dinner party.. need menu ideas!

Julia-Henry

We've invited 2 other couples for dinner next Saturday, and I'm all out of ideas. I want dinner to be really tasty, somewhat impressive, but not look as if I'm trying too hard. If it can be mostly prepared in advance so I don't have to spend all evening in the kitchen, that would be a bonus.

Can you suggest a menu? or at least a main course?

My best idea is beef tenderloin, gravy, horseradish cream sauce, baked potato, asparagus, with a spinach/goat cheese/beet salad, and a berry pavlova for dessert. Somehow this seems boring, so any other ideas would be much appreciated! Thanks! 

cclilac12

I don't think that sounds boring. We actually did a beef tenderloin for both Christmas and Easter and really enjoyed the meal. If you wanted to jazz it up a bit, you could try the Potato Pave - most of its done in advance, you would just need to fry it up before serving (I'd recommend doing the day before, and cutting into squares or triangles instead of circles). It's certainly an impressive presentation.

Here were our menus:

Easter Menu - beef tenderloin w/ Potato Pave

Christmas Menu

Julia-Henry

Thanks for the suggestion. that potato dish sounds fantastic!

6fsn

I think that sounds wonderful. 

My last dinner party I kept simple. chicken breast stuffed with feta and spinach and wrapped in bacon (done ahead), acorn squash, and a spinach salad.

martinilove

I think that menu sounds great!  It's easy enough for you to throw together but definitely impressive and good flavor combinations.  The one thing I always recommend when people ask about things like this, is to stick with something you know.  You definitely don't want to be trying out new recipes when you have guests coming...things can always go wrong and at least with something you know, you already know what you can expect!

JennyQ1985

I'm cooking dinner for us & my parents for mother's day.  I'm doing an italian stuffed chicken (spinach & mozz filling w/ a light sauce) on a bed of spaghetti, serving it with a light italian salad and garlic bread.  Then some lemon squares for desert.

julie5220

To me, for a casual dinner with friends, beef tenderloin is over the top.  If you are worried about not looking like you are trying to hard, stay away from pricey cuts of meat. 

Also, the meat and baked potato seem really heavy for a spring dinner.  I love to do lighter things this time of year.   I always look first to what is fresh and in season and build a menu around that.

I'd suggest a lobster mac-n-cheese. (OK, I admit it's not super light!)  It's not a ton of lobster but enough to be fun and a little special.  Ina Garten has a good recipe.