my husband invited over his boss and ceo for dinner. what can i make that will impress them?

Question

should i do an appetizer and dinner and then desert? if so what?
how should i go abt doing this?

Answer 1

Don't order out, that would be slightly insulting that you could not take the time to cook for you guests. Yahoo Food has an awesome recipe for roasted chicken breasts, and it is really pretty easy, could do with a simple side salad, and then a desert, maybe a trifle of some sort. Definately have an appetizer, nothing too big though - a bread and spread or something. And wine, wine always makes dinner better. Yahoo food has really good recipes, but so does foodnetwork.com

Answer 2

Want to make big brownie points? Call and ask if they follow any special diets, or have any allergies. Then plan the menu, keeping those things in mind. You will be labled as a considerate hostess, before you even start cooking. Do a little research, are they married, what is their favorite kinds of food? If not married, a good home style meal, like your Mom would make, is what is wanted. If married, then a little fancier will be fine. and let them know ahead of time what the dress code will be: casual, or not.
Stick with something you have cooked before, and pick something that you can make ahead, as much as posssible, or choose items that just need a little reheating or a final touch before serving. You want to be able to be with your guests as much as possible.
Choose what the main course will be, and make sure everything else matches that.
Match the appetizers to the meal. Men love meatballs. A savory mini-quiche, or just some good cheese and crackers. An easy one would be to put some shrimp on ice, and serve with cocktail sauce. Hot cheese and crab dip another choice..
A pork roast, cheese potaoes, string bins with almonds, a strawberry or orange vinagrette salad. A pre made dessert like an ice cream cake, coffee, and after dinner liquor, if they drink. Pair it with the savory mini-quiches.
Prime rib with horseradish sauce, garlic roasted potatoes, glazed carrots, one of the above salads, or a Caesar,. The meatballs or a seafood appetizer would be good.
Go all seafood, with seafood lasagna with white sauce, or vegetarian lasagna.
If I were the boss, and I was invited to someone's home, I would be expecting to taste the hostess's specialities, not be presented with a standing rib roast, or anything too gormet.
Unless, of course, you are a gormet cook!
You didn't say, but are their wives invited? If so, go for the good china and silver, and pick something fancy to serve.

Answer 3

What I would recommend is first of all, finding a special wine, say a Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon (Kendell Jackson make a nice Cab that is not to expensive if available in your area). For appetizers, I would start with something light.
Individual Tiger Prawn Cocktails with a cocktail sauce and fresh cut lemon wedges. For the Main Course, a Prime Rib Roast that can be cooking ahead of time while you prepare the side dishes. Medium to medium rare, or about 165-170 when thermometer is inserted into the thickest part of the roast. Serve with au jus (Knorr make a great package sauce, and he'll think you made it yourself) and creamed horseradish. Add lighlty garlic mashed potatoes and either a salad or fresh vegetables. Fresh asparagus if you can find it. Knorr also make a yummy hollandaise sauce that is easy to prepare and will make a great impression. Stop by a bakery and get some fresh rolls to accompany the menu. While your there, pick out a nice dessert and your all set! It's not as hard as you think to make this special meal, and the boss is sure to love it! (Provided he/she is not a Vegan). Best of luck to you. Lots of good recipes at:

Answer 4

Ina Gartin, the Barefoot Contessa, believes the more important the guest, the more you give them "comfort food". She serves meatloaf! Also, she says make not more than 2-3 things and buy the rest. So, make a dessert or appetizer, but not both! Don't make anything that is stressful at the last minute! I would get wonderful dips, great crackers and a selection of different olives and put that out for the appetizers. If you live near a trader joe's, get their boneless leg of lamb and throw it in the oven, period. (don't overcook.....leave it a little pink!) Then have a fabulous salad.....like mixed greens and sugared almonds, dried cranberries, fresh oranges and blue cheese crumbles....put a homemade poppy seed on it or buy a good raspberry vinagrette. Then steam some asparagus or roast it with the lamb. Rolls and you have a very impressive dinner with wine. Then for dessert, make your favorite ahead of time. I like bread pudding, warm with a warm bourbon sauce. Since you didn't have potatoes and a lot of starch in the dinner or appeatizer, you can go nuts on the dessert. I also like homemade hot fudge with angel food cake and fresh strawberries. Enjoy and most importantly, don't stress out by doing "so called" impressive stuff that requires a lot of your attention. No one likes to see the cook struggling to get it all together.

