My boyfriend and I are having three people over for lunch. I need ideas for a menu?

Question

nothing fancy. I need something casual and easy to prepare. thanks. i need it ASAP.

Answer 1

I think the easiest thing to do is buy a BBQ chicken, cut it into sections, and arrange it nice on a plate, serve it with some salads, either you can make these yourself or buy some pre done salads from your supermarket...like an easy green salad or pasta salad.

I will give you some ideas for my favourite pasta salads.
1st: use large shell pasta or spiral cook it to the tooth
drain it and run some cold water over it , then in a nice salad bowl add some baby spinach leaves, the pasta, some grape or cherry tomatoes sliced in half. 2 tbsp of capers, salt and peper. then make a basic balsamic vinegar and olive oil dressing and pop this over the greens and pasta.

2nd: small spiral pasta or large (up to you) cooked to the tooth again. drained and cooled. sliced mushroom, capsicum, red onion then add some basil pesto and a little balsamic vinegar.

maybe serve it with some nice bread

Answer 2

Trying buying a takeaway from a Chinese restaurant half an hour before they arrive.

Get the wok out and usual culinary wares.....

Turn the oven up full blast and drink wine....

Then get a bin bag liner and throw all the plastic cartons that the food came in and dispose of them into next doors garbage tray.

Then drink more wine and look busy, don't forget to swear as all good chefs have a hot headed temperament.

Finally insist that your guests interact and pass you various herbs and spices from your cupboard and pass you plates (don't forget to warm them).

Hey presto .... you are a star and will be very popular.....downside is it's very expensive and hard to remember all the dishes (especially oriental or Asian cuisine).

Finally get them to wash the dishes up after (even if you have a dishwasher)

Guaranteed......Good luck

Answer 3

i have done this before. do an upper scale school lunch. i did things like grilled cheese, but with a fancier cheese then cheddar slices. fresh cut french fries (rosemary and garlic) a simple fruit salad, and a chocolate brownie for dessert. i served them on school lunch trays. it was good and fun.
you could also do panini sandwiches, with artisan bread, antipasto salad.get a variety of meats and cheeses from a deli, ciabatta bread and some unique veggies and spreads. everyone can prepare there own and you can grill on stove if you have a grill pan or regular grill and flatteen with another pan. pasta dishes are easy like lasagna and a salad. have a good lunch: )

Answer 4

Here are some ideas:

1. Quiche: ham and asparagas with goat cheese and fontina; turkey and green chli with jack cheese; carmelized onion and mushroom with cheddar.
2. Baked ziti: 1 lb Italian turkey sausage, 1 yellow onion, diced, 1 15 oz can tomato sauce, 1 15 oz can diced tomatoes, 1 green bell pepper, chopped, 3 T Italian Herbs, 1 tsp sugar, 1/2 cup red wine, 1 box Ziti pasta. Prepare pasta according to package directions, cooking al dente. Saute sausage with onion until cooked thru. Add bell pepper and cook for 5 minutes. Add tomato sauces, wine and sugar. Add herbs and olive oil. Simmer 30 minutes. Toss with cooked pasta and layer in baking dish. Top each layer with shredded parmesan cheese. Bake for 45 minutes, or until bubbling.
3. Grilled ham and cheese sandwiches: 1 loaf Potato Rosemary bread cut into 1/4 inch slices, 2 T dijon mustard mixed with 2 T mayonaise, 2 tomatos, sliced, 1 lb. sliced smoked ham, 5 slices provolone, 5 slices havarti. Separate 10 slices of bread. On each slice, spread 1/10th of the mustard/mayo mixture. Top 5 pieces of bread with 1 slice of provolone, 3 oz of ham, 2 slices tomato, and 1 slice of havarti. Top with remaining 5 slices of bread. Heat skillet over medium heat. Spread outside of each sandwich with butter and place in hot skillet. Moniter to determine crispness. Flip sandwiches over when golden and cover with lid. Remove lid when cheeses are melted and place sandwiches on serving platter. Cut in half to serve. This is good with a cup of Lenti soup, topped with sour cream and crumbled bacon, as well as fresh fruit.

