RECIPES
Vintage1944
POSTED: Sat, 02/13/2010 - 11:26am
Entertaining at Home
Here it is a new topic and thread.This is my question....I would like to entertain six or seven people here.When I say my apartment is tiny ,I am not kidding.There is seating for seven or eight here.And I do owe some very nice people a meal.How do I go about it?Shall I do a buffet ?What should I cook?Finger foods only?Or do a roast and carve it prior to setting on the table?Dishes are not a problem.Other needs I can borrow.The main stumbling block is my perfectionism and my belief that I am a bad cook(which people say is not true)but I am so nervous and have high expectations.HELP!! JeanMIREILLE'S CALENDAR
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CourtneyK
POSTED: Sat, 03/20/2010 - 9:01am
Weekend Plans?
Anyone entertaining this weekend? I don't have anything really planned here other than a nice dinner with my husband tonight. On quiet weekends, I've been making a special dinner for Saturday night. Knowing that I have a nice meal to look forward to helps me make better choices during the week (usually). Tonight we're having roasted shrimp with homemade cocktail sauce to start, then filets au poivre with roasted potatoes and zucchini. And Mireille's flourless chocolate cake with raspberries and whipped cream to finish. Bubbly for me to start, then a Bordeaux with dinner.valerie51
POSTED: Sat, 03/20/2010 - 10:55am
Yummy!!!
I'm hungry now Courtney! I'm not entertaining, but I'm in Oklahoma for a week seeing my 6 kids and two grandbabies...so I get to be the entertainee!!! Thursday night they made me bbq meatballs and homemade french fries...and I ate on a small plate and had no seconds! Yesterday my 11 year old and I went to the store and had a "fast food" meal...I had a small serving of what I wanted and was completely satisfied. Last night I did make homemade pizza for my aunt, uncle, grandma, mom, and two of my kids...it got high reviews...and these people all think they are the best cooks ever!! Today my daughter is making me potato soup; tonight we are having girls night with salads and dessert. Tomorrow my 17 year old is taking me to lunch at Chili's. Monday night we are all going out for a meal together; then Tuesday I return to IL. It is great fun having a week here...no work, on break from classes...I just miss my fiance ALOT!Vintage1944
POSTED: Sat, 03/20/2010 - 10:33am
Delicious
I bet it was fab!What's on tonight?No plans to entertain this weekend.Did plan to go to Montreal,but plans changed.
jas
POSTED: Sat, 03/20/2010 - 9:24am
ooooooo
Courtney, that sounds lovely, just lovely.CourtneyK
POSTED: Sat, 03/20/2010 - 1:22pm
Thank you
It's unseasonably warm here today, so I fetched everything for dinner over the course of a long, sunny walk. I hope everyone has a great weekend!Marilyn
POSTED: Sat, 03/20/2010 - 4:38pm
Two some
Just the two of us here as well. Olives stuffed with almonds to accompany gin n tonics to start, then Bouef Bourgignon(England playing France at rugger tonight)with 2 vegetables, fruit for dessert. Italian red with main. A relaxing evening.meneia
POSTED: Sun, 03/14/2010 - 4:35am
Mini Dinner Party
I'm having my boss over for dinner tomorrow. It's still quite hot here so I'm planning grilled haloumi and fennel salad (my stand-by dish) followed by ice cream. Should I serve a starter course as well?jas
POSTED: Sun, 03/14/2010 - 11:14am
I would add something
Meneia, I would add something to the menu also. A starter course is probably a good idea. Let us know what you do.Vintage1944
POSTED: Sun, 03/14/2010 - 8:51am
Good for you
The courage to entertain your boss at home.WOW.Your menu will be great.Marilyn
POSTED: Sun, 03/14/2010 - 6:27am
Meneia
Your menu sounds good. You could always serve a few little canapes with a glass of champagne (or sparkling wine) as an introduction rather than a formal starter. Have a great time.meneia
POSTED: Fri, 03/19/2010 - 3:20am
Last Minute Change of Plans
Unfortunately dinner didn't happen as there was a last minute change of plans involving people arriving from overseas. Oh well. My sister is arriving in 3 hours to spend the weekend so she can enjoy my hospitality instead.Vintage1944
POSTED: Fri, 03/19/2010 - 8:37pm
Sister visit
More fun than feeding the boss.My sister arrives here on the29th.It will be great to have her here.Hope you two are having fun.jas
POSTED: Sun, 03/07/2010 - 7:09pm
needing opinions
I am having a small dinner party on Saturday. The focus is "garden to table" items using mostly homegrown things from the cold frames or summer freezing/drying. Please tell me what you think of the menu and order: 1 fresh squeezed pink grapefruit juice (not home grown), 2. a vegetable soup 3 turkey meatballs with summer basil pesto/veganaise dipping sauce and kale with oil and vinegar 4 a cheese and bread tray 5 homemade chocolates/carobs with herbs and dried fruit from summer 6 coffee and wine with it to top it off. What do you think?Marilyn
POSTED: Sun, 03/14/2010 - 10:57am
Dinner party
How did the dinner party go? I bet you wowed them with your menu. What did you wear?frenchy
POSTED: Fri, 03/12/2010 - 6:49pm
Fabulous Menu
