[BLBG]

Hi Ladies.

I need some rarely fail type meals which are great to make when entertaining...

I get myself in such a tizz at the thought of having people for dinner, even if it's just the inlaws

Please share your minimal fuss, never fail recipes.

Thanks in advance

[lisles]

I make pizza dough and provide lots of ingredients for topping, then let everyone make their own. It's a good option when you have people with different preferences as they can pick and choose what they eat, and it's a bit of fun having everyone involved in the kitchen.

Add in a salad or two and some gelato for afterwards and everyone is happy!

[Guest_Dinah_Harris_*]

My go-to is risotto. Basic risotto is so easy and you can make it whatever you need. You can do vegetarian, or different meats. To make a really dressy risotto, I add seafood or roasted duck.
Serve with hot, crusty bread and a salad.

[Dinosaurus]

Anything that can be made in advance (or mostly in advance) OR that is quick:

lasagne, stews, quiche, salads, shepherds pie.

pasta and sauce - make the sauce in advance where possible, bake some vegies to stir through.

Any slow cooked thing that doesn't require a lot of attention while cooking - coq au vin (I always have pollo au vin blanc though!), slow cooked lamb shanks (yum), roast dinners

If it stresses you out I would choose something like lasagne which you can make the morning of entertaining, stick in the fridge until an hour or so before dinner time then stick it in the oven to cook. Make the salad in advance and stick some kind of bread/garlic bread in too - voila!

[tamjk]

A roast.

If I'm entertaining that is my go to meal. I'll usually do roast vegetables and steamed greens to go with it. If you have a decent oven it is almost impossible to stuff a roast up.

[Matthias' mum]

Cannelloni is one I make regularly. Mix one packet frozen spinach with a tub of ricotta, add a little nutmeg and some seasoning and put it in a plastic bag. Snip the end off, and squirt into dry cannelloni shells. Lay out in a baking dish. Pour over a jar of passata. Season and sprinkle a teaspoon of sugar on top (stops the sauce from being bitter). Add grated cheese and bake for about 45min at 180. If you want it a bit more interesting, you could add some cooked chopped pumpkin to the ricotta mixture, and use some nice bocconcini instead of grated cheese. It takes about 5-10 minutes to prepare, and people really like it. I serve it with a salad. For dessert, a chocolate self saucing pudding takes about 2 minutes to prepare, and is really yummy.
A roast dinner is another one, but can be expensive depending on the meat.

[november lily]

Burritos are so easy and everyone here eats them. They're messy so not for your formal type dinner!

I cook chicken with blackened cajun rub on it (Herbies makes a nice one), and make a big salsa with black beans, tomato, avocado, coriander, shallots, red chili and lime juice. Then just have extras for everyone to add what they like, cheese, jalapenos, sour cream, sometimes rice, etc. Everyone rolls their own in the wraps, it's great.

[fionah]

Roast lamb seasoned with garlic and rosemary, roast veggies, peas or broccoli and mint sauce and gravy.
Slow cooker chocolate pudding for dessert.
Goes down a treat and everyone loves it.

Fi

[RatbagBob]

This thai chicken and pumpkin curry except I usually add green beans or snowpeas for more colour as well.

[katiebear26]

i agree with a PP - anything that can be made at least mostly in advance. i use http://www.taste.com.au/recipes/14443/pump...d+spinach+salad

you can add feta or red onion or anything else you like.

also if there are kids involved i like http://www.taste.com.au/recipes/19675/fryi...chicken+lasagne

it's really easy, although not something you can really do in advance as it dries out, but quick and you can throw vegies in. serve with a salad of some kind and crusty bread!

baked vegies with a dressing made from feta, olive oil, lemon juice and a bit of natural yoghurt (add all to taste) is really good too, blend the dressing ingredients beforehand and just drizzle over once the vegies are cooked. add to roast meat or steak and it's pretty easy and tasty.

i think the key thing is to know what you need to do when, i usually have a written timetable if i have a lot of people over and lots of food! i can't handle it otherwise.


edited for spelling.

This post has been edited by katiebear26: 18/02/2013, 08:43 AM