What can I make for my boyfriend's parents?!
Okay, well my boyfriends parents are coming for dinner next week!. I've met them and spent time with them on Holidays, I think I'm FINALLY on good terms with his Mom, and now I just want to impress them with a nice dinner! I am by no means a fabulous 5 star chef, but I am pretty darn good for a college student!. Of course I will do trial and error before the event!. Right now I am leaning towards a Scallop and Soba Noodles dish, but I'm not sure!. I am also thinking about a nice Pesto Stuffed Chicken, or maybe Chicken Courdon Blue!. Any other ideas!? Nothing too greasy or spicey!. They don't like that!. also, I eat healthy, so a nice healthy meal!. Thanks!Www@FoodAQ@Com
Answers:
ok!. first of all, don't make anything new or tough for you!. make something easy or your specialty!. i think individual serving is great too!.
my favourite chef who has fast, easy, delicious and entertaining recipes is chef nigella lawson!. you can catch her recipes at http://search!.foodnetwork!.com/food/recip!.!.!. and http://youtube!.com/results!?search_query=!.!.!. !. i'm sure you will never regret!.
try and look at these sites from professional chefs shown in TV shows!. they may help you!.
http://www!.rachaelraymag!.com/recipes/30-!.!.!.
http://www!.foodtv!.ca/eatingwell/Recipes!.!.!.!.
http://www!.foodtv!.ca/recipes/recipe_sear!.!.!.
http://www!.foodnetwork!.com/food/lf_quick!.!.!.
http://www!.lifestylefood!.com!.au/recipes/
http://www!.rasamalaysia!.com/2007/01/rasa!.!.!.
http://www!.taste!.com!.au/recipes/advanced!.!.!.
http://www!.taste!.com!.au/recipes/advanced!.!.!.
http://www!.joyofbaking!.com/
http://www!.desserts-recipes!.com/chinese-!.!.!.
http://www!.nigella!.com/recipes/index!.asp
http://www!.bettycrocker!.com/recipes/
http://recipes!.kaboose!.com/family-dinner!.!.!.
http://www!.myrecipes!.com/recipes/
http://www!.kuali!.com/recipes/
http://www!.epicurious!.com/bonappetit/par!.!.!.
http://www!.dianasdesserts!.com/index!.cfm/!.!.!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
my favourite chef who has fast, easy, delicious and entertaining recipes is chef nigella lawson!. you can catch her recipes at http://search!.foodnetwork!.com/food/recip!.!.!. and http://youtube!.com/results!?search_query=!.!.!. !. i'm sure you will never regret!.
try and look at these sites from professional chefs shown in TV shows!. they may help you!.
http://www!.rachaelraymag!.com/recipes/30-!.!.!.
http://www!.foodtv!.ca/eatingwell/Recipes!.!.!.!.
http://www!.foodtv!.ca/recipes/recipe_sear!.!.!.
http://www!.foodnetwork!.com/food/lf_quick!.!.!.
http://www!.lifestylefood!.com!.au/recipes/
http://www!.rasamalaysia!.com/2007/01/rasa!.!.!.
http://www!.taste!.com!.au/recipes/advanced!.!.!.
http://www!.taste!.com!.au/recipes/advanced!.!.!.
http://www!.joyofbaking!.com/
http://www!.desserts-recipes!.com/chinese-!.!.!.
http://www!.nigella!.com/recipes/index!.asp
http://www!.bettycrocker!.com/recipes/
http://recipes!.kaboose!.com/family-dinner!.!.!.
http://www!.myrecipes!.com/recipes/
http://www!.kuali!.com/recipes/
http://www!.epicurious!.com/bonappetit/par!.!.!.
http://www!.dianasdesserts!.com/index!.cfm/!.!.!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
Don't get too fancy!. Just cook something that you are very familiar with and do well!. Keep it simple so that you're not so stressed out over how the food is going to turn out!.
A perfectly cooked piece of fish or chicken, with some nice fresh veggies and a salad, will impress them more than something fancier that didn't quite turn out right!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
A perfectly cooked piece of fish or chicken, with some nice fresh veggies and a salad, will impress them more than something fancier that didn't quite turn out right!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
I think lasagna is usually a sure bet, looks impressive, most people like it and you can make it a little healthier by putting thawed frozen spinach in it!. It also usually doesnt take long to bake and is easy to put together!. You could do garlic bread and a salad with it!. foodnetwork!.com is great as well as allrecipes!.com (i think thats right)Www@FoodAQ@Com
A great lamb dish is to get cutlets & cut a pocket in them!. Place a slice of haloumi cheese & a mint leaf in them!. Brush the outside with mint jelly!. These can be prepared ahead & left in the fridge & grilled, fried or BBQd to serveWww@FoodAQ@Com
Dont get too fancy to impress!.!.!.!.Better question yet what does Mom and Dad like to eat!.!.!.!.If they are just downhome folks, dont try to go overboard with gourmet!. Good homemade food, good conversation!.!.!.is the way to make a good impression!.!.!.!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
Keep it simple!. Don't give a chance to criticize!.