Answer 5

I would keep it a comfortable. Flowers on the table, a pretty table cloth but bosses get a lot of formal affairs so a home cooked meal [or close] can be comfortable.
Make peoples favorites.

#1. Appetizers or something to munch on before dinner.

#2. Start the meal with some salad, put out topping and a selection of dressings.

#3. Beef Roast - put it in a crock pot in the morning so it is nice and tender by dinner. Add beef broth, Mrs. Dash - people love the roasts I make and I always get compliments. It is a sure fire winner for me.
Add rolls, mashed potato's, green bean casserole and gravy. The casserole can be made ahead of time, rolls are easy and people consider mashed potato's comfort food. It is always a winner with guests for me.

I usually have 2 different desserts for people to choose from. A cake [chocolate] with ice cream and 1 New York Cheesecake. Bought ahead!!

Good luck and enjoy!!!

Answer 6

I would also suggest going with something you know how to do well; that way, you aren't stressing out over the food prep. For appetizers, get some of those phyllo tarts (they usually have several different fillings) from the grocery store (you can also find them at Sam's club and Trader Joe's stores).

For dessert, try serving up a crisp: take whatever fruit's in season or some granny smith apples, toss them with cinnamon & sugar, and top them with a mixture of equal parts brown sugar, oatmeal and butter (the mixture will be crumbly). Bake in a 350F oven for roughly half an hour (until the crisp is golden brown) and serve warm w/ ice cream. It's easy, it's cheap and the worst that can happen is it singes a bit--and that can be covered up with the ice cream, lol.

Answer 7

Stuffed pork loin would be nice. You could serve it with some herb baked red potato's, green beans with almonds a nice dinner salad and dinner rolls. Instead of a fancy dessert make a fresh apple pie. Everyone likes apple pie. Oh and have some appetizers also. I would do a nice fruit plate and some good cheese maybe a brie and crackers and also some wine.

Answer 8

Buy jumbo cleaned cooked shrimp and make shrimp cocktails .Cook a Prime Rib roast.The roast is so easy just salt and pepper the top and sides and cook for 15 minutes a lb in a 375 degree oven {let the roast get room temperate first] You can buy different rice favors that are great and you only have to nuke it.Make a simple salad but buy a bag of mixed greens and dress with Greek dressing. Buy a flat fudge cake and top with fresh berries and whipped cream. Ok so we have a fancy shrimp cocktail,a great looking salad ,Elegant Prime Rib (don't forgot a side of horse radish) with fancy rice and a dessert that looks homemade.Hopefully a raise for the hubby.

Answer 9

I would suggest getting your presentation set up first. Make it look good but not to formal. You want tham to remember your human. Make a large ceaser salad and put some fruit bites out for appitizers. while the conversation is getting started. make sure you have a variety of drinks. Make dinner simple but elegant. I would make steak and some steamed veggies. Dont overwhelm the plate. As for desert make something light but sweet like chocolate mouse and put it in nice stem wear. Hope this was some help.

Answer 10

You will need a slow cooker for this recipe:

Brats and Spuds
Makes 6 Servings

5-6 bratwurst links, cut into 1" pieces
5 medium-sized potatoes, peeled and cubed
27-oz. can sauerkraut, rinsed and drained
1 medium tart apple, chopped
1/4 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 tsp. salt

1. Brown bratwurst on all sides in skillet.
2. Combine remaining ingredients in slow cooker. Stir in bratwurst and pan drippings.
3. Cover. Cook on high 4-6 hours, or until potatoes and apples are tender.

Variation: Add a small amount of caraway seeds or crisp bacon pieces, just before serving.

I hope your husband's boss and CEO enjoy this recipe.