roasts and stuffed salmon are impressive and seem complicated. Cupcakes, not so much.

A couple of different roasts, 2 cupcake recipes, and a stuffed salmon dish.

cakes with layers? I'm going to tackle the Smith Island layer cake some day!

Any large meat. Ribs, Roasted Chicken, etc. I think they require a lot less babysitting than meals on the stove and thus are a lot easier.

Any sort of large roast - prime rib, turkey, pork loin roast.

Totally agree with chocolate mousse, one of my favorites for make-ahead dinner party desserts.

Truffles! They look so fancy. Mix the ganache, chill, scoop into balls and roll in cocoa powder. Couldn't be easier (although the scooping/rolling can be kind of time-consuming).

grilled, butterflied leg of lamb.

Rib eye roast.

Roast chicken

Most of the Chinese food are all so simple.

Chocolate mousse

Roast chicken!

Fougasse

I was going to say crab cakes, ha ha. Also any kind of stuffed fish or shrimp.

I think fruit pie is super easy to make, especially if you just put a crumb topping on it, and yet it always impresses the hell out of people for some reason.

Turkey.

I always make crab cakes and people seem to be really impressed with them. They are easier than meatloaf!! Do you guys have any dishes that appear "tough" but actually are pretty easy?