It's hard to screw up spaghetti and garlic toast!.
Just remember, it's your choice, but keep it simple!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
It's hard to screw up spaghetti and garlic toast!.
Just remember, it's your choice, but keep it simple!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
If you want something that always impresses, try serving cornish game hens!. Serve them with new potatoes, sauteed in butter and herbs and something like broccoli with a cheese sauce!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
spaghetti
http://answers!.yahoo!.com/question/index;!.!.!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
http://answers!.yahoo!.com/question/index;!.!.!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
if you have a grill you can cook cheeseburgers and wieners!. also cook some corn on the cob or some beansWww@FoodAQ@Com
Maybe you should do some pasta dishWww@FoodAQ@Com
Can I come over!? It sounds great!Www@FoodAQ@Com
A baby!Www@FoodAQ@Com
I would make my own stuffing which would include fine ( easy to crunch nuts / seeds) and berries !.!. maybe sunflower seeds would be good for this!.
I'd also include Oatmeal with my stuffing mix, the rest of the mix would be pretty standard in making it!.
I would then make stuffed chicken legs using this stuffing mix!.
I would also make my own croutons !.!. think of a Jalapeno without the seeds!.!.!.No Heat!.!.!.flavor them this way!.
I would make chicken fingers to go with the croutons in a salad!.
If ya don't wanna go with the croutons & fingers in a salad then maybe cole slaw is more the way to go, or a pasta salad made with Extra Virgin Olive Oil & Cider Vinegar to make the vinegrette!.
Potato !.!.maybe a twice baked or sour cream & chives !.!.!.
Think of a Parfait for dessert!.!.!.use yogurt & berries!.!.!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
I'd also include Oatmeal with my stuffing mix, the rest of the mix would be pretty standard in making it!.
I would then make stuffed chicken legs using this stuffing mix!.
I would also make my own croutons !.!. think of a Jalapeno without the seeds!.!.!.No Heat!.!.!.flavor them this way!.
I would make chicken fingers to go with the croutons in a salad!.
If ya don't wanna go with the croutons & fingers in a salad then maybe cole slaw is more the way to go, or a pasta salad made with Extra Virgin Olive Oil & Cider Vinegar to make the vinegrette!.
Potato !.!.maybe a twice baked or sour cream & chives !.!.!.
Think of a Parfait for dessert!.!.!.use yogurt & berries!.!.!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
I make a Salsa Chicken in the crock pot that is very good!. It is chicken breasts, salsa, and then at the end I add corn!. I serve it over rice and sometimes add a little cheese on top!. It is not as pretty as some of the things you listed, but it tastes good!. also, something like Baked Ziti is very simple, although not so healthy!. That's just a pound of ziti, a container of ricotta cheese, a pound of mozzerella cheese and tomato sauce!. Or if you like pork chops, I make pork chops in the crock pot with saurkraut and that it good served with egg noodles!. The two crock pot meals are very healthy (well without the cheese)Www@FoodAQ@Com
i don't know about scallop and soba, i love both but the combination kinda irks me!. If you want to wow them, make something usual but make it REALLY WELL!. I don't know any parents that would not like a tasty lasagna, and its impossible to screw up!. Then you can make a gourmet caesar salad with homemade dressing and home made garlic bread, I really think they would appreciate this! If you are making it yourself, it will be healthy because you will know what went in!. For the lasagna, I make mine with tomato pasta sauce and a blend of ricotta and cottage cheese dotted over each layer!. Then i top with cheese and drizzle pure cream over, which makes the best top layer you can think of!. If you use low fat ricotta and cottage cheese it makes up for the cheesy top and tastes the same!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
Chicken Cordon Bleu
Ingredients
6 ea Chicken breasts
6 ea Ham slices
1 ts Paprika
1/2 c Dry white wine
1 tb Corn starch
6 ea Swiss cheese slices
3 tb Flour
6 tb Butter
1 ts Chicken bouillon
1 c Whipping cream
Instructions
Pound chicken breasts if they're too thick!. Place a cheese and ham slice on each breast within 1/2 in!. of edge!. Fold edges of chicken over filling and secure with tooth picks!. Mix flour and paprika and coat chicken!. Heat butter in skillet and cook chicken until browned on all sides!. Add wine and bouillon!. Reduce heat to low, cover and simmer 30 minutes!. Remove tooth picks and transfer breasts to warm platter!. Blend cornstarch with cream and whisk slowly into skillet!. Cook, stirring until thickened and pour over chicken
===============
CHICKEN CORDON BLEU
Adapted from the classic French Veal Cordon Bleu, boneless chicken breasts are every bit as tasty and more tender then the original veal scallops!. The meat is pounded thin and then filled with ham and cheese!. Preparation time: 35 minutes!. Cooking time: 6 minutes!.
