What can i cook that is easy but impressive?!


Question: What can i cook that is easy but impressive!?
Answers:
I am wondering who you are cooking for!. What type of person are they!? Those are the questions I ask myself when I prepare a meal for someone!. My suggestions may be long, but that's mostly because I'm long winded - us Texans generally are!. :)
also I don't know what you are familiar with so both of my recipes involve cooking in the oven, which is a bit more forgiving than cooking on stove top and also infuses more flavor when cooking meats!.

When I cook for the guys, and they like a hearty meal, but I want to deliver something that they probably aren't used to, here is what I do:
I also make this dish I make for the Ronald MacDonald house and I can make a little of or a lot of and it receives rave reviews EVERY time!

Here is what you'll need:
a whole cut up chicken!. (don't mess with a whole chicken - it's a pain in the butt to cut up)
Extra Virgin Olive Oil
new potatoes (the small red potato kind)
pearl onions (the little ones)
carrots (already peeled and washed in the bag)
2 lemons quartered
Herb de provence (this is a herb mixture you can get at just about any sizable grocery store - it's awesome!)

Here you go!.!.!.
Rub the chicken down with the olive oil
Squeeze 1/2 a lemons' worth of juice on the chicken
sprinkle some salt and pepper (not too much)
sprinkle the herb de provence liberally all over the chicken) take those veggies (and remaining lemon quarters), toss in olive oil, salt, pepper, and herb de provence,Put it in the oven at about 350-375 for about 45 min!. The veggies will roast in the olive oil juice from the chicken!. Holy cow I'm starving already!!

If you can get some fresh rosemary from the store, cut a few sprigs and garnish with it!. It's very aromatic and looks fancy
I can promise you, that the result will be a super flavorful, succulent chicken and vegetables that will have your guest washing your dishes!

This is something I'll cook during the week, when it's been hot and we want something light and refreshing!.!.!. It's healthy, but if you don't tell anyone, they'll havee NO IDEA because it tastes so dang good!. (well I would call dessert exactly healthy!.!.!. :o)

First course: A Salad of Many Colors (Named by myself)
Here's what ya need:
A package of already mixed salad - like a spring variety,
package of strawberries
package of chopped walnuts
grape tomatoes
feta cheese
raspberry vinaigrette dressing (any brand)

chop your strawberries, throw it all together and BAM (sorry Emeril) you have an awesome salad (just make sure no one is allergic to nuts)

Main course (2nd): Rosemary-lemon-caper salmon
a good filet of salmon - preferable wild - not farm raised, but that will do!.
Rosemary (or Herb de provence)
Lemons
capers ( you get them in the pickle section)

Rub the salmon with some olive oil, salt, cracked pepper, sprinkle rosemary on it or even place an entire rosemary sprig on it if you wanna get fancy)
Slice lemons, place on top
Sprinkle some capers on top

bake at 325-350 for about 30-45 minutes, but this really depends on how thick your filets are!.

3rd course: Dessert:
Ingredients:
Buy some of those little strawberry shortcake cakes already packaged
Package of Blackberries (preferably over blue berries
Condensed milk (not evaporated)
Container of Cool-Whip

Directions:
Get extra wine glasses if you have them or if you can borrow them, crumble a little of the cake in the bottom, put some blackberries on next, pour condensed milk on top, finish with whipped cream and a few blackberries on top!. (if you have large wine glasses you can layer this)
I learned this one in Brazil and my friends here LOVE IT!

Hope you like and even if this isn't the best answer you should still try them - their great recipes!! :)

Good luck in your cooking adventure and remember - don't stress out enjoy what you are doing for your friends - sounds fruity and I am purely heterosexual, but I find great joy in preparing good meals for my friends!. so be sure to enjoy the joy you will bring your guests!

p!.s!. if you can't get salmon or its too expensive just about any whitefish will do!.
p!.s!.s If you are in the south and want to do a fried catfish that will drive your guests insane - drop me an email!.!.its not hard, but it is frying!.Www@FoodAQ@Com

Anything Italian!.!.!.I'll give you my baked ziti recipe and my chicken parmesan recipe!. Both are extremely easy, and very impressive!.


Baked Ziti

1 box of ziti noodles
1 container of ricotta cheese
1 jar of your favorite tomatoe sauce
2 cups of shredded mozerella cheese
Italian seasoning
Salt
Pepper

Preheat oven to 375!. Bring some water to a boil in a pot large enough to cook the entire box of ziti noodles!. When the water starts to boil, add a palmful of salt and a tablespoon or two of olive oil to the water!. Dump in ziti noodles when the water reaches a boil - cook noodles according to the directions on the box!.

While the noodles are boiling, mix the container of ricotta cheese with 1tsp of salt and 1tsp of pepper, along with 1tbsp of italian seasoning!. Add salt and pepper if the mixture is bland!.

