What can I cook to impress someone, but not mess up terribly?!
What can I cook to impress someone, but not mess up terribly?
Answers:
Cheese enchiladas! This is how I make them and it always turns out great!
1 doz of flour tortillas
1 lg can of med/hot "las palmas" enchilada sauce
2 bags of shredded yellow/white cheese
1 med can of cottage cheese
1 or 2 sm tomatoes, diced
5 green onions, chopped
salt and pepper, to taste
garlic, to taste
chille powder to taste
Mix all ingredients, save 1 bag of cheese and sauce 'til later
stuff tortillas with mixture and place tightly on a 9x13" pan
cover with sauce and remaining cheese
bake at 400 degrees F for 20 minutes. Enjoy!
Mrs. T's frozen perogies.
4 bonless skinless chicken breast sliced in half to make smaller
1 onion thin sliced
2 cloves garlic minced
1 can mushrooms drained
1/4 cup red wine or red cooking wine
1 jar spagetti sauce
1 pnd cooked angel hair pasta
cook pasta according to direction
In skillet brown chicken in oil then add onion and cook till soft add the garlic and red wine and cook 4 minutes then add sauce and cook till heated through serve over pasta and top with parm. cheese serve with Italian bread and a nice salad
Enjoy hope this helps
Order take out and put it in a skillet, pot, whatever looks legit for the dish and destroy the evidence (bring the styrofoam out to a dumpster if you have to.
If he asks about the recipe, just say it's an old family recipe that you promised your Grandma that you would never give it away to any "outsiders" lol
Good luck!
Don't try to go overboard, and pick a menu that you can handle, like a fresh tossed salad, baked chicken with some cheesy garlic bread, and pudding with fresh sliced strawberries and a touch of whipped cream on top.
For the chicken, marinate it overnight so that it is tasty and juicy. Italian dressing as a marinade is surprisingly good, but you can use whatever you like.
Make sure the dinner is filling enough, but don't over do it because guests will feel compelled to try a little of everything, or eat everything on their plate so that they don't appear rude. A starter salad, a main dish (like chicken) with a small, simple side (like bread or rice), and a yummy slightly healthy dessert (strawberries, and homemade pudding = fruit and dairy, lol, with just enough sweetness) should come out great, and not have you in the kitchen for 5 hours before your guests arrive.
Mac & Cheese
Roast beef. It will never over cook in a crock pot and a pressure cooker will help you cook it to perfection. If you cook it in a crock pot, pour some tomato juice on it and leave it cook all day. Roast beef, potatoes, and carrots is a good, fancy meal that cooks well in a pressure cooker.
Nothing is easier than pasta and if you don't want to go crazy searching for odd ingredients try one of these:
Boil some penne pasta. When it's done--keep checking it, don't overboil it--drain it, then mix in about half a container of ricotta cheese seasoned with salt/pepper, herbs if you like (basil/oregano), and a little of your favorite warmed up pasta sauce. Throw some herbs on top and you're done. It takes 15 mins and tastes like an expensive meal. And if you really want to impress someone---bring a handheld cheese grater and some parmesan to the table and grate the cheese over the dish for them.
A healthier option is to make your favorite shaped pasta (regular or whole wheat) and grill or roast or boil your favorite veggies. Toss the veggies with the pasta, add some fresh herbs, a little olive oil, some lemon juice (just squeeze a lemon into the bowl), salt/pepper--and whatever else you like. Top with some grated parmesan and you're done.
And no matter what you cook or how it turns out--NEVER apologize for it not being perfect. The person you cook for will be thrilled you took the time and has NO idea how you intended it to come out--for all they know your biggest "mess up" might be how it was supposed to turn out.
have fun
a Lasagna is really easy to build. Just cook the meat, al dente the noodles, add sauce. Any lasagna noodles package will have the recipe on it.
Throw a nice green salad out of the bag and its a pretty filling meal.
Here's a whole menu for you that's fairly easy.
Semi-Homemade Cooking with Sandra Lee
Episode SH0808
Caribbean
Kick off the flip-flops for this breezy Caribbean menu. Sandra makes Jamaican Chicken Breasts with sweet pineapple and jerk seasonings and serves her Best Black Beans on the side. For dessert, Island Bread pudding made with sweet Hawaiian bread and tropical flavors.
Recipes
Green Salad with Dressing
Best Black Beans
Island Chicken
Island Bread Pudding
Flirtini
http://www.foodnetwork.com/food/show_sh/...
You don't say what you need to cook, so I'm not going to suggest a particular dish or meal. After all, if you're serving brunch, it won't do any good if I give you a cake recipe, and if you need a cake, Eggs Benedict won't do!
In general, though, if you're looking to impress someone with your cooking, the best thing to do is to pick something you already know how to make well and do that as well as you can. If what you're really great at is scrambled eggs or tuna noodle casserole, do that. Better to serve something basic but done really well than to burn chicken cordon bleu.
Serve the food on the nicest plates you've got available, and smile. Pretty presentation always impresses, and a good attitude will carry you a long way.
Good luck, and bon appetite!