FOR 4 SERVINGS YOU WILL NEED:
4 halves (from 2 chickens) boneless chicken breasts
4 thin slices ham, about 1 oz!. each
4 slices aged Swiss cheese
4 tbsp!. cornstarch
4 tbsp!. butter
1/4 tsp!. salt
1/8 tsp!. freshly ground black pepper
Lemon wedges & parsley sprigs for garnish
1!. Place meat between sheets of plastic wrap!. With flat side of mallet, pound out to 8 or 9 inch diameter!. Meat will be very thin, but should not have holes in it!.
2!. Place 1 slice each of ham and cheese on bottom half of each piece of chicken!. Fold over other half, enveloping filling completely!.
3!. Press edges together to seal!. Cover with plastic wrap!. Pound lightly to remove air bubbles!.
4!. Sprinkle cornstarch over a piece of plastic wrap!. Lightly coat meat pieces on both sides!.
5!. Over high heat, melt butter in heavy skillet!. Add meat!. Cook about 3 minutes on each side until meat is tender but not overcooked!. Sprinkle with salt and black pepper!. Serve with lemon slices and parsley sprigs!.
TIPS: Buy whole chickens when on special, remove meat from breasts; reserve other parts of chicken for other meals!. Pounded and filled chicken breasts may be prepared ahead, wrapped and refrigerated or frozen for a quick meal later!.
Good served with: Pimento potatoes, asparagus, mandarin oranges for dessert
================
and one more
ingredients:
6 chicken breasts
6 slices swiss cheese
6 slices ham
3 tablespoons flour
1 teaspoon paprika
6 tablespoons butter
1/2 cup dry white wine
1 teaspoon chicken bouillon
1 tablespoon cornstarch
1 cup whipping cream
procedures:
Pound chicken breasts if they're too thick!.
Place a cheese and ham slice on each breast within 1/2 in!. of edge!.
Fold edges of chicken over filling and secure with tooth picks!.
Mix flour and paprika and coat chicken!.
Heat butter in skillet and cook chicken until browned on all sides!.
Add wine and bouillon!.
Reduce heat to low, cover and simmer 30 minutes!.
Remove tooth picks and transfer breasts to warm platter!.
Blend cornstarch with cream and whisk slowly into skillet!.
Cook, stirring until thickened and pour over chicken
============
and how about
Linguine with Shrimp Scampi
Vegetable oil
Kosher salt
3/4 pound linguine
3 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 1/2 tablespoons good olive oil
1 1/2 tablespoons minced garlic (4 cloves)
1 pound large shrimp (about 16 shrimp), peeled and deveined
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/3 cup chopped fresh parsley leaves
1/2 lemon, zest grated
1/4 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice (2 lemons)
1/4 lemon, thinly sliced in half-rounds
1/8 teaspoon hot red pepper flakes
Drizzle some oil in a large pot of boiling salted water, add 1 tablespoon of salt and the linguine, and cook for 7 to 10 minutes, or according to the directions on the package!.
Meanwhile, in another large (12-inch), heavy-bottomed pan, melt the butter and olive oil over medium-low heat!. Add the garlic!. Saute for 1 minute!. Be careful, the garlic burns easily! Add the shrimp, 1 1/2 teaspoons of salt, and the pepper and saute until the shrimp have just turned pink, about 5 minutes, stirring often!. Remove from the heat, add the parsley, lemon zest, lemon juice, lemon slices, and red pepper flakes!. Toss to combine!.
When the pasta is done, drain the cooked linguine and then put it back in the pot!. Immediately add the shrimp and sauce, toss well, and serve
============
For this, you can use soba noodle instead of fettucini pasta
Shrimp, Scallops, Fettucini
Ingredients
1 Medium onion chopped
1 clove Garlic chopped
5 tbsp Olive oil
1/4 cup White wine
1/3 cup Brandy (optional)
1 lb!. Medium shirmp shelled & deveined
1 lb Scallop (preferably sea scallops)
1 lb Fettucini cooked and drained
1/4 cup Fresh grated parmesean cheese
Preparation
In 1 tbsp!. olive oil sautee onion and garlic until translucent!. Add 3 tbsp!. olive oil, scallops and cook 2-3 minutes until scallops are nearly cooked through!. Add shrimp and cook until pink, when shrimp are nearly fully cooked add white wine!. At the very end of the cooking process add the 1/3 cup of brandy!. Cook off the alochol, approximately 3 minutes!.
