Help! I need ideas for a ladies lunch

[Anonymous]

I am admittedly not a cook, my husband does a lot of the cooking, i am lucky if I can master baked chicken. So part of this bookgroup and its my turn to have everyone over (8-10 women) I need help on what to serve. I was thinking maybe a soup, a big salad and.......? This is a sophisticated group and i dont' mind trying something, I would rather not take out. Nothing too difficult but elegant. Whats a great menu? Please give me your ideas, I am desperate! (its a pretty sophisticated health/weight conscious bunch) so pasta and that kind of thing probably would not be a good idea.

[Anonymous]

What about this Ina Garten recipe?

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ina-garten/chicken-salad-veronique-recipe/index.html

[Anonymous]

What's the book? You should go with a theme. Give us an idea here.

[Anonymous]

I would do charcuterie - cheeses, meats, fruit, dried fruit, nuts. Crostini/bread/crackers.

A huge salad, simple field greens with vinaigrette. And soup, get two kinds. One veggie, one meat.

[Anonymous]

Are you all eating at a table? Soup is kind of awkward lap food.

[Anonymous]

I usually make a crockpot meal when I host. Last time, I made a chicken chili over brown rice that everyone raved about. One woman was scraping the bottom to get the last little bit. I served it with a salad. I think I also served baked Brie as an appetizer. If your book club is like mine, make sure you have lots of wine! Have fun.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would do charcuterie - cheeses, meats, fruit, dried fruit, nuts. Crostini/bread/crackers.

A huge salad, simple field greens with vinaigrette. And soup, get two kinds. One veggie, one meat.

This, but skip the soup. This is what we do at our book club. Not sure about your book club, but ours is not expected to be dinner. If you want more, you also could add dessert.

[Anonymous]

I had luck with setting up a panini bar before: just set out a panini press (if you have one!) and then several interesting types of breads and fillings - we did brie, fig jam, fresh mozzarella, spinach, tapenades etc

[Anonymous]

Grilled salmon Cobb salad, you can buy fillets already grilled at whole foods to keep it even simpler. Or tuna Niçoise salad since everything is included in one dish, protein, carbs and veg. Add a bread basket and a fruit salad and you are done.

[Anonymous]

I think your idea is great if the seating isn't too awkward. I might add some nice hearty bread to go along with it. I like the charcuterie idea as well. Good to have something for people to munch while you're putting the last touches on dinner.

[Anonymous]

If it's sit down you could do a nice soup (butternut squash?), salad and a veggie side, asparagus? green beans? roasted broccoli or cauliflower?

Or you could do a couple of quiches or savory tarts.

[Anonymous]

Chicken Salad with Yogurt-Ranch Dressing
From the Rachel Ray Show

Put together rotisserie chicken with a tangy dressing, veggies and warmed flatbread for a no-cook summer meal in minutes!

¼ cup extra virgin olive oil (EVOO)
1 clove garlic, grated or finely chopped and pasted
Juice of 1 lemon
1 tablespoon white wine vinegar
Salt and pepper
1 cup reduced fat or fat-free plain Greek-style yogurt
A small handful each of dill, parsley and chives, finely chopped
A few dashes of hot sauce
1 pound cold cooked chicken, shredded or diced
1 small red bell pepper, seeded and chopped
1 small red onion, chopped
1/3 cup seedless cucumber, chopped
2 ribs celery from the heart, thinly sliced on an angle
2 plum tomatoes, seeded and diced
4 flatbreads, warmed

Serves 4

In a large bowl, combine the EVOO, garlic, lemon juice and vinegar; season with salt and pepper. Stir in the yogurt, herbs and hot sauce. Add the chicken, bell pepper, onion, cucumber and celery; season with salt and pepper. Top the salad with the tomatoes and serve with the flatbreads.

[Anonymous]

I like the combo of soup salad and crostini. Smitten kitchen has a great green olive spread that I make crostini with. And butternut squash soup would be very easy and seasonal right now. Then do a simple green salad with a fall touch like pears or pumpkin seeds.

[Anonymous]

You could buy (WF has good ones) or make a quiche or two, serve a big fall salad - spinach, apples, blue cheese, dried cherries, balsamic vinagrette, some crusty bread.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would do charcuterie - cheeses, meats, fruit, dried fruit, nuts. Crostini/bread/crackers.

A huge salad, simple field greens with vinaigrette. And soup, get two kinds. One veggie, one meat.

This and you could also get a bunch of pre-made frozen spinach tarts. Skewered meats on short sticks are also pretty friendly finger food.

Soup and salad only if you're sitting at a table. Soup can also be served in cups and saucer if you're not doing a sit down meal. You just need access to a flat surface, e.g., coffee tables.