Is this a good idea? just look at the question, its easy. (Cooking)?!
appetizer- bread sticks
main dish - vegetarian lasagna
salad- Caesar salad
Side Dish- Pasta Salad
Dessert- Brownies?
Answers:
One thing I would change. The dessert. Check out your local bakery for some Cannoli. They are in expensive and are super delicious. If you havent tried them, it is an italian puff pastry shell with a cream filling with chocolate chips and powdered sugar on the outside. Or you can find some simple cream puffs. You can usually find these in the frozen dessert section. Brownies are ok.. but it doesnt seem like it flows with the dinner. You need something italian and decadent. I included a link in case you want to make the cannoli.
http://www.cooks.com/rec/view/0,1913,155…
Be careful of the Caesar salad. It isn't acceptable for vegetarians, as the dressing (unless specifically labeled as veg) contains anchovies, often bin the form of Worcestershire sauce.
I would replace the pasta salad with some veggies if you don't have any in your lasagna.
Breadsticks/garlic bread, a regular salad with Italian/Caprese salad, and a loaded lasagna should be plenty.fresh fruit salad or gelato would make a nice dessert.
Yeah that's fine for a simple/casual dinner.
I'd change the dessert to something more Italian- cannolis, gelato, italian ice, or panforte (a spiced nut cake, which is super yummy!). You can probably buy gelato or italian ice, so even if you don't have any more time/skill, it should be ok. They sell easy cannoli kits, too, though I dunno if you could find a rennet-free ricotta cheese.
Oh, and have that yummy olive oil & herby thing that restuarants always have for the breadsticks :) mmmm
I think bread sticks, lasagna, and pasta salad might be a bit much. Maybe do roasted Mediterranean veggies as a side instead? I love brownies. Top them with whipped topping and berries or orange drizzle for something fancier.
EDIT: Ooh, I just read that it's supposed to be Italian. In that case, you HAVE to do tiramisu as a dessert. If you're trying to do a vegan menu, here are two great recipes:
http://marykillmon.blogspot.com/2