Solitary chicken - need advice

[lisaroo2]

PLEASE HELP!

 

In a fortnights time I am hosting my hubbies family birthday party at our house. But the problem is that I HATE cooking, mainly because I'm not that good at it. I don't like making things that are complicated as I've not got a great palate.

 

There will be approximately 14 people including 1 child who will be arriving around lunch time. I was thinking of making the following but could really do with some other ideas as well...

 

Chilli, served with garlic bread/crusty bread

New potato's (to go with above)

Some sort of green salad

sticky ribs/chicken thighs (from Nigella's cookbook)

 

Desserts

Chocolate mousse

birthday cake - (bought from Morrisons)

Maybe a fruit salad

 

I'm trying to do things on a budget as we really can't afford that much at the mo. I'm not sure that everyone will arrive at the same time and therefore need to keep things warm. Also, would the above food be ok eaten from their laps - not literally!!

 

ANY ideas that you have got will be greatly appreciated.

 

THANK YOU!!!!

[freddie]

Morning!

how about 2 different soups, (cheap and easy!)that you can serve in mugs, at a pinch;

folowed by a cheese, pate, ham,houmous salad, breads, fancy and plain, veggies and dips, olives etc, all laid out on a pretty cloth, for people to pick at ?

you can put garlic /herb bread up hot, and some little jacket spuds too,

Pretty plates, and away you go. this food can nearly all be done before, so you get to enjoy yourself as well!!

have fun at the party!

[lisaroo2]

Thanks for that freddie, there are some nice ideas that you've suggested!

 

Keep em comin!!!

[chooklady]

You might find that jacket potatoes would be easier, they will be fine in the oven and just take some out as and when your guests arrive. You could serve some sour cream and chive with the chilli and jackets.

 

I often find that green salads don't always get eaten, they can be a bit boring I think. What you could do is get a bag of mixed salad leaves and add lots of crunchy and bright things, chopped peppers of different colours, celery including the leaves chopped, chopped apple, remember to put this in some water with lemon juice before adding to the salad, grapes halved, red onion or spring onion you could maybe add a few walnut pieces.

Either make or buy a simple dressing but let your guests add the dressing as your salad will go soggy.

 

You might find a fruit salad will be a bit expensive to make, depends what you have in mind. I have a very simple recipe for a lovely lemon tart that involves no cooking, just a ready make pastry case some double cream and a jar of decent lemon curd and some lemon rind, if you would like it let me know and I will look it out for you.

 

Best wishes for your party and i'm sure it will be brilliant.

Nicola

[Leicester_H]

Hi

 

How about Cassoulet - its basically peasant food, where beans are used to make the meat go further but I love it. There are millions of recipes out there like

http://frugal-cooking.co.uk/recipe/164/tadpoles-cassoulet-recipe

but you can mix and match the ingredients YOU like, its really easy, not time critical.

 

From memory, I brown some saugages (allow 2(?) each), remove. Soften some chopped onion, add some tinned tomatoes, tomato puree, some paprika, cumin, salt pepper, add some tinned beans (or cheaper, soak overnight, cook until almost done) - put in oven (easier than on top as less likely to burn) - cook for 40/60 mins (ish)

 

I've probably forgotten something but you get the idea - serve with chuck of bread to soak up the juices.

 

H

[craftyhunnypie]

I'd be tempted to cheat & get a few bits from Iceland! They have some posh platters at the moment. The smoked salmon one looks lovely & they do one with garlic mushrooms, onion rings & wedges too. Just whizz up some quick dips.

Some of their cheesecakes are fabulous looking! I can recommend their frozen roasted vegetables - parsnips, onions, sweet potato. Mmmm

 

Whatever you decide - there are cheats ways round stuff that can make good looking & tasty food.

 

Emma.x

[majorbloodnock]

Have you plenty of fridge/freezer space? If so, in your position I'd do as much as possible in the few days beforehand to take the time pressure off you.

 

If you decide to do that, your choices of dishes are going to naturally narrow to stuff that'll sit in a pot that can be thrown in the oven or microwaved. Anything that's a stew or casserole will fit the bill admirably, as will any pasta or rice sauces such as a bolognese or the chilli you've mentioned. The cassoulet mentioned earlier would taste fantastic with this sort of treatment.

 

In similar situations, I often do a curry evening. A beef one cooked in a tomato based sauce, a chicken one in a yoghurt based sauce and a potato and veg one with some chick peas, and I have a good selection that only needs rice added. The rice is the only thing that really needs to be cooked on the day, and all the curries will taste all the better for having had a chance to sit around for a while. And, if people see a selection rather than just one curry, they immediately form the impression that this is catering in style, so it's maximum gains for minimum effort.

[sunshinesupernova]

A damn good stew in bowls with dumplings and crusty bread is another goodun.

 

Pack it out with loads of vegetables. I don't even brown the meat - I simply put the lot in the slow cooker and let it get on with it whilst I do other things

 

Even doing a hot / cold buffet. Some nice ham, some colourful veg such as sweet peppers, sweet potato, parsnip ,carrots and new potatoes tosed in some olive oil and bunged in the oven. Crusty bread, some beetroot, pickle and a dip or two and you are done

[BeckyBoo]

I reckon the baked potatoes is a good idea, with your chilli - that can be sitting bubbling away - you can make it in advance and freeze it, just reheat on the day. For those that don't like chilli then baked beans for the child if he/she is quite young, prawn cocktail (easy peasy thousand island dressing - salad cream mixed with ketchup!), grated cheese or egg salad with lovely fresh eggs

A good pud that looks great and can be frozen is a roulade, really really easy to make and looks flash! I find chocolate mousse quite subjective, I like mine REALLY strong, others like it sweet and what suits one wont suit another. Or apple pie is good, frozen pastry, bit of cinnamon and cut out an apple shape for the top of the pastry. If you brush it with egg before you bake it it will look gorgeous. Hot with cream or ice cream (which should also suit the child)

 

Don't dread it, make as much as you can before, enlist help in the kitchen and don't slave in the kitchen over fresh custard when Birds is lovely and twice as easy!!

 

Hope it goes well (think of the Brownie points!! )

 

BeckyBoo

[lisaroo2]

Thanks for all your lovely suggestions! I'll have a think and then let you know what I've decided to do!!

[Rhapsody]

Just wanted to say I wouldnt bother with bread AND potatoes- I'd just get some really nice crusty bread, also make a separate chilli without beans and spice for fussy beggars. The simplest pudding in the world for my money is Eton Mess or assemble a trifle.

let us know how you get on!