I have two friends coming for lunch tomorrow. What can I give them on a limited budget thats nice?

Question

It's summer in Oz so nothing that requires too much cooking. I won't have much time either as I have to work in the morning.

Answer 1

Hmm...a simple and lovely pasta will do it. Try getting an interesting recipe of the net. They're cheap and every one is different- your friends will love it if it's done well.

Alternatively you could make something like Shepard's pie. Just get some minced chicken/beef, cheese and potatoes. You're set. Of course, you should get the recipe of the net. It's a lovely dish.

Answer 2

Twice Baked Potatoes

2 russet baking potatoes, per person
1/2 a pound ground meat, or 2 breasts of chicken, cut in small pieces
1/2 a yellow onion, chopped
4 to 5 cloves of garlic, chopped
about two cups of grated cheese, I use cheddar, but you can choose any other you like, Gouda, mozzarella, jack etc
1/2 a cup mayonaise, or sour cream
1 tablespoon dried oregano
salt and pepper to taste
Pepperoncini salad peppers for a garnish (just buy a jar of them in the pickle isle)

Bake the potatoes at 350 degrees for an hour
Cook your chicken or ground beef, adding the onions, garlic, herbs and spices (not the salt), then drain of any fat, let cool
Cool the cooked potatoes, then slice a V out of the top, so the part you cut out looks like a fat french fry.
with a spoon, scoop out the potato meat, leaving some at the bottom, dont scoop all of it out, you want the skin as your serving container
Mix the potato meat, the chicken, or ground meat mixture together well
add the mayonaise, or sourcream, 1/2 of the cheese, adding also salt and pepper, as needed, mix well, gently. You will need to taste the mixture, to make sure its to the flavor you like.
Stuff the potatoes with the mixture, put them on a cookie sheet
Lay grated cheese on top, and a pepperoncini per potato
Gently lay a piece of foil over the potatoes to keep the cheese from burning
Bake at 350 for 1/2 an hour
(Chances are you will have some stuffing left over. Save this and pour over warm bread for a quick snack)

Serve with any warm bread of your choice, and a salad. YUM!
Good Eats!

Answer 3

You could buy a roaster chicken. There are many things you can do with it. You can shred it up and make chicken salad, and serve it on a baguette. It won't take long and all you need is a little mayo and maybe some celery or relish to mix in with it. When you are at the market, check to see what type of fruit is on sale and looks fresh- buy some and have it on the side. It's a nice lunch, not expensive, and not labor intensive. Check sales at the market for other ideas.

Answer 4

Sandwich platter- assorted fillings? You can make the fillings the night before and assemble before you eat. Egg salad, Tuna, Smoked Turkey, cheese and tomatoes.
If you make the sandwiches either on different breads and cut in half, or make in a baguette and slice into smaller sandwiches, it looks nice arranged on a platter. Put out some pickles and olives, carrot sticks to munch alongside.

A pasta salad- you have to cook the pasta but otherwise everything else served cold. Make ahead of time but add dressing right before serving. Just a box of penne and some tomatoes, cucumbers, onions, olives, a tangy dressing of your choice.

I did like the idea of getting the pre-roasted chicken as well- very versatile in wraps, salads or sandwiches.

Answer 5

Beef and Broccolli stir fry with onions and bell peppers served over rice. The veggies cook quickly and a decent package of stir-fry beef at the store is not expensive. Just add a little garlic and soy sauce to the stir fry and everything tastes good.

Answer 6

You can make a composed chicken Caesar salad. Pre-plate on 10"dinner plates . Arrange 5 pieces of grilled chicken breast in a star pattern . garnish w/ handmade croutons and freshly grated parmesan or romano cheese
A pasta salad using tri-colored rotini
artichoke hearts, large dice roasted red peppers, cooked cocktail shrimp, blanched snow peas cut chiffonade
mix italian dressing and a little sesame oil
You can actually make this the night before it will hold

Answer 7

How about a nice stir fry cost around £10 for all ingredients. Get chicken breasts
been shoots
green and yellow peppers sliced
mange tuo
baby corn
egg noodles
sliced carrots
brocilli

Cook chicken put all ingredients in a wok and fry with little seseme seed oil for 10 mins add chicken add a little sause of your choise and your done

Answer 8

Quesadillas are simple and always seem to go over well! You can make them with canned chicken or just cheese.

Take 2 tortillas with cheese (or add the chicken along with the cheese) in between. Sometimes I add a packet of taco seasoning to the chicken and warm it before adding it to the quesadillas. Toast in your oven just till cheese melts. Set out toppings of sour cream, chopped green onions, and salsa...shredded lettuce and guacamole if you have it...for your guests to choose from. Buy some cookies or brownies from a bakery and serve with vanilla icecream.

Answer 9

Grilled Chicken Panini

Grill thinly sliced chicken
Put chicken and slices of cheese on foaccia (I hope I spelled that right) bread. Grill each sandwich on a press grill (If you don't have a press grill, regular grill or frying pan works fine, but butter the pan first. These two are harder to handle than a press grill.)

Serve with salad. It tastes good and is healthy, too!!

Answer 10

Buy a cooked BBQ chicken and break it into pieces into a salad.

ive been using fruit like nectarines and strawberries in green salads lately and they make them so fresh and awesome.

add some pita crisps (can be bought at most gourmet shops and supermarkets) just broken into the salad to make it more substantial.

dress with a balsamic olive oil dressing.