Drain ziti noodles after they have been cooked, and put them into a large casserole dish!. Mix the ricotta cheese mixture with the ziti noodles!. Spread throughout the noodles as evenly as possible and then pour about 1 cup of your favorite tomatoe sauce over the noodles and mix in!. They should now look like a pinkish color!. Spread about a half a cup more of the sauce on the top of the ziti, and sprinkle with the 2 cups of mozerella cheese!. Bake in the oven until the cheese is melted and golden brown!. Serve with garlic bread and a side salad!.

Chicken Parmesan

4 chicken breasts
2 cups italian style breadcrumbs
2 eggs
1 box of angel hair pasta
1 jar of favorite tomatoe sauce
1 cup of mozerella cheese
1/2 cup of parmesan cheese
4 tbsp of olive oil

Preheat oven to 375!. Make sure the chicken breast is completely defrosted before making!. Take each chicken breast and dry off with a paper towel!. Beat the two eggs in a bowl together with about 2 tbsp of water!. Spread the breadcrumbs onto a plate!. Put a frying pan over medium-high heat with about 3tbsp of olive oil in it!.

Take each chicken breast and dip in the egg mixture to coat!. Then dip each chicken breast in the breadcrumb mixture to coat!. Place in the frying pan and fry until golden brown on both sides (do not overcrowd the pan with chicken, as it will take a much longer time to cook that way)!. Place the chicken onto a baking sheet!. Spoon 2-3 tbsp of sauce onto each chicken breast!. Sprinkle each chicken breast with the mozerella cheese - divide cheese evenly between all of the chicken!. Sprinkle the parmesan cheese onto the chicken, after the mozerella - divide cheese evenly between all of the chicken!. Bake at 375 for 10-15 minutes!. While chicken is baking, bring some water to a boil (water should contain a palmful of salt and some oil)!. Add angel hair and cook to directions on package!.

To serve: Place a generous amount of angel hair pasta onto the plate!. Place the chicken breast on top of the angel hair!. Serve with garlic bread and a small salad!.Www@FoodAQ@Com

COPPER MOUNTAIN QUICHE


1/2 cup Butter
4 oz!. Cream Cheese
1 cup + 2 Tbs!. All-purpose Flour (divided)
10-oz package frozen Chopped Spinach
1 cup Cheddar Cheese, grated
1 cup Swiss Cheese, grated
3 whole Eggs, lightly beaten
1/2 cup Mayonnaise
1/2 cup Milk
1/2 jar Bacon Bits OR 10 slices Bacon, crisply cooked and crumbled
8 oz!. fresh Mushrooms, sliced
1 bunch Green Onions or Scallions, trimmed and sliced

Combine the butter, cream cheese, and 1 cup of the flour in a small bowl!. Mix with a pastry blender or fork, cutting the butter and cream cheese into the flour until a consistently crumbly mixture is formed!.

Place the flour mixture in a 10" pie plate or quiche pan, and press evenly to form a crust!. Refrigerate!. Pre-heat the oven to 350°F!.

Cook the spinach in a pot of lightly salted boiling water, drain well, and chop!. Drain the spinach again on paper towels to remove all excess moisture!.

In a large bowl, combine the spinach with the two tablespoons flour!. Add the cheddar and Swiss cheeses, eggs, mayonnaise, milk, bacon bits or crumbled bacon, mushrooms, and green onions!.

Pour the mixture into the chilled pastry shell and bake for 1 hour, or until set!. Serve warm!.Www@FoodAQ@Com

I reckon that this one gives the most luxurious result (I mean, smoked salmon & cream) for the least effort!. And it's even got an Italian name!.

SMOKED SALMON TAGLIATELLE (TAGLIATELLE AL SALMONE AFFUMICATO)

Serves 2

INGREDIENTS

125g pack of smoked salmon
2 cloves of garlic
1 onion
1 tablespoon of olive oil
1 tablespoon of flour
150ml carton of single cream
1 teaspoon of mixed herbs
At least 300ml of water
? of a teaspoon of salt
200g of tagliatelle
Ground pepper to taste

METHOD

Cut the smoked salmon into 2cm (1 inch) pieces!. Peel the garlic and chop it into tiny pieces!. Peel the onion and chop it into tiny pieces!.

Put the oil into a frying pan on a medium heat!. Add the onion and garlic!. Cook for a couple of minutes until the onion has gone soft!. Stir frequently to stop it sticking!. Add the flour and stir until it has absorbed the oil and juices in the pan!. Add the cream, herbs and smoked salmon!. Stir and cook for about a minute until it has made a smooth sauce!.

