Entertaining Ideas
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Simple, but elegant dinner party ideas PLEASE!
We will be hosting a dinner party of 6 guests (8 counting my DH & I).
I need menu help. I am usually good at coming up with a nice menu - but I have like a writers block on this one!
I'd like it to be fairly simple, but elegant.
Please share your favorite menus, recipes and ideas!
Re: Simple, but elegant dinner party ideas PLEASE!
This is quite open ended...
Ham's my favorite but I've found here on the boards that it's not as popular elsewhere in the country as it is in the south. Ham's also one of the cheapest nice meats - it's just $1.26/lb at our grocery store. (You'll need 1/4-1/3 lb pp.)
Throw in two veggies, a starch and a dessert and you're set. Myrecipes.com is where I get most of my recipes from.
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Ham sounds nice... I'll consider it and I'll check out myrecipes.com as well... thanks for tip.
I was thinking along the lines of mediterranean flavors... but I am open to all ideas.
I like the idea of a ham with individual mac and cheese dishes
When we throw parties we usually do a lasagna with salad, breadsticks and maybe a soup depending on the year, and a dessert like chocolate cake or cheesecake (Jello makes a fantastic no bake people seem to love). Depending on the event we ask people to bring their favorite wine or we have a bottle or red adn white.
While I didn't immediately think of ham as being elegant, I threw a diner party last spring where I served ham. It went over really well with the guests and it did look pretty on my platter. would do it again in a hearbeat. You just have to be careful of over cooking the ham - they dry out easily. I served it with potatoes that I did in the crockpot then transfered to a nice bowl for presentation. I had a side of veggies and a seasonal fruit. For dessert I did chocolate cake.
I also think that other elements such as flowers, tablecloth and candles can also dress up a dinner party.
GL! Have fun and let us know how it goes!
Here's a link to my blog with menus and recipes that I've prepared for guests.
MENUS - DINNER WITH GUESTS
I think rustic and French when I think simple but elegant. I'm with you on the Mediterreanian, as well. Here are a few ideas.
Hand-made Pasta with Pesto Sauce
Butternut Squash Galette
Lemon Herb Butter Roasted Chicken with Yukon Gold Potato and Wild Mushroom Gratin and Summer Squash Salad
For dessert, any of these would work.
Peches Melba
Plum Tarte Tatin
Strawberry Napoleons
Chocolate Mousse
I am in love with serving braised short ribs right now, so easy to make, but so rich and flavorful. For apps I would serve a signature cocktail and baguette slices with goat cheese, fresh thyme, walnuts and honey drizzled over the top, and roasted jumbo shrimp with an herb dipping sauce, for the main dinner, I would serve shortribs braised in red wine, roasted garlic mashed potatoes, and roasted brussels sprouts served with the same red wine you used for the short ribs, and then for dessert, I would serve individual apple or plum tarte tartins and a good Muscat or Sauterne wine.
Why not served cornish hens, halved, Greek Salad, greek potatoes and Grecian style green beans? Include French bread with olive oil for dipping.
Halve the cornish hens, place skin side up in very large pan or 2 9x13 pans.Lightly sprinkle with garlic powder and oregano, then cover with Italian dressing. Fat free is better, less greasy. Add a little crushed red peppers for zing if desired. In the same pan/pans, add cubed potatoes, either red or yukon gold. Cover with foil, bake at 350 for 45 min. Remove from oven, baste, then bake until done and golden brown-leave foil off.
For the green beans, use 2 cans french cut or regular cut,drained, and 2 cans stewed or diced tomatoes with juice.. Add oregano, olive oil, and some garlic powder. Heat this the last 15 minutes of cooking for the cornish hens.
For the Greek Salad, include assorted greens, fresh spinach, feta cheese,red onions, hard-boiled egg, and anchovies on the side. Use your favorite Grecian dressing, or serve with cruets of olive oil and red vinegar.
For dessert, maybe store bought baklava. Sherbet is always a good choice. Hope your party turns out great.
not to be taken all together but a cross section of ideas ive done
chilled strawberry soup served in martini glasses. this is quick and easy.
crabcakes
crab/tuna in a puff pastry. generally i find that using puff pastry shells with anythingin it is fairly elegant and comes out looking like a lot of work for really not to effort. in addition you can also do vanilla/chocolate ice cream in puff pastry.
Here are some theme ideas that are fun and good for small groups:
Mexican - set up a taco bar - you can upgrade it for a more upscale feel by using fish (vs. ground beef), homemade tortillas and salsa, fresh cilantro; Include a margherita bar with a couple of different types of flavors and premium tequila
Sushi - the presentation can be really elegant or can have people make their own. You could hire a sushi chef to come in and make the sushi, serve sake, etc.
Simple, but elegant - grill salmon and steak, make twice baked potatoes and a spinach salad. The salad and potatoes can be made ahead of time and it takes no time to make the entree. Serve a full bodied red or buttery Chardonnay. Finish with raspberry sorbet and chocolate brownies.