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04-10-2008 at 6:54 PM
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Dinner Party for 4 - What to Cook?

Let's say you were having a dinner party for 4 on Saturday night.

Dinner is at 7.  You have plans from 1 - 3. 

What would you cook?

Lilypie Expecting a baby Ticker

BFP: 12.24.07 MC/D&C: 02.01.08 Nest Bio|Knot Bio|Blog

 
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04-10-2008 at 6:58 PM
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i love this dish as a side

http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/104727

you could serve it with some kind of steak or pork tenderloin and a salad. the potaoes and salad could both be prepped ahead of time.



"If all the world hated you, and believed you wicked, while your own conscience approved you, and absolved you from guilt, you would not be without friends." --Charlotte Bronte
 
04-10-2008 at 7:01 PM
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You could always have a barbecue with salads, veggies, etc.  You could make a lasagna earlier and refrigerate and bake it right before company comes over.  Mexican food can be done quickly and quite tasty.  Depends on how elegant you want it to be =)
 
04-10-2008 at 7:06 PM
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I'm cooking to impress (read: fancy). So while I make a meal ass lassagna and tacos - I'm thinking something more Marthaish.

Lilypie Expecting a baby Ticker

BFP: 12.24.07 MC/D&C: 02.01.08 Nest Bio|Knot Bio|Blog

 
04-10-2008 at 7:07 PM
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That gratin is AMAZING! I could eat a whole pan of it.



"Never make someone a priority when they only consider you an option."


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04-10-2008 at 7:12 PM
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Hmmm, not sure about a main dish since I hardly (okay, never) cook elaborate meals, but here is an appetizer that is wayyyyy yummy and works well if you end up doing Italian:
http://www.foodnetwork.com/food/recipes/recipe/0,,FOOD_9936_37103,00.html
It's a crostini with sundried tomato jam.  If the link doesn't work, just go to www.foodnetwork.com and do a search for it.  Also, that site has great recipes, you may be able to find something on there.
 
04-10-2008 at 7:13 PM
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I love this dish, and it looks like you spent more time on it than you did!

Chicken a la king in puff pastry shells.  Bake chicken, and cube the meat.  In a sauce pan, heat a can of cream of chicken soup.  Do not add any liquid.  You can add peas and carrots to this.  Add chicken.

Meanwhile, bake Pepperidge Farms puff pastry shells in the oven.  When they are done baking, carefully take the tops off, and scoop out the extra uncooked dough from the center of the shells, making the shells hallow in the center.  When everything is ready, put the shells on each person's plate, and fill it with the chicken mixture.  Place the tops on each one.

Here's what it should look like, cause I always like pictures!  (This receipe is for turkey and mushroom though...)

http://www.puffpastry.com/recipedetail.aspx?recipeID=24077&rc=-1

My mom has been making this dish for a long time and it's still one of my favorites!  You can make the chicken ahead of time to save time.


~Susan
Mommy to Hannah 08.07.06, #2 EDD 10.13.08,
m/c(d&c) 08.10.05 13wks




 
04-10-2008 at 7:34 PM
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As long as they like pork, this is one of my favorites.  Put it in a nice serving dish and it looks great:

Roast Herbed Pork Loin [Note: I use a one or two lb tenderloin from Hormel when I cook for 4 - cooks very fast, and you just halve the recipe below]

5-6lb Pork Tenderloin

3 crushed bay leaves

Kitchen bouquet [I skip this step]

4 Tbsp Dijon Mustard

1 Stick butter

3 Tsp Thyme

2 Cloves Garlic

Mix butter, thyme, bay leaves and mustard. Rub kitchen bouquet over rust.  Next, rub mustard mixture over entire roast.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees, bake uncovered about 2-3 hours.  Baste twice while cooking.

This gives you super tender pork with a yummy, not too strong mustard glaze on the outside.  Goes well with braised baby potatoes, gratin or similar.  Roasted asparagus [olive oil, season to taste, broil for 8 - 10 minutes] would be awesome with this as well.

Good luck!


Jess & Julie 09.22.07

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04-10-2008 at 7:35 PM
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Typo!  I meant "rub kitchen bouquet over roast"

Jess & Julie 09.22.07

After 10 years of dating, I earned this wedding kiss! 
04-10-2008 at 7:46 PM
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This is one of my standby menus... except I swap out the dessert. It's super easy but doesn't taste like it!
http://www.recipezaar.com/menu/5368
04-10-2008 at 9:31 PM
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i just saw mexican chocolate cupcakes on martha the other day.. i bet the recipe is on her web site.  you can also check out barefoot contessa on foodnetwork since she does such lovely things.  also search food network for spinach parm balls by the hearty boys-- that is my favorite, favorite appestizer as they are sooo yummy and you can make them a few days ahead- freeze- then bake right before people arrive. the house will smell delish.


 
04-11-2008 at 12:04 AM
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I was actually going to suggest a kicka$$ lasagna or pasta dish.  Do you ever watch "Barefoot Contessa" on Food Network?  She says sometimes for dinner parties instead of going really fancy she does really great comfort food - everybody likes it, it sets a really intimate/friendly tone, and it makes you less stressed to cook something you know you're good at.  Just a thought.

I have a recipe on my blog for Chicken Piccata by Giada DeLaurentis - it's fairly simple but seems pretty impressive.  Maybe serve something like (or chicken marsala comes to mind too) that with rice pilaf/garlic mashed potatoes and asparagus/green beans?  :)

04-11-2008 at 1:02 AM
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Last night we had some friends over and Lorne made bleu cheese/panko encrusted steaks with grilled artichokes and hollandaise sauce. It was amazing. If you're interested I'll ask him for the recipe.

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