Put the water and salt into a saucepan on a medium heat!. Bring to the boil!. Add the pasta!. Stir it to stop it sticking to the bottom of the pan!. Bring back to the boil and continue to cook!. Stir frequently to stop it sticking!.

Begin testing it about 2 minutes before the packet instructions say it should be done!. The best way to judge if pasta is cooked is to bite it!. This is tricky, because if you fish out a bit and stick in your mouth you may burn your mouth on the boiling water!. Wait a bit and blow on it, then bite it!. If it is hard it needs longer!. If it is chewy (or al dente, Italian for "to the teeth") it is ready!. If it is soft it is overcooked!.

Drain the pasta in a sieve or colander!.

Always “take the pasta to the sauce”!. Put the pasta in the pan with the sauce and stir together until thoroughly coated!.

Season with the pepper!.

ADDITIONS & ALTERATIONS

Use crème fra?che instead of the cream!. The half cream, half green mixed tagliatelle looks really good with this sauce!.

TIPS

If you use enough water, add the pasta when the water is boiling, stir the pasta frequently and don’t wander off (Gli spaghetti amano la compagnia, spaghetti loves company) and don’t overcook it, adding olive oil to the water to stop it sticking is totally unnecessary!.Www@FoodAQ@Com

Golden Pelican Feast

2 tablespoons of crushed wheats
2 teaspoons of ebony sugar
1 teaspoon of cinnamon
1 crushed garlic toe
1 tablespoon of peppered olive oil or oil of yak
1 cut onion
8 pelican thighs
2 cups of pelican broth
12 whole dried figs, chopped finely
2 tablespoons of fresh cilantro

In a small bowl combine dry ingediants!. Heat oil in a large pot and add onions, cooking until golden!. Add dry mixture and stir until combined and spices are moist, adding a tablespoon of water at this point if necessary!. Add pelican thighs, stirring to coat!. Add broth and figs!. Bring to a boil and then simmer for 20-25 minutes, stirring occasionally!. Serve with couscous or fermented lima bean!.Www@FoodAQ@Com

You should cook roast pigeon with a red wine and parsley sauce!.
Served with caramalised peppers stuffed with egg fried rice and peas and sweetcorn

For pudding Serve a light souffle made with Dark, milk and white chocolate in layers!. It should be covered in white chocolate cream sauce and served with a fan shape of strawberries!.

Serve with champagne and a WKDWww@FoodAQ@Com

twice baked potatoes!.!.

bake (in the microwave is fine) as many potatoes as desired
after cooling slightly, cut in half lengthwise
scoop out center
make mashed potatoes with the scooped centers and the following:
butter
milk
cheese of your choice (I like shredded sharp cheddar)
bacon bits (real ones NOT bacos)
either fresh chives or those french fried onion things you make the green bean casserole with

scoop the mixture back into the potato skins, top with a little more cheese and broil to warm before serving!. serve with sour cream

tips - I like to prep these the day before so that they only need to be reheated!. I also like to mash at least one extra potato more than I am stuffing to ensure there is plenty of potato to fill with

serve with any kind of meat and a nice saladWww@FoodAQ@Com

Roast a chicken!. It always looks like it took ages, but it takes little to no prep!. You can roast them with a variety of things to add flavour, like sliced lemons and thyme sprigs, or large chunks of sweet potato!. Get creative with spices and herbs and come up with your own signature rub!.Www@FoodAQ@Com

Here's an impressive meal that I've used before!. The recipes come from Southern Living!. I've included the web site!.

Bacon Wrapped Pork Tenderloin -
Creamy Cheese Grits and Spinach-
Sauteed Brown Sugar Pear dessertWww@FoodAQ@Com

fettucine alfredo


Boil fettucine noodles!.!.!.!.al dente!.

Melt a stick of butter!.!.!.NOT margarine!.!.!.>REAL butter!.

Add a cup of cream!.!.!.NOT MILK!.!.!.!.!.Let it simmer a few minutes!. Add the noodles and get it hot!.

Stir in a cup or so of grated Parmesan cheese,,,,a good kind!.!.!.!.not the kind in the green can!.

Serve!.!.!.!.!.
Snip some chives on top!.Www@FoodAQ@Com

Any pasta!. Just cook a bag of pasta!. Pour one of those ready made sauces (remember to add some sliced sausages or meatballs that you can buy also) and you're good to go!. I know I impressed people before with this cooking lol!.Www@FoodAQ@Com

Lasagna!? Easy to make and to cheat you can buy the sauces!. Serve with a nice crisp salad and garlic bread!.!.!.Www@FoodAQ@Com

anything with tons of melted cheese the kind that turns golden brown in oven!.over veggies or potatoesWww@FoodAQ@Com

try a bean feast!.!.!.very delicious and filling and also cheap for a big family , looks good too :)Www@FoodAQ@Com

pastaWww@FoodAQ@Com





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