Dinner for 7 people. What main and dessert shall I make?

Question

Preferably something easy to make, but still homemade. Also one of my guests is pregnant, so no alcohol etc.

Answer 1

You could do something really easy like chilli con carne with jacket potatoes - just stick the spuds in the oven and forget about them until they're done and make the chilli in one big pot - everyone can help themselves to as much or as little as they want! Nice and hot and filling in cold weather. For desert - Mmm not big on desert - but you could have ice cream which is nice and light after the filling chilli - or serve some apple pie with it. Also have some cheese and biscuits handy in case there is anyone who doesn't have a sweet tooth.

Answer 2

I'd look at a nice pork loin. Season with fresh cracked pepper and Lawry's seasoned salt and some nice rosemary. It's full of flavor and wonderful. Since you'll already have the oven on, bake a nice green bean casserole or even a corn casserole would be nice. Both are crowd pleasers and easy to whip together. Boil some small red potatoes scrubbed clean. No need to peal. When they've reached that firm but soft state, drain and add melted butter and parsely and some salt. Quick and easy! For dessert, I'd recommend this cake....Make a boxed white cake as directed in a 9 X 13 pan, preferably clear. Clean a nice big clam shell of strawberries, slice them and add some sugar. Let them chill for several hours so it's good and saucy. Make sure they're ready to go when you're ready to serve dessert. Then it's an easy assembly while the coffee is brewing. Top the cake with the strawberries and the make some nice home made whipped cream and cover cake. Adds a nice touch of spring!

Answer 3

Just b/c she's pregnant doesn't mean you can't cook with wine. I did.... just a dash for flavor.
For a group of 7, I would go to the butcher and ask for a couple pounds of lamb cleaned and cubed.
I would marinate with fresh rosemary, salt, fresh garlic, a dash of white wine, a dash of lemon, and a coated with dijon mustard. Let it marinade for a couple hours.
Then pan fry... You can also do this with shanks.
Personally I think if you are going to slave over a stove and make dessert, I would do the mushroom rice from rice a roni. It's really good.
I would serve also sliced potatos.. make in oven by slicing thin, olive oil, kosher salt, fresh garlic, and ground rosemary... toss it and bank 400 degrees until you see it's cooked. (it all depends on how thick the cut is..)
Dessert... I totally suggest going to kraftfoods.com and checking out there desserts.... I think a good chocolate cheesecake would be nice. You want something that you could do ahead of time and keep in the fridge so it's not taking up too much of your time when your guests are there...

Answer 4

Boil any pasta, drain and mix the pasta with cooked tomatoes sauce made up of peeled tomatoes,sliced onions,sliced carrots and ground beef. Put 0n a big foil the pasta mixed with the sauce and add grated cheese, wrap the foil and give the parcel of pasta the shape of a big bow,put in a hot oven for three quarters of an hour, serve by opening the pasta parcel foil on a big plate on the center of the dinner table, so all the guests can help themselves,(serves with more grated cheese if desired)
Slices chicken breast or thinly sliced veal, cook in butter,add little white wine and some water,salt and pepper, turn over and cook on the other side, place a piece of slice ham and slice cheese over each cooked chicken breast or veal, cover and when the cheese melts,the meat is ready to be served,accompanied by spinach ,(boiled and well drained )served either with hot melted butter, or with lemon juice and virgin olive oil
Finish with a desert made of fresh strawberry, strawberries can be served with lemon juice and topped with sugar or else strawberries serves with vanilla ice/cream
Bon apetite

Answer 5

If you are baffled try going to foodtv.com or epicurious.com and doing a recipe search using various meat or pasta. If nothing else it gives you ideas and you might find a recipe you will love.
An easy and delicious recipe I use for dessert sometimes is to make vanilla pudding with a little orange zest or juice in it ...can be made the day ahead then dish it up in pretty goblets with fresh fruit layers and top with coconut cookie crumbs. Easy and yummy

Answer 6

I love to make easy stuff to have time to enjoy the evening- a nice fat barbeque in summer with creative salads, quiches and dips but for colder days I love "pot-dishes" like curries for mains. You can serve a "bunny chow" we have here in South Africa and which I love to make if I have lots of people around - should be fun: Take a breadloaf - can be 2 days old (square, whole toast loaf), cut it in 3 equal parts, hollow out the two end parts and fill with a scumptious chicken or lamb curry. Some garnish (chillies, coriander etc) on top - The bread-filling goes next to the bunny on the plate for dipping action. Its a super hearty meal that is a bit different and people LOVE it. Desert: Just for espresso: Fill some dates with marcipane, or dip strawberries and grapes in chocolate or liquid sugar let harden, serve on saucer with strong espresso. They will love you. If you need more substance, my favorite MASCAPONE/STRAWBERRY: Mascapone creme (stir with some full fat creme until smooth, creamy and .....yummy!)and strawberries with balsamic vinegar (cut in quarters and drizzle good balsamic over it, add sugar to taste and some chopped mint leaves for zing)- can be made in large quantities and prepared already the day before- easy! Alternative: get some good icecreme and round flat crisp waffels/cookies and make your very own ice sandwich by putting ice creme between two cookies and smoothing the sides. Good for kids too!

Answer 7

If you do something Morroccan. You can cook in advance and heat up on the day with just the cous cous to prepare; which lets face it is quick and easy. Pudding should be light, so how about a fresh fruit salad with ice cream or even a home made mousse.

Answer 8

Make a cheesecake for dessert - easy, and it will go round lots of people!

Why not cook a lasagne for a main course as this is really tasty, cheap but feeds loads? You can serve it with side salad so that people can keep it as light as they like.

Answer 9

You could always do it the simple way and serve some sort of pasta, garlic bread, Cesar salad and a pre made pie or cake for dessert.

You could also do stuffed cabbage (very simple to make), mashed potatos or potatoe pancakes, corn, rolls and then jello or pudding for dessert.

You could also do a backed chicken ( lemon or rosemary flavored), scalloped potatoes , green beans, rolls, then a cheesecake for dessert.

Answer 10

fresh fruit salad very quick and usually pleases all tastes, you
could also do a whipped cream with raspberries on a meringue, very quick and easy, never read queation properlly,i put the dessert first,sorry. a good main course would be a simple roast dinner, or salmon steaks in a lemon butter with steamed mixed peppers and new potatoes