what is something really good, possibly slightly simple, sides included, to make for dinner?!

Crystal, this maybe a little on the expensive side, but why not do like a surf and turf idea. Instead of steak, do a rib roast, in place of lobster, you could do scollop's and scampi. I would do away with a starter, if anything I would do a salad for starters if you have to. as a side, you can have the rice pilaf or the double baked potato, or mashed potato and another side of mashed sweet potato. For the green, sauteed swiss chard in a little olive oil and garlic, I also add from a small can of peeled tomatoes, two well chopped tomatoes, approximately 1/2 a teaspoon of sea salt to start and the same in freshly ground black pepper. Remember the Chard will wilt down a great deal, so consider two bunches if small..

If he is a wine drinker, I would go for the Portuguese Rose' Mattause. The desert, we not long ago had that Presidents Choice Red Velvet Cheesecake, I have to say it was extremely good for them.

Then relax in the living room with again a nice Portuguese Port, or Brandy with an espresso or cup of peculated coffee.

shrimp alfredo with broccoli. Fettuccine noodles are easy to cook, just follow instructions. You can get a jar of Ragú alfredo. You can buy the already cooked shrimp. On a pan put a little bit of butter, then add the shrimp, with some garlic powder, black pepper, salt, and cumin, this should take like 3 minutes with the already cooked shrimp. Now you add the alfredo sauce and some broccoli (that you can get frozen then put in the microwave to soften).

For the sides you can get some salad that comes in bags :P or make some garlic bread, just put some butter and garlic on a bread and stick that in the oven, you can also add a piece of ham and oregano, maybe cheese.

For dessert I love tiramisu. You can buy that if you find any, or a cheese cake with some whip cream and fudge?

Shrimp, Okra and Andouille Sausage Gumbo

1/2 cup vegetable oil
1/2 cup all purpose flour
4 celery stalks, coarsely chopped
2 medium onions, coarsely chopped
2 green bell peppers, chopped
2 bay leaves
2 teaspoons salt
2 teaspoons dried oregano, crumbled
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/2 teaspoon bayou cajun seasoning
5 (8 ounce) bottles clam juice
1 can (28 ounces) plum tomatoes, drained and chopped
1 pound smoked andouille or kielbasa sausage, halved lengthwise then sliced 1/4
inch thick
1/2 pound okra, trimmed and cut crosswise into 1/4-inch-thick slices
2 pounds uncooked medium shrimp, peeled and deveined
1 small can lumped crab meat drained

freshly cooked long-grain rice
2 tomatoes, seeded and diced

Prep:
Heat oil in a heavy large Dutch oven over high heat until almost smoking. Add
flour and stir until dark brown and fragrant, about 8 minutes. Immediately add
celery, onions and bell peppers. Cook 5 minutes, stirring and scraping bottom of
pan often.

for desert ~~

CARROT CAKE
325F oven 10 inch Bundt pan, thoroughly oiled

Blend:
1 and 1/2 cup vegetable oil
2 cups sugar

Add, one at a time, and beat till light yellow:
4 eggs

Mix together:
2 cups flour
2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
1 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp nutmeg

Mix egg mixture and flour mixture together

Stir in:
3 cups grated carrots(3 to 4 carrots)
1 cup walnuts or pecans

Bake 1 and 1/4 hour, cool before removing from pan



FROSTING:
3 cups powdered sugar
2 tablespoons butter or margarine - softened
1 teaspoon vanilla
8 ounces cream cheese - softened
1 tablespoon milk or cream


Mix in bay leaves, salt, oregano and cayenne. Add clam juice, canned tomatoes
and sausage. Boil 15 minutes. Add okra, reduce heat and simmer until okra is
tender, about 15 minutes

Add shrimp to gumbo and simmer until just cooked through, about 3 minutes. Mound
rice in soup bowls. Ladle gumbo over. Garnish with tomatoes.

satay salmon, just put a bit oil on the skinless salmon, with a bit walter, put on medium heat, wait until all salmon from reddish pink to light pink, take it out the pan, put a bit hot sauce oil , and salt and paper fresh mint, done, make some mash potatoes, on the side, sprinkle some diced onions on top, done.. nice seafood meal your brother will appreciate ..

You can do a nice salad and seafood pot pie. For dessert think a citrus based dessert matches well. try lemon lime tart, or a limoncello cake, tart or pie.