Add the cooked and drained fettucini to the dish to heat through!.
Presentation; Place the entire dish into a pasta bowl!. Drizzle 1 tbsp!. olive oil over dish and sprinkle with fresh grated parmesean cheese!.
Notes
To put a special twist on the presentation, top with 2 thinly sliced pieces of lemon and a sprig of italian parsley!.
===========Www@FoodAQ@Com
Ingredients
6 ea Chicken breasts
6 ea Ham slices
1 ts Paprika
1/2 c Dry white wine
1 tb Corn starch
6 ea Swiss cheese slices
3 tb Flour
6 tb Butter
1 ts Chicken bouillon
1 c Whipping cream
Instructions
Pound chicken breasts if they're too thick!. Place a cheese and ham slice on each breast within 1/2 in!. of edge!. Fold edges of chicken over filling and secure with tooth picks!. Mix flour and paprika and coat chicken!. Heat butter in skillet and cook chicken until browned on all sides!. Add wine and bouillon!. Reduce heat to low, cover and simmer 30 minutes!. Remove tooth picks and transfer breasts to warm platter!. Blend cornstarch with cream and whisk slowly into skillet!. Cook, stirring until thickened and pour over chicken
===============
CHICKEN CORDON BLEU
Adapted from the classic French Veal Cordon Bleu, boneless chicken breasts are every bit as tasty and more tender then the original veal scallops!. The meat is pounded thin and then filled with ham and cheese!. Preparation time: 35 minutes!. Cooking time: 6 minutes!.
FOR 4 SERVINGS YOU WILL NEED:
4 halves (from 2 chickens) boneless chicken breasts
4 thin slices ham, about 1 oz!. each
4 slices aged Swiss cheese
4 tbsp!. cornstarch
4 tbsp!. butter
1/4 tsp!. salt
1/8 tsp!. freshly ground black pepper
Lemon wedges & parsley sprigs for garnish
1!. Place meat between sheets of plastic wrap!. With flat side of mallet, pound out to 8 or 9 inch diameter!. Meat will be very thin, but should not have holes in it!.
2!. Place 1 slice each of ham and cheese on bottom half of each piece of chicken!. Fold over other half, enveloping filling completely!.
3!. Press edges together to seal!. Cover with plastic wrap!. Pound lightly to remove air bubbles!.
4!. Sprinkle cornstarch over a piece of plastic wrap!. Lightly coat meat pieces on both sides!.
5!. Over high heat, melt butter in heavy skillet!. Add meat!. Cook about 3 minutes on each side until meat is tender but not overcooked!. Sprinkle with salt and black pepper!. Serve with lemon slices and parsley sprigs!.
TIPS: Buy whole chickens when on special, remove meat from breasts; reserve other parts of chicken for other meals!. Pounded and filled chicken breasts may be prepared ahead, wrapped and refrigerated or frozen for a quick meal later!.
Good served with: Pimento potatoes, asparagus, mandarin oranges for dessert
================
and one more
ingredients:
6 chicken breasts
6 slices swiss cheese
6 slices ham
3 tablespoons flour
1 teaspoon paprika
6 tablespoons butter
1/2 cup dry white wine
1 teaspoon chicken bouillon
1 tablespoon cornstarch
1 cup whipping cream
procedures:
Pound chicken breasts if they're too thick!.
Place a cheese and ham slice on each breast within 1/2 in!. of edge!.
Fold edges of chicken over filling and secure with tooth picks!.
Mix flour and paprika and coat chicken!.
Heat butter in skillet and cook chicken until browned on all sides!.
Add wine and bouillon!.
Reduce heat to low, cover and simmer 30 minutes!.
Remove tooth picks and transfer breasts to warm platter!.
Blend cornstarch with cream and whisk slowly into skillet!.
