Help, the wife's gone AWOL for the afternoon and we have Friends for dinner tonight?

Question

My wifes been called into the office and left me to cook dinner for two freinds and ourselves, She knows I can't cook and says i'v got all day learn. Right I need to set a three couse meal, starter, main meal and desert. I can cook a pork chop boiled potatoes and egg and bacon but not much else. I'v got up to about 6pm tonite. Genuin answers only please. and please let me have cooking times. I love you all, grovel, grovel.

Hi! everyone, just thought you'd lik to know that last night was a great evening and I 'd
like to thank all of you for your sugestions esspecialy to Spoonfred2 for starter, Edison for dinner, and Loulou for desert. The meal came out a corker and it's the first time I have ever cooked a meal since I'v been married. Babs (wife) was well supprised when she came home dinner was on the way. She bought a chinese take away menu in with her. I told her to sit up and watch telly for a bit. her freinds were really nice and I bonded straight away. Mind you the wine was flowing freely and I took your advice about the after eights. A irish coffy to finish and we relaxed with a few brandies after. They left a two but thanks to you that was not the end of the evening for me Wink Wink. THANKS AGAIN TO ALL OF YOU

Answer 1

Colin man...are there any cookbooks in your house - read and shine!

Answer 2

Here are some ideas that you can look up on Google.

Starter Ideas:
Mini Quiches (Prep = 20mins + Cook = 35 mins)
Savoury Cheese Dip
Baby Potatoes with Crispy Bacon Savouries (Prep = 15mins + Cook = 15mins)
Mini Pizzas (7-10mins)
Mini Spring Rolls
Savoury Scones

Main Ideas:
Grilled Fish
Grilled & Marinated Fish
Barbecue Fish In Foil (Prep 20mins + Cook = 8-10mins)
Chicken and Almonds (Prep 20mins + cook = 20mins)
Irish Stew (Filling, simple, and it tastes good. Go for this one. I can give you the exact recipe if you email me)

Dessert Ideas:
Melon Sorbet (Prep 20mins + 2 hours to freeze)
Cheesecake
Self-Saucing Chocolate Pudding
Chocolate Mousse (Prep 30mins + 2 hours in fridge)
Chocolate Torte
Pinweel Cookies
Cherry Rounds (Prep 20mins + Cook = 10-15mins)



Hope you like the ideas!




If you choose to use Irish Stew, I recommend only a small serving. Either that, or a light and not so sweet dessert, as it is quite filling.

Answer 3

Is a take-away really out of the question?

If so, then you could go for an eighties themed dinner. An easy prawn cocktail for starters - salad, prawns, mary rose sauce (salad cream and ketchup mixed together), or maybe melon or pate. Then your pork chops for main and then blancmange from a packet for pud. You can say its kitch and people will love it!

Or maybe you could have a mooch round the supermarket and see if there are any meals that you just have to cook and put together, like Tesco's Finest stuff. Just mix and match and shove 'em in the oven.

Good luck!

Answer 4

dont panic help is at hand!! im a fab cook if i do say so myself,i'll give you something easy but that will still impress! for starters cheat by buying some expensive cartoned soup,carrot and corrianders great and serve it with petit pans which are just little bread rolls and put a swirl of double cream on the soup when its served it'll look restaurant quality!for the main course porks great!cook the chops and boil little baby new potatoes,when theyre cooked add a knob of butter and a handful of fresh chopped parsley,serve with good apple sauce and get a good supermarket steam in the bag mixed veg and just follow the instructions.for dessert,i made this last night,get a big bar of dark choc,70% cocoa,melt in a bowl over a pan of hot water,leave to cool in cold water,get 500ml of double cream and whisk to form soft peaks and fold not stir fold into the choc,refrigerate till cold and set nicely,serve in wine glasses with sliced strawberrys slotted into the rim of the glass..voila! trust me,this will be fab!

