Dinner Party for Twelve

[Anonymous]

I am turning fifty soon and have been dithering about what to do because we do not have a big budget. I am now thinking that we could host a dinner party at home to celebrate, and invite five couples. I don't want a huge to-do, but I do want to observe the occasion in some way, you know? Also, DH and I feel very strongly that whatever we do, it has to involve treating others, and since we cannot afford to treat five other couples to dinner out, this is our best alternative. DH and I entertain a lot and are comfortable in the kitchen, so are not terribly intimidated by the idea of doing this ourselves.

My dilemma is, what should the menu consist of? I would like to make something that is celebratory and reasonably elegant (not lasagne or pizza), but which can be prepared sufficiently in advance to enable us to enjoy time with our guests.

Any ideas?

I would also love to hear some ideas re: appetizers - not too filling, reasonably easy to prepare in advance, celebratory.

Thanks in advance!

[Anonymous]

What about a chicken dish like chicken cordon bleu or chicken parmigiana, either of which you could prep ahead of time and then make in the oven? Or a pork tenderloin?

As for appetizers, I think it would depend on your entree, but maybe a nice crudite, bruschetta, some Brie in a puff pastry with some raspberry jam, etc

[Anonymous]

I would do crepes... so easy to make in advance and just heat the day of.

[Anonymous]

The important thing here is to plan a menu with items you can make ahead of time. Don't plan on doing anything at the moment (except reheating or tossing a salad) because plating for 12 is a potential nightmare.
Google "plan ahead menus" or check finecooking.com
A fancy soup, a roast of some kind, a couple of sides and a beautiful cake never disappoint.
Get out your fancy china, buy a lot of fresh flowers and decorate a gorgeous table and your guests will feel like royalty.
Happy birthday!

[Anonymous]

You can make homemade ravioli and freeze it - then you just need to pop in in boiling water. One large one can make a nice elegant starter - e.g. stuffed with ricotta and duck egg with a butter sauce. or wild mushroom.

[Anonymous]

Thank you so much - these are terrific ideas! I will take a look at recipe options, and let you know what we decide!

[Anonymous]

I would make a Leg of Lamb with rosemary in the oven.
http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Leg-of-Lamb-with-Garlic-and-Rosemary-105020
You can get it at costco

Serve it with Orzo with pine nuts and feta
http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Orzo-Pine-Nut-and-Feta-Salad-105422

And a salad?

[Anonymous]

I agree with leg of lamb or other roast (standing rib, for example). Costco is great for this. You put it in the oven along with roast potatoes and veggies and you are done.

I would also make a great cake. It is your birthday!!

also a fun birthday cocktail like champagne with raspberries or peach.

Apps - my latest obsession: bacon wrapped figs!

[Anonymous]

Appetizer: gorgonzola stuffed dates wrapped in prosciutto and roasted.

Soup: butternut squash soup with gruyere croutons (check epicurious.com for recipe)

Main: chicken Marbella

Salad: spinach, feta, walnuts, with orange segments with raspberry vinaigrette

Dessert: strawberries dipped in chocolate

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I agree with leg of lamb or other roast (standing rib, for example). Costco is great for this. You put it in the oven along with roast potatoes and veggies and you are done.

I would also make a great cake. It is your birthday!!

also a fun birthday cocktail like champagne with raspberries or peach.

Apps - my latest obsession: bacon wrapped figs!

PP here: meant bacon wrapped dates, of course!

[Anonymous]

How about a delicious soup as a starter as this could be made the night before (eg sweet potato with lemongrass, chilli and coconut milk)? You could follow it with chicken marbella served with couscous and vegetables. Google chicken marbella for the recipe. It is very easy to make as you marinade it the night before then bake in a casserole. It's very rich - chicken, red wine vinegar, white wine, capers, green olives, oregano, prunes, apricots - and so people tend to think it takes more work than it does.

[Anonymous]

- Beef tenderloin (can stick in the oven when guest arrive) with horseradish cream sauce

- Nice rice pilaf (http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Wild-Rice-and-Toasted-Pecan-Pilaf-11694 ) - can be made ahead

- Some veggie that you make ahead

- Salad

- Chocolate cake ( http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Double-Chocolate-Layer-Cake-101275) with nice vanilla ice cream

[Anonymous]

I want to know this -- Chicken Marbella is mentioned on almost every thread where a poster asks for a dinner party suggestion - is this the same poster each time, or is it really an awesome and well known dish that I just have never tried!

[Anonymous]

For appetizers, nothing beats a bowl of spiced nuts (google washingtonpost dot com and Kim O'Donnell) and cheese and crackers. You can go simple or fancy with the cheese -- arrange it on a couple of beautiful plates, add a cluster of grapes, maybe some chutneys or honey -- that's my idea of simple but elegant. [As PP suggested - brie wrapped in phyllo with jam can be prepped the day ahead] Serve apps with sparkling wine. [bacon wrapped figs would be an awesome companion to cheese & crackers; I can't believe I haven't tried this yet]

Michael Chiarello has a cheese dip/appetizer recipe that is awesome the next day - it's a block of parm, a block of asiago, several cloves of garlic all chopped in the food processor. Then add EVOO and a pinch of red pepper. Stir in thinly sliced scallions. Serve at room temperature in a bowl w/crackers or toasted baguette. It packs a punch but boy is it great!! Leftovers (if you have any) work with plain pasta.

Everybody has great ideas - I especially like having a soup as a first course, a roast (tenderloin/lamb), and crepes AND cake for dessert! Why not?

Have FUN and happy birthday!

[Anonymous]

OP here; thank you so much. These are great ideas, and I have some comments and questions:

*We've made chicken marbella for other dinner parties, so I don't want to do that (would be a repeat for several attendees). I am very intrigued by the idea of a beef tenderloin, but have never made one. Is it hard? I'm worried about buying a big expensive piece of meat and messing it up - and can't really see how I can do a practice run with my little family of four.

*DH and I are considering roasting a turkey breast, and serving it with a rice pilaf, or orzo dish, or a fancy potato dish (make-ahead), as well as a salad and vegetable (see below) fancied-up homemade cranberry sauce. Our reasoning for this is that I love Thanksgiving food, and that some people don't eat much or any red meat anymore, so it might make sense to serve poultry.

*RE a vegetable - do you have any ideas for a green vegetable that we can make ahead, or that would be easy to throw together just before serving?

*RE cake: What would you think about a lemon cheesecake, or a lemon-ricotta cheesecake (lighter) with sour cream topping for dessert? Mark Bittman has a great-looking recipe in his cookbook and it occurred to me that it might be a nice alternative to regular birthday cake.

Thoughts?

Thanks again!