Cook, stirring until thickened and pour over chicken
============
and how about
Linguine with Shrimp Scampi
Vegetable oil
Kosher salt
3/4 pound linguine
3 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 1/2 tablespoons good olive oil
1 1/2 tablespoons minced garlic (4 cloves)
1 pound large shrimp (about 16 shrimp), peeled and deveined
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/3 cup chopped fresh parsley leaves
1/2 lemon, zest grated
1/4 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice (2 lemons)
1/4 lemon, thinly sliced in half-rounds
1/8 teaspoon hot red pepper flakes
Drizzle some oil in a large pot of boiling salted water, add 1 tablespoon of salt and the linguine, and cook for 7 to 10 minutes, or according to the directions on the package!.
Meanwhile, in another large (12-inch), heavy-bottomed pan, melt the butter and olive oil over medium-low heat!. Add the garlic!. Saute for 1 minute!. Be careful, the garlic burns easily! Add the shrimp, 1 1/2 teaspoons of salt, and the pepper and saute until the shrimp have just turned pink, about 5 minutes, stirring often!. Remove from the heat, add the parsley, lemon zest, lemon juice, lemon slices, and red pepper flakes!. Toss to combine!.
When the pasta is done, drain the cooked linguine and then put it back in the pot!. Immediately add the shrimp and sauce, toss well, and serve
============
For this, you can use soba noodle instead of fettucini pasta
Shrimp, Scallops, Fettucini
Ingredients
1 Medium onion chopped
1 clove Garlic chopped
5 tbsp Olive oil
1/4 cup White wine
1/3 cup Brandy (optional)
1 lb!. Medium shirmp shelled & deveined
1 lb Scallop (preferably sea scallops)
1 lb Fettucini cooked and drained
1/4 cup Fresh grated parmesean cheese
Preparation
In 1 tbsp!. olive oil sautee onion and garlic until translucent!. Add 3 tbsp!. olive oil, scallops and cook 2-3 minutes until scallops are nearly cooked through!. Add shrimp and cook until pink, when shrimp are nearly fully cooked add white wine!. At the very end of the cooking process add the 1/3 cup of brandy!. Cook off the alochol, approximately 3 minutes!.
Add the cooked and drained fettucini to the dish to heat through!.
Presentation; Place the entire dish into a pasta bowl!. Drizzle 1 tbsp!. olive oil over dish and sprinkle with fresh grated parmesean cheese!.
Notes
To put a special twist on the presentation, top with 2 thinly sliced pieces of lemon and a sprig of italian parsley!.
===========Www@FoodAQ@Com
Pesto stuffed Chicken!.
1 chicken breast per person
2 slices parma ham per breast
Pesto
Cream cheese
Start by pre-heating the oven to 200?!.
Prepare chicken by making a 'pocket' in the side of the breast, by using a very sharp knife and just slicing half-way through the meat!. Into this pocket, spread a desertspoon of pesto and a desertspoon of cream cheese!. Wrap up the chicken breast in the ham, making sure to cover the opening of the pocket, and lay on a very lightly oiled baking tray!. Brush with a little oil and pop in the oven for 15 minutes!.
Chicken Corden Blue
1 (8 oz!.) chicken breast, boneless & skinless
3 tbsp!. flour
3 tbsp!. egg wash
3 tbsp!. bread crumbs
2 oz!. slice of Swiss cheese
2 oz!. slice of ham
Trim all fat from chicken!. Lay Swiss cheese and ham slices on top of each other and roll together!. Lay chicken breast flat and place cheese and ham roll inside!. Roll chicken around the ham and cheese and freeze!. Once frozen, dredge in flour, egg and bread crumbs!. Deep fry until golden brown!. Finish baking in oven!.
Here are recipes for what I think is a good traditional dinner!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
1 chicken breast per person
2 slices parma ham per breast
Pesto
Cream cheese
Start by pre-heating the oven to 200?!.
Prepare chicken by making a 'pocket' in the side of the breast, by using a very sharp knife and just slicing half-way through the meat!. Into this pocket, spread a desertspoon of pesto and a desertspoon of cream cheese!. Wrap up the chicken breast in the ham, making sure to cover the opening of the pocket, and lay on a very lightly oiled baking tray!. Brush with a little oil and pop in the oven for 15 minutes!.
Chicken Corden Blue
1 (8 oz!.) chicken breast, boneless & skinless
3 tbsp!. flour
3 tbsp!. egg wash
3 tbsp!. bread crumbs
2 oz!. slice of Swiss cheese
2 oz!. slice of ham
Trim all fat from chicken!. Lay Swiss cheese and ham slices on top of each other and roll together!. Lay chicken breast flat and place cheese and ham roll inside!. Roll chicken around the ham and cheese and freeze!. Once frozen, dredge in flour, egg and bread crumbs!. Deep fry until golden brown!. Finish baking in oven!.
Here are recipes for what I think is a good traditional dinner!.Www@FoodAQ@Com