Answer 5

If nobody is a vegetarian then:
Pop down to your local supermarket and buy pre cooked chicken pieces and a chicken tonight style cook-in sauce.

Get some boil-in-the-bag packets of rice (uncle Ben's is quite good). Buy some mushrooms and spring onions.

Also buy a couple of melons; one honeydew and one cantaloupe

Buy some kiwi, strawberries, grapes, apples, banana and a carton of fresh fruit juice of your choice.

Get 1 tub of vanilla ice-cream and a carton of pouring cream.

1st Course
cut melons and de-seed. Scoop out small balls of flesh or slice into cubes. Place in large wine glass and serve.

2nd Course
Take the skin off the chicken and place pieces into a dish suitable for using in the oven. Put the sauce over the chicken and cook according to the instructions on the side of the jar.

Cook rice according to instructions.

Pan fry chopped mushrooms and chopped spring onion (use olive oil). Once rice is cooked, tip it into a large serving bowl and mix the mushrooms and onions into the rice.

Dessert
Peel and chop all your fresh fruit. Place it into a large serving bowl and add quarter pint of the fresh fruit juice. Serve giving a choice of either ice-cream or cream.

Good luck!

Answer 6

STARTER:
Preparation time less than 30 mins Email this recipe

Cooking time 10 to 30 mins

Ingredients

2 tbsp olive oil
200g/7oz cherry tomatoes
½ melon, de-seeded and cut into 5mm slices
For the dressing
2 limes, juice only
4 tbsp olive oil
To serve
large handful fresh basil leaves

Method

1. Heat the olive oil in a griddle pan over a medium heat.
2. Griddle the cherry tomatoes for 2-3 minutes, to soften.
3. Add the melon slices to the pan and cook for a further 1-2 minutes.
4. Remove from the heat and transfer to a serving plate.
5. To make the dressing, place the limejuice and olive oil in a mini-food processor and blend until smooth.
6. Drizzle the dressing over the tomato and melon salad and garnish with the basil leaves.


MAIN:


Preparation time less than 30 mins

Cooking time 10 to 30 mins







Ingredients
5-6 Cox's apples, peeled, cored and roughly chopped and 2-3 Cox's apples left whole
25g/1oz caster sugar
½ lemon, juice only
4 pork chops
25g/1oz of butter, melted
salt and freshly ground black pepper



Method
1. Put the cored and peeled apples in a saucepan, add half the caster sugar, the lemon juice and three tablespoons of water.
2. Cover with a lid and cook over a medium to low heat for 10-15 minutes until tender, stirring from time to time. The apple sauce can be very chunky or lightly whisked for a smoother finish.
3. Pre-heat the grill.
4. Brush the pork chops with a little of the melted butter, seasoning with salt and freshly ground black pepper.
4. Put the chops on a grill tray with a rack, and grill them for 4-5 minutes on both sides.
5. Meanwhile peel and core the remaining apples. Cut into thin long slices, maintaining the shape of the apple.
6. Spread the apple sauce over the chops and arrange the apple slices on top, slightly overlapping as you would for apple tart.
7. Brush or drizzle the chops with the remaining melted butter, sprinkling with the
remaining sugar and return under the grill. Cook for a few minutes and the apples are nicely toasted.
8. Serve.

N.B. - The lemon juice can be replaced with a tablespoon or two of Calvados.

serve with new potatos and buy a tray of vegatables to roast from Tesco!!!

Dessert:
this takes about 5 mins to make and can stay in the fridge till when you need it, if you dont have time then buy a tesco tiramisu it is really nice!!

