Yes I can google but I want ATOT's experience

[thepd7]

Dinner Party tomorrow night, so far I have:

Salad:
Baby Spinach with Feta, Apples, Pine Nuts

Soup:
Roasted Tomato Bisque with Crumbled Gorgonzola and Thyme

Main Course:
Chicken Breast or Fresh Salmon
Steamed Vegetables
?

Dessert:
Creme Brulee


Any suggestions on a decently fancy way to cook the chicken and salmon that's delicious (recipe please)? Preferrably the same method/sauce but not necessary.

Any ideas for a second side?

Anyone have a good creme brulee recipe?

Any other ideas/suggestions?

 

[Newbian]

Half of these sounds like you need to turn in your man card just for thinking of cooking them

 

[PCTC2]

http://www.cookingforengineers.com/

There's a good grilled salmon recipe that could be used for chicken and there's a good creme brulee recipe.

Would also suggest a side for the entrée, such as a nice rice or roasted potato (if you go with potato, replace the steamed veggies with roasted).

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

A dinner party is the WRONG time to try out a new recipe. That said, you can always grill the chicken and salmon after marinating in a citrus dressing for a tasty easy meal. Creme Brulee is all about heavy cream and not overcooking the custard. Again, if you're not comfortable with making it, try an easy fix like purchased cheesecake. I'm all for trying new things but, don't make your guests guinea pigs.

 

[Pepsei]

creme brulee is very easy... the hard part is melting the sugar on the top, at least for me.... you really need one of those torches, it'd make it so much easier.

 

[Newbian]

Originally posted by: Pepsei
creme brulee is very easy... the hard part is melting the sugar on the top, at least for me.... you really need one of those torches, it'd make it so much easier.

One of these?

 

[JulesMaximus]

I like to do salmon butter-fly filleted in the following manner:

Sprinkle some Old Bay seasoning on both sides of the fish, then sprinkle liberally with paprika, put a dab of butter on the top and bake in the oven for 10-15 minutes at 350 degrees or until cooked. Do not overcook! You can also do this on the grill this way on a cedar plank. Soak the plank in water for an hour prior to cooking though.

 

[silverpig]

For salmon and chicken you can cook it like you pan-fry and roast a steak. High oven temperature, high heat on a pan, sear on one side, flip, put in the oven.

 

[thepd7]

Originally posted by: Newbian
Half of these sounds like you need to turn in your man card just for thinking of cooking them

Forgive me for liking good food. FYI the ladies love a man that can cook.

Originally posted by: MagnusTheBrewer
A dinner party is the WRONG time to try out a new recipe. That said, you can always grill the chicken and salmon after marinating in a citrus dressing for a tasty easy meal. Creme Brulee is all about heavy cream and not overcooking the custard. Again, if you're not comfortable with making it, try an easy fix like purchased cheesecake. I'm all for trying new things but, don't make your guests guinea pigs.

I would agree with you normally but I am making it way more formal than it needs to be, we are all early 20s, if something sucks it's not a big deal, I am not trying to impress anyone.

Originally posted by: PCTC2
http://www.cookingforengineers.com/

There's a good grilled salmon recipe that could be used for chicken and there's a good creme brulee recipe.

Would also suggest a side for the entrée, such as a nice rice or roasted potato (if you go with potato, replace the steamed veggies with roasted).

Will they roast evenly then? I have never tried to roast potatoes I just know that in general they take long to cook.

Originally posted by: silverpig
For salmon and chicken you can cook it like you pan-fry and roast a steak. High oven temperature, high heat on a pan, sear on one side, flip, put in the oven.

I appreciate the suggestion but if I am going to pan-fry at all I will pan fry all the fish the entire time, I have a great ginger glazed recipe but I have overused it, I want to try something new.

 

[hzl eyed grl]

Any other ideas/suggestions?

My suggestion is to come over and cook for ME!

 

[GagHalfrunt]

Originally posted by: MagnusTheBrewer
A dinner party is the WRONG time to try out a new recipe.

X2. Learn the recipe cooking for yourself first. Don't try something you're not sure of during a party. And make the creme brulee a day in advance or at least the morning of the party. One less thing to worry about.

 

[summit]

creme brulee isn't it too hot for something like that? dont serve chicken and fish serve fish and cow or chicken and beef.

 

[thepd7]

Originally posted by: hzl eyed grl

Any other ideas/suggestions?

My suggestion is to come over and cook for ME!

You don't even understand how hard I am trying to get a class in San Fran, if that happens you will be getting another visit and I WILL cook for you this time.

Originally posted by: Summit
creme brulee isn't it too hot for something like that? dont serve chicken and fish serve fish and cow or chicken and beef.

What do you mean by too hot?

And I will be serving them separate, most likely two completely separate dishes with an option for the guests.

 

[PCTC2]

You need to buy potatoes that are meant for roasting. Most large potatoes would need to be cut into wedges, but smaller potatoes can be roasted whole. I wish I had my Roasting 101 book in CA (it's back in MA in a box)

 

[BoomerD]

I've never been a big fan of salmon, but my wife makes Salmon Wellington that's fucking great.

(probably a LOT more work than you want to go through for a dinner party.)

 

[silverpig]

Here's an idea: make the salmon into a tartare.

 

[hzl eyed grl]

Originally posted by: thepd7

Originally posted by: hzl eyed grl

Any other ideas/suggestions?

My suggestion is to come over and cook for ME!

You don't even understand how hard I am trying to get a class in San Fran, if that happens you will be getting another visit and I WILL cook for you this time.

Originally posted by: Summit
creme brulee isn't it too hot for something like that? dont serve chicken and fish serve fish and cow or chicken and beef.

What do you mean by too hot?

And I will be serving them separate, most likely two completely separate dishes with an option for the guests.

Yay! A home made meal from a good-lookin' man! :lips: We have to take more pictures this time, though.

 

[thepd7]

Originally posted by: hzl eyed grl

Originally posted by: thepd7

Originally posted by: hzl eyed grl

Any other ideas/suggestions?

My suggestion is to come over and cook for ME!

You don't even understand how hard I am trying to get a class in San Fran, if that happens you will be getting another visit and I WILL cook for you this time.

Originally posted by: Summit
creme brulee isn't it too hot for something like that? dont serve chicken and fish serve fish and cow or chicken and beef.

What do you mean by too hot?

And I will be serving them separate, most likely two completely separate dishes with an option for the guests.

Yay! A home made meal from a good-lookin' man! :lips: We have to take more pictures this time, though.

Sure thing!


The party went really well, final Menu:

Baby Spinach Salad with Feta, Apples, Walnuts
Appetizer: Eggplant Crisps with Marinara
Soup: Roasted Tomato Bisque with Thyme and Gorgonzola Crumbles
Main Course: Salmon or Lemon Pepper Chicken on a bed of new potatoes with roasted vegetables
Dessert: Creme Brulee


Here's how it turned out:

Salad: Solid, nothing incredible but very good
Appetizer: It was great but I can't take credit since my soux chef did it all.
Soup: Soup was good
Main Course: The veggies weren't very good, I apparantly suck at roasting vegetables, I should have steamed them. The Chicken and Salmon were incredible, the potatoes were so so.
Dessert: SO good. I put a little too much sugar on top but it was still delicious and now I know how to do better next time.

 

[Fritzo]

This is the part where everyone goes to Google and looks up recipies that they've never used before, then suggests them like they've used them all their life.