what can i cook?

[nextqueen]

having old friends round on sunday, 2 adults and their boy n girl 13 n 14 yrs old. i just dont know what to cook for them. hubby wants nibbly, tapas things, not a full blown meal. if it were just adults it would be olives and boquerones, adult nibbles if you will. hubby says to do sausages on sticks and pizza but i refuse to do ready prepared food, male friend is a very good cook, im not bad so im wary of his thoughts on my food! just dont know what to do as adults and kids, any ideas? btw, hubby doesnt like mince, mashed potato or peas if that helps!

[237SJ]

Mini pizza, mini shish kebab, hoummos and other dips, pitta, mixed salad of lettuce, chopped tomato and cucumber, harissa chicken skewars, mini turkey burgers, various bruschetta and cheesy garlic bread

[ummmm]

I think thinking about it is the stressful bit :-)

[welshlibranr]

whatever you decide next, try to make something that can be cooked in advanced mostly, will reduce your stress levels lots!..........

[venator]

nextqueen - stress out, STRESS OUT or you won't enjoy it, and that's what it's all about.

This doesn't sound like a formal sit down job, so lots of precooked cold stuff is good, cooked in advance, - dips salmon, salads, bangers etc

Some hot impressive thingies, like chilli can be precooked, too, and will appeal to all ages

if desperate, bob down yo Marks & sparks?

[atrollope]

nextqueen - Chilli is mince!?! - Balderdash & Piffle - what you need is a real Chilli - it goes down a storm with folks 8 to 80 - You need for 6 - 2lb lean stewing beef(cut into strips - say 3inch x 1/2) - 2 large Onions - Garlic - 2tsp chilli powder - 1 whole chilli(de-seeded) - a few Chilli flakes - i like mine hot - 1 tsp dried Oregano - 1tsp ground cumin - 1 can chopped toms - 1/4 pint water - 1 can kidney or pinto beans - salt & pepper - a little oil.
Add a little oil to a hot frying pan - brown the meat in batches - transfer meat to heavy saucepan - fry Onions 2 mins - stir in Garlic,Chilli,Oregano,cumin 2 mins.Add toms and water ,and Red Wine(opt).Season well,cover and simmer for 3hrs.Drain beans ,add for last 20 mins.
Serve with Taco chips warmed 5 mins in oven(sprinkle liberally with grated cheese).Mixed salad...a little rice if you want to...I promise it is Delicious! :-)

[ummmm]

I'd much rather the buffet food. Anyone can cook a chilli, any day of the week.

[welshlibranr]

I would still make a lovely casserole for the adults and kids that want to eat it, and then have something on the side for the kids who just don't want to eat that!........easy!........you can cook most of it in advance, and it's seasonal and warming!.......

[atrollope]

Oh you think so ....there is a big difference between a bog standard Chilli and a real one....dont forget Garlic Bread

[nextqueen]

Your chilli recipe sounds lovly,anotha reason that's out tho,hubby doesn't like kidney beans/pulses,grrrrr!don't fancy doing salad,cold weather!hubby says I'm stressing but I'm only trying to please,I prefer cooking 3 courses. Now I've just thought,what can I do for dessert,help!

[welshlibranr]

dessert is easy!.........make a pavlova, it's light and easy to eat!........use any fruit you like, make the base in the morning, then add the fruit and cream later, store in the fridge.........done!.........

[nungate]

Puddings? How about Pavlova? Delia's truffle torte? Trifle? Or do what we did - the meringue for a pavlova didn't turn out as well as it ought (new oven) so we broke it up mixed it with some softly whipped cream (you could add a tiny bit of a preferred liquer - amaretto, kirsch etc) and add some of whatever fresh fruit you can lay your hands on, depending what's available - a sort of Eton mess.

[ummmm]

atrollope, I can cook :-)

[nextqueen]

Don't fancy salad as too cold nor a casserole as a one pot wonder,ada few of those this last wk!

[atrollope]

I could have suggested something a little more sophisticated..but I was thinking of the kids..

[ummmm]

I'd go with the buffet and tapas as planned. Sounds lovely....although I would probably do a salad as well. Simply because I like salad :-)

[fliptheswitch]

Love nibbly food!
I would do a little meze.... it's my speciality at the mo (and requires minimal fuss/preperation) :-)

Chorizo, sliced and either grilled or chucked on the griddle.
Grilled halloumi.
Warm pitta, cut up and served with hummus.
Cherry peppers - stuff them with soft cheese
Mixed olives, with herbs and feta cheese. YUK (for me)... but most people love them!

You could serve that lot with either different types of salami, or go the other way and put it with a rack of sticky ribs and chicken skewered kebabs (my choice)

Also, I would make some garlic breaded mushrooms, and homemade beer-battered onion rings.
Serve the mushrooms with garlic mayo, and the onion rings with a smoky barbeque sauce.

[ummmm]

The kids would probably eat most of that. Mine would.

[atrollope]

....nextqueen..quit stressing out..Call Dominos ! :-)

[fliptheswitch]

Agree with Ummmm... buffet food all the way! Much better, cos you can cater for different ages/tastes.

[fliptheswitch]

"Call Dominos"???

And this from someone who just lectured someone else on the art of cooking... LOL.