Archive for Downsizer For an ethical approach to consumption
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wipka84
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Need a dessert??... And a starter!!Well in a fit of insanity we have invited 7 guests round for dinner on wednesday. So that makes 9 in total.
Other than how we are going to fit everyone round the table, the next hurdle is what to cook them.
I think i have decided on Lamb Tagine for main, purely because I can cook that tonight, reheat wednesday when it should have acquired a better flavour for being left to stew in its own juices, and that i can get away with serving some seasoned couscous which just requires a kettle boiled 5 minutes from serving.
So what shall I do for starter or dessert. Any ideas on what would go well with a tagine?
I was thinking maybe a lemony cheesecake for dessert but not sure and am open to any other suggestions or ideas on the starter.
Any help would be great! Thanks
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Pilsbury
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Soup for starter, can be cooked tomorrow and re heated on the night and normally tastes even better on the 2nd day, bake some rolls or use the part baked ones from the supermarket adn it can all be done before they arrive
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12Bore
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Fruit and cheese for dessert, more sociable than a pud - less chance of falling asleep in the coffee.......so speaks the voice of experience. 
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judith
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Something that doesn't need cooking for the starter - figs and parma ham, perhaps, or veggies and dips.
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wipka84
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| judith wrote: | | Something that doesn't need cooking for the starter - figs and parma ham, perhaps, or veggies and dips. |
I was thinking dips or soup but didnt want people loading up on bread rolls or pitta's! So Vegetables might make a good swap. I have a veggie in the group so think I'll just make a different main and keep the starter meat free.
I love fruit and cheese, but sharing can be hard, as can not sneaking a nibble while you wait for it to warm up to room temperature from the fridge and ruining your well laid out cheese board!!
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Pilsbury
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make 2 cheeseboards, that way if the nicely laid out one runs out you can just add from the one you have been scoffing in the kitchen all night 
although I would probably do a cheeseboard after the dessert anyway
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wellington womble
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Our favourite (easy) starter is spanish garlic bread - toasted slices of french bread, rubbed with a garlic clove, drizzled with olive oil and served with little bits of chorizo, serrano/parma ham and cheese. Alternatively, smoked mackerel pate is very easy and tasty - whizz up some smoked mackerel fillets with a pot of ricotta or cream cheese and add lemon juice and black pepper to taste, serve with custy bread and maybe a bit of salad.
For dessert, cheese is great, but my favourite quick one is lemon and marscapone tart - can be made in advance and served cold, or you can make the filling in advance and just pour it into the pastry case (bought if you're pushed for time) and just shove it in the oven as you take the tagine out.
I'm hungry now......
Lemon marscapone tart
Pastry case, baked blind (with an egg yolk to bind - yummy)
two eggs, two egg yolks, two tablespoons of icing sugar (caster would do - I didn't have any), juice of three lemons, zest of two, half a tub of marscapone. Mix and pour into pastry case. Bake at 130 deg C for 23 mins
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Clara
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Keeping it morrocan and premade (and better for it)...
Dates in coffee and cardamom
De-stone dates (about 500g should do for 7) keeping the shape of the dates intact. Make strong coffee. Bash a few (8 ish) cardamom pods and snap a cinnamon stick. Put it all in to a covered dish to marinade for at least 24 hours, 48 plus better.
I serve with either homemade greek-style yoghurt or mascarpone whipped with egg yolk and sugar (like tiramisu).
Easy peasy but passes for sophisticated!
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judith
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| Clara wrote: | Keeping it morrocan and premade (and better for it)...
Dates in coffee and cardamom
De-stone dates (about 500g should do for 7) keeping the shape of the dates intact. Make strong coffee. Bash a few (8 ish) cardamom pods and snap a cinnamon stick. Put it all in to a covered dish to marinade for at least 24 hours, 48 plus better.
I serve with either homemade greek-style yoghurt or mascarpone whipped with egg yolk and sugar (like tiramisu).
Easy peasy but passes for sophisticated! |
Wow. That does sound interesting.
I think dates might find their way onto the shopping list this weekend. 
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wipka84
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Dates and yoghurt are on the list thanks (especially as the date has been moved to tomorrow!!) and will serve with a cheese board for those silly enough to refuse, the lemon and mascapone tart has been saved for future desserts as sounds delicious!
Thanks for everyones help, really come up trumps, just got to go out and buy the bits!
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