 medium)
1/3 cup chopped green onions
10 ounce focaccia bread, cut in half horizontally
1/2 cup (2 ounces) shredded sharp cheddar cheese

Cut each chicken breast half in half horizontally, and lightly coat chicken with cooking spray. Sprinkle Italian seasoning, garlic powder, black pepper, and 1/8 teaspoon salt over chicken. Heat oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken; cook 2 minutes on each side or until browned. Reduce heat to medium; add water. Cook 10 minutes or until chicken is done. Remove chicken from pan; keep warm.

Return pan to medium-high heat. Add red onion; sauté 2 minutes. Add bell pepper, green onions, and remaining 1/8 teaspoon salt; sauté 2 minutes or until tender.

Preheat broiler.

Place bottom half of focaccia on a baking sheet; top with chicken. Arrange onion mixture evenly over chicken; sprinkle with cheese. Broil 2 minutes or until cheese melts. Top with remaining bread; slice into 4 equal portions.

Yield: 4 servings (serving size: 1 sandwich)

Answer 8

Well how about a casserole or some beef, chicken or lamb stew

Meat pieces of your choice
Potatoes
carrots
swede
parsnips

tin green beans
tin garden peas

corn flour
Crusty Bread

Answer 9

How about a nice tossed salad, some garlic bread, lasagna and maybe some sort of chocolate cake... this can all be pretty much done ahead so you can just enjoy your visit!!!

Answer 10

shrimp alfredo? (pkg of alfredo sauce, fetticini noodles, frozen cooken shrimp. add some fresh chopped parsley)

baked tilapia? (tilapia filets, sprinkle lime and garlice, butter pats, thin sliced onions. Put in a foil pouch and bake 10min) serve with broccoli and rice pilaf (rice a roni)