Jas this is a great menu. I think you are a natural at menu planning. I hope you have a very enjoyable time Saturday. Let me know how it goes and how everyone enjoys the menu.jas
POSTED: Sun, 03/14/2010 - 11:16am
It went well
HI Marilyn, Frenchy and all...see the I need help section (I'm going to post more there next) As for the dinner, Frenchy I love the way you are so supportive, and uplifting. The dinner was wonderful. Really smooth, well planned and executed, relaxed and fun. I felt elegant and happy. The food turned out well, and people enjoyed all the different tastes and courses. I also enjoyed all the different tastes and courses.annamey
POSTED: Sat, 03/06/2010 - 8:28pm
"cheats" for vegetarian entertaining
One of my favourite dishes for entertaining on a day when I either do not want to eat meat or have vegetarian guests is vegetarian lasagne. I replace the ground meat in the tomato sauce with lots of sliced mushrooms, eggplant, and zucchini. The meatiness of the mushrooms and eggplant fools all but the most discerning carnivores. Alternately layer with a spinach-ricotta mixture. Top it with lots of mozzarella, and almost no one will be the wiser. The best thing is to make it the day before and refrigerate. This will let the layers compress and adhere better, as well as saving time on the day. Start with a savoury squash soup, serve it with a green salad, and finish with a scrumptious dessert. Add a good bottle of red wine et voila! dinner is served. AnnaVintage1944
POSTED: Sat, 03/06/2010 - 8:33pm
Mmm mmmm hmmmm
Oh yummy.I will make those.Thanks.Vintage1944
POSTED: Thu, 03/04/2010 - 8:40pm
OK it is feel the fear
and do it anyway time.My friends are back from their Snowbird adventures in Florida.Have to set a date,make the invitation,plan the menu and have fun,dagnabit.:-)))frenchy
POSTED: Sat, 03/06/2010 - 2:05pm
You can do it Soul Sister!
I have faith in you! I believe in you! Go with the flow of it, relax and don't try too hard to not make mistakes. Remember, they are friends not the boss or the bosses wife. Does that help? I am sending you culinary vibes...ommmmm....ommmmm....(yeah, big smile here!)Vintage1944
POSTED: Sat, 03/06/2010 - 7:39pm
Culinary Vibes
They must be working...while waiting for The King at the Vet.there was a copy of the LCBO(Liquor Control Board of Ontario)Food and Wine mag.There were several reciepes I want to try,but lobster and aspargus crepes are a MUST.Practice with a few less complex dishes first and then I think that would be an amazing Brunch dish.Must nip out and get my copy.snorklee
POSTED: Fri, 03/05/2010 - 8:52am
The thing I'm fearful of...
...Is opening the champagne. I've never done it. I'm thinking it's like shooting a gun for the first time. :) Any suggestions on how to open champagne???CourtneyK
POSTED: Fri, 03/05/2010 - 9:55am
Opening Champagne
Don't worry! All you need to do is hold the cork firmly and gently turn the bottle. (So move the bottle and hold the cork steady.) Go slowly and the cork will ease right out. Forget "popping" the cork and having it fly out of the bottle like people do on tv. I read somewhere that opening a bottle properly shouldn't result in a pop, but should sound more like a woman's sigh.Marilyn
POSTED: Fri, 03/05/2010 - 5:26am
Jean
Take a deep breath and get on with it. The more you think about it the greater the fear. You will be amazing.snorklee
POSTED: Thu, 03/04/2010 - 8:54pm
You can do it!
I know that you will put a French flair on this. Relax and put the focus on fun. Enthusiasm is infectious. It won't matter what you serve, especially if you pop a cork and have champagne. Flourless chocolate cake and champagne form a nice parenthesis around any meal.(Now, if only I can remember this when it comes time for a dinner party in my tiny house. lol.)
jas
POSTED: Sun, 03/07/2010 - 7:06pm
Champagne
Mireille used to have a video on the main site with a how to open champagne demonstration.Vintage1944
POSTED: Thu, 03/04/2010 - 10:24pm
Merci Deb
Yes I can and I will.And the"parenthesis" will be part of it.frenchy
POSTED: Tue, 02/23/2010 - 8:00pm
You are all cordially invited to my house
for a retirement dinner in honour of Marilyn. Here is the menu: To begin we shall have artichole, spinich and goat cheese puff pastries and champagne. The main entree will be a roast tenderloin of beef crusted with roasted garlic and rosemary, sauteed fingerling potatoes, oven roasted roma tomatoes drizzled with extra virgin olive oil, and sauteed green beans with sliced almonds. Dessert shall be a rustic apple tart with chopped toasted walnuts and caramel sauce served with a french vanilla ice-cream and espresso. I hope you all can make it. Please RSVP :)Vintage1944
POSTED: Wed, 02/24/2010 - 12:14pm
YES
I willbe there in cyber presence.It willbe fabulous.OXOMarilyn
POSTED: Wed, 02/24/2010 - 7:06am
RSVP
I'll be cyberly there. I can cyber taste that amazing menu already.I am having a few minutes on here before starting to 'do a Jas' generally as it is my first day of freedom although the actuality won't kick in until Monday when the alarm doesn't go off as early. I hope I remember and don't jump out of bed in a panic!!