Answer 5

*********CHICKEN CACCIATORE WITH NOODLES
1/4 c. oil
1 - 3 lb. chicken, cut up
2 pt. jars Spaghetti sauce
1 tsp. pepper
1 clove minced garlic
12 oz. pkg. noodles
Parmesan cheese
Grated cheese
Heat oil in skillet. Brown chicken on all sides. Combine salt, pepper, sauce and garlic; pour over chicken. Simmer covered 25 minutes or until tender. About 10 minutes before chicken is done, cook noodles according to package. Drain. Arrange chicken on noodles. Sprinkle cheese over all. Serves 4 to 6.

or

********QUICK AND EASY CHICKEN ALFREDO
2 chicken breast sliced
2 jars Alfredo sauce
2 c. mushrooms
1 lb. fettuccine or any pasta
2 tsp. butter
Sauté chicken and mushrooms in butter until lightly brown. Pour in Alfredo sauce over chicken and let simmer for about 5-7 minutes. Pour mixture over cooked fettuccine or pasta. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.

or
**********CHICKEN PASTA PARMESAN
2 tbsp. oil
1 lb. boneless chicken breast, cut up
1 c. mushrooms
1/4 c. chopped onions
2 tbsp. sherry
1 can cream of chicken soup
1/2 c. sliced peppers
1/2 c. grated Parmesan cheese
Brown chicken in oil. Remove. Cook onions and mushrooms in drippings, add sherry and soup. Heat through, add chicken and peppers, cover, simmer 10 minutes. Stir in cheese until melted. Serve over hot pasta.

Served with the following


*************Dijon Green Beans

1-1/2 pounds fresh green beans, trimmed or 3 can of green beans
2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
½ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon pepper
1 cup of grape tomatoes, halved
½ small red/ purple onion, sliced
2 tablespoons grated parmesan cheese

Place fresh beans in a large saucepan; cover with water. Bring to a boil. Cook, uncover, for 8-10 minutes or until crisp-tender. Or open canned green beans.

Meanwhile, for dressing, whisk the vinegar, oil, mustard, salt and pepper in a small bow. Drain beans; place in a large bowl. Add tomatoes and onion. Drizzle with dressing and toss a coat. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.

*********LETTUCE AND EGG SALAD WITH CREAM
DRESSING
1 med. head lettuce
3 hard-cooked eggs
Salt and pepper to taste
1 sm. (5 oz.) can evaporated milk
1/3 c. salad dressing
3 tbsp. sugar
2 tbsp. vinegar
Blend 1/3 cup salad dressing and sugar well, add vinegar, and blend until mixture is smooth. Gradually add evaporated milk until mixture is smooth. Pour over torn lettuce and sliced eggs. Toss until lettuce is covered. Garnish with sliced eggs.



********Garlic Knots

1 (11 ounce) container refrigerated breadstick dough
1 egg, lightly beaten
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 tablespoon chopped fresh rosemary
DIRECTIONS
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
Tie the dough into 12 knots and place them onto a cookie sheet. Brush the knots with the egg, and sprinkle the rosemary and garlic onto the knots. Bake the knots according to the package directions.

********BANANA AND STRAWBERRY PUDDING
1 box of Jell-O French Vanilla Instant pudding
1 box of Jell-O Banana Cream Instant pudding
milk
1 large container of Whipped cream
3-4 ripe bananas
1 small carton of strawberries
1 bag of the cheapest vanilla wafers (they stay crunchy longer)
The amount of layers depends on the dish it is prepared in. I use an 11x9 in. glass casserole dish.
In a bowl combine both boxes of pudding mix and prepare according to the package directions omitting 1 cup of milk.
Fold half of the whipped cream into the pudding mixture. Now make a layer of vanilla wafers on the bottom of your casserole dish (none of the wafers should be on top of one another), then slice bananas over the wafers until you get an even cover but you should still be able to see the first layer.
Now slice strawberries over the bananas. The next layer will be the pudding. Start over with the vanilla wafers, continue layer up to the pudding.
After you've applied a layer of pudding, line the sides of the pan with wafers. Take the rest of the whipped cream and spread it on top.
Crush the remaining wafers and crumbs, and then sprinkle them on top of whipped cream.
Optional: Garnish top with strawberries.

Answer 6

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