The last minute, mid week dinner guest
I am sure you can relate to the call that comes in the middle of the day from your loved one, saying “I hope you don’t mind….. but I have invited a ‘client’ over for dinner, tonight!”
My first thought can’t be repeated , also I usually feel like using the frying pan for something other than cooking. Then I start to think about the fact that I am not working from home today, I’m out with clients all day and won’t be home until late.
My next thought is, what state have I (or rather we) left the house in. Open plan living means the mess can’t be quickly shut away into one room and I am pretty sure that the dishes need doing. Which wouldn’t be an issue if we used the dishwasher to actuallywash the dishes, rather than store my grandmothers 60 year old crockery in, because it can’t go through the dishwasher due to the gold trim on it!
I then spend the next 2 hours listening to my client , all the while thinking about what I can cook in the short amount of time I have between leaving the city, going shopping, getting home, catching up on my emails from being out all day and tidying up the house. Thankfully as I have been out at meetings all day, at least I don’t need to tidy myself up as well!!
My brain works overtime thinking about whether to risk trying a recipe from Jamie’s 15 Minute Meals book. The thought is quickly banished when I remember the last time I did that and it ended up taking me more like 40 minutes and the kitchen looked like a bomb had exploded in it! Not a good time to risk this, so I ponder on the tried and tested recipes that always impress.
I scribble my menu and shopping list beside my meeting notes (my handwriting is so bad my client will never be able to tell that I am not only writing meeting notes, but also writing my essential shopping list).
As I am driving back towards home I work out where I have to go to get all the food. Irace through each of the shops picking up everything I need. This is where I start to curse my gorgeous husband once again for the last minute invitation that has sent me flying in every direction but home to get all the food.
As I am sure you all know, I love to cook and am happy to spend hours cooking when I have the time. I do however have a few quick and easy dishes that I can dig out when the ‘mid week dinner invitation’ is issued at the last minute, and even though they are quick they are bound to impress!
Nibbles
Cheese Straws I always have a bag of these in the freezer and they taste so good that they will impress the harshest critic; or
Cream cheese and horseradish dip It will take you 5 minutes to prepare and I guarantee you will be asked for the recipe.
Main
Salmon wrapped in Prosciutto served with a pear and rocket salad; or
Pork saltimbocca with pear and rocket salad
Dessert
Fresh fruit crème brûlée; or
Oranges with chocolate and almonds
Good luck with your last minute mid week dinner guests and if you have any other great tips for what I can serve up next time it happens to me please let me know, as I am always on the lookout for new ideas.
Happy Cooking
Rachel
PS please try to refrain from using the frying pan for anything other than cooking dinner
posted by Anne on February 19, 2013
hehe… ok, you are a wonder woman.. but I would have been asking the darling husband ‘great, will be nice to socialise tonight when I get home from a busy day with my clients… what are YOU cooking for dinner for them?’ and let HIM go crazy around town buying food and planning. Oh and cleaning. Yeah… right….
posted by Janina Lear on February 19, 2013
Great post with some lovely suggestions. I always feel paralysed with indecision when something last minute pops up so will bookmark this page for when the situation arises.