Dinner party

Greeneyedgirl I agree it always takes me longer than they say. Re the ingredients the only one I had to search for were the preserved lemons and I couldn't find a use for the left over ones. It was delicious though and quite easy to make.
Whatever you decide Mrs Mopp I hope it goes well

I'd cook everything the day before and just reheat it. That always works for me!

Willa are you sure you are not Mary Berry in disguise?
Your Holiday (do you mean Christmas/Boxing Day) Buffet sounds wonderful but far too much work especially just when OP has only invited the neighbours to supper.

Good suggestion Jura -a roast dinner is always a treat and all the more so when somebody else has cooked it!
But I so understand OP’s lack of confidence, why is it we(I) can throw a “scratch” meal together and it turns out just right, but slave over a cook book for an entire afternoon and feel the results are barely OK?

I agree that Persian chicken looks delicious and I would love it, BUT it has a lot of ingredients which you may have to buy in specially (at Sainsbury of course) and it wouldn't take me the advised 20 mins, more like hour and half prep, plus you have to check if people like spicy.

I like recipes with about 4 or 5 ingredients, simple.

Give them whatever you cook and enjoy best perhaps. It isn't a competition.

I love doing dinner parties. I do meze for starters, a lot of which are cold, with maybe some mini spanish omelette, cooked in the oven for ease, and often posh fruit for dessert (the nicest was when cherries and strawberries were cheap on the day of the party).

For a main course I might do a risotto or a crusted salmon.

When I was off work for cancer treatment I even went as far as making my own chocolates.

No time anymore unfortunately.

A menu you can mainly cook in advance

That Persian chicken sounds great, thanks.

Your title makes me laugh - as like you I feel the 'Dinner Party' had died long ago and sound so 'Abigail'. Just can't be asked (that is how I spell it) honestly.

So be yourself I say- and honestly, the idea of M&S, etc- really is just awful and terribly 'pretend'. Invite them and warn them, with a big smile- that you will not try and compete and will do a nice roast dinner. For the price of M&S- you can buy a really nice joint, and do roasties and 2 veg and bought Yorkshires it it helps. And a simple pud - bought if you wish- but it is so so simple to knock up a nice crumble with good quality ice-cream.

No keeping up with the Joneses - never. Enjoy.

www.sainsburysmagazine.co.uk/recipes/mains/persian-chicken

I would tell them how much you enjoyed the dinner they gave you and their company then say you are not a confident cook but you would love to invite them round. Then I would do something like a casserole. Coq at vin or beef bourginin are both easy and won't spoil of they are in the oven too long. Delia has good recipes for both. I also got great and simple recipe for Persian Chicken from Sainsbury magazine. Its available on line too. Everyone I have cooked it for has loved it

I agree with others, they won't be judging you on your food, but will be pleased to be invited. They were probably trying intially to make a good impression because they are new.

I could never do a roast dinner for guests. I find it so difficult getting all the veg ready together and trying to keep everything warm, and haven't a clue how to make gravy. I much prefer to cook one pot type things ahead, and also prefer home made puds to over sweet bought ones.

I always tell guests that I'm no domestic goddess, and ply them with lots of drink. It's just nice and sociable to share a meal.

This time of year is ideal for a holiday dinner party. A buffet dinner and a menu that you can make ahead (even the night before) will leave you more time to relax and enjoy your guests. For starters choose a nice wine and accompany it with an (assorted) cheese tray, toast tips, crackers, dips, nuts and olives.

I would buy a (fully cooked) holiday ham about two or three days prior. Score it crosswise and pierce it with whole cloves. Keep it in plastic wrap until the day of. Bake for about 45 minutes at 350F (to infuse clove flavor) and then glaze (pour) orange marmalade over it for another fifteen minutes or so. For buffet, remove cloves. Carve and arrange serving size ham slices on large platter. Garnish with orange slices. Accompany with an orange marmalade/mustard sauce on the side.

Suggested sides for a Hot and Cold Buffet. Potato salad, Carrot Raisin salad, Cole Slaw, Pasta salads, tossed Green salad. For Hot Buffet: Roasted combination of Sweet and White potato wedges buttered and seasoned with Sage and Rosemary. Seasoned green beans or buttered (frozen) peas.
Green Salad (Spinach, Arugula, Kale, Bib lettuce) with Pear slices, walnuts, crumbled goat cheese, and dried cranberries Salads can be made the day before. Just cover and keep refrigerated.
A red Holiday Punch Bowl makes a festive centerpiece for any buffet table and a sheet size, classic, yummy chocolate cake makes a crowd pleasing dessert!

Don't try and compete unless you would enjoy doing that. Instead do something quite different. Brunch maybe? with traditional full English or pastries and cold meats/cheese/ fruit. Or a Saturday lunch....lovely main course soup and hot bread with cheeses and fruit. Alternatively.....do what one of my friends does and invite them out to a restaurant or pub for lunch.

Experiencednotold, , your post brought back a memory. Back in the 80s we were invited to ‘supper’.
Well in our house meals consisted of Breakfast. Dinner and Tea. Supper was a warm drink and a biscuit at bedtime.
We decided we would go, but have our meal before we went, as we were only going for ‘supper’.
Oh you can imagine how we struggled to eat anything at all!
Never been so embarrassed in my life! Oh the memory of that evening. Didn’t dare to admit our gaffe. ?

If you usually cook vegetarian stick with it. and why not make it a 'supper party' as opposed to 'dinner' - makes it less formal for everyone. Most people are delighted to be cooked for / fed without having to do the thinking and prep - they'll be delighted

Well, I wouldn't waste time competing or worrying about it. I would just serve the dishes I would normally serve to visitors, but might just have a starter.

A really simple vegetarian meal might be something they have never had - and would enjoy.

Blimey Patticake, that sounds blooming delicious ?

Invite them and cook whichever of your usual vegetarian dishes that you know other people like too.

Serve it with the remark that is common in India amongst English speakers, "It is only our everyday plain food." said with a smile.

Why faff about with starters and desserts? One ample course is quite enough. Then coffee afterwards with petit fours or chocolates, if you feel you must do more.

Oh Buster Tank so many people use Cooks that they are bound to know or if not and they commented you would have to come clean.

Cooks do a lovely selection then you could pass it of as your own .

Ask them for ‘supper’ as a sublimely message. Chicken and leek pie, beef and something pie, vegetable pie, whatever - prepare the filling in advance, put in a nice oven dish, cover with ready made and rolled pastry just before it goes in the oven, a few good quality frozen roast potatoes, peas and carrots. Poach some pears in some red wine, or rum, port, sherry (whatever is handy with some cinnamon), also in advance. Serve with thick cream and some shortbread. All you need to worry about on the evening is putting the pastry on and cooking the veg. If they’re not happy with that then perhaps they’re not the best of people anyway.

I find dinner parties a nightmare, too. I never instigate them but sometimes it is necessary to repay hospitality. My problem is my DH is extremely fussy and some days I cook two dinners as I get fed up with his very plain food. For instance, he likes pasta but won't have it with a sauce, only plain steamed or boiled vegetables. He will have a vegetarian curry but only the shop bought variety, not a homemade one. We are both pescatarian but DH only likes fish from the fish and chip shop. See what I mean? It's a nightmare. My solution is to meet friends at the pub so we can all order what we like.

Get the whole lot from Cook ... straight from freezer to oven!