Preparation time over 2 hours

Cooking time no cooking required







Ingredients
3 egg yolks
75g/3oz caster sugar
a good splash or two Kahulua or coffee liqueur
2 x 250g/9oz tubs mascarpone cheese
200ml/7fl oz strong coffee or espresso, cold
14 boudoir biscuits or sponge finger biscuits
25g/1oz plain chocolate, finely grated
cocoa powder



Method
1. Using an electric whisk beat the egg yolks and caster sugar together until pale and thick. Add the mascarpone and whisk slowly until the mixture is pale and smooth. Add 1 tbsp of the coffee liqueur and whisk gently.
2. In a separate bowl, mix the coffee and remaining coffee liqueur.
3. Dip half of the boudoir biscuits into the coffee mixture place in the bottom of 4 glass coffee cups or small bowls. (Alternatively, place in a single glass bowl to make one large Tiramisu).
4. Spoon over half the mascarpone mix and sprinkle with half the chocolate. Repeat with another layer of biscuits, mascarpone and chocolate. Cover and refrigerate for 2 hours and dust with cocoa powder before serving.



You will be fine, but if you want to save hassle get a chinese!! lol

Answer 7

go to the supermarket and buy lots of carrots and some dried corriander for soup for the starter, boil the carrots until they are soft, pour 3/4 of the water out put the rest in the belnder with the carrots or u can just mash them together with a potato masher and add the corriander then simmer for 5 mins.

for the main course make the chops and potatoes and some carrots and tinned peas.

for ur dessert buy a pavlova or alabama chocolate fudge cake with ice creame

Answer 8

The first course could be a salad, very easy- no cooking needed. I have Rachel Rays 365 no repeat 30 minute meal cook book- they are all super easy to make- but takes too long to type- Why not check out the food networks page and click on her link. Like I said they are easy to make- you don't have to be a master chef- I'm not and I can cook her things-OR you can always order out and replate everything so no one will know- just order a little extra incase anyone wants seconds.

Answer 9

okay heres an easy and simple dinner plan, make a garden salad (get the prepackaged ones with lettuce, radish, carrots etc) viola there is your salad...next take 8 pork chops, boneless ones, are preferred, take them and brown on stove, sear frying, then remove and put in baking dish with Campbell's mushroom soup, kick it up a notch with some basil and oregano, just a pinch don't get nuts...cook them at 350 degrees for about 1 1./2 -2 hours to till fork tender....for dessert, pick up a nice cheesecake offer cherries or some other fruit on the side with cool whip. take into consideration that somebody may be allergic to cherries....this is an easy dinner...or with the pork chops, throw some baking potatoes in the oven with the chops, making sure to pierce them so they wont explode, take some baby carrots and boil them till tender on the stove add butter , you got a great dinner in about 2 hours from start to finish. let me know how you make out...good luck

Answer 10

1st course - hot chicken salad
make salad (any ingredients you want) in a serving bowl then put in the fridge.
chop up 3 chicken breasts put in the fridge til l8r.
about 10 mins before serving salad fry chicken pieces in a little olive oil with some salt and pepper.(add some Tabasco sauce or chili flakes or fresh chili if you want spicy)
When chicken is cooked put it in the bowl of salad, toss and serve.

2nd coarse pork chops and apple
get enough pork chops for 4 people, put in a casserole dish.
cut up 2 eating apples put in casserole dish.
pour on some apple juice or cider if you have it and cook for about an hour in oven 200C. add more liquid during cooking if need, but don't drown the chops or it will get watery.
Serve with new pot and veg of your choice
Dessert - BUY IT, YOU COOKED THE REST

Answer 11

Was this planned?Right then,sling a chicken (Defrosted,so fresh)into oven 20Min's+ 20Min's per lb gas mark 5-6 serve with roast pots various veg Asparagus etc. do a Angel Delight for afters follow instructions on packet chill slightly get some After eights mints for serving with coffee or late drinks chill some wine or non-alcoholic" Ame" possibly start with a soup? with croutons dice bread up after toasting? there you go.Check chicken to make sure juices are clear & don`t forget to take the plastic bag of giblets out for your pet dog/cat.you can rub a little salt & herb in to add taste & get the instant gravy & stuffing maybe add some chipolatas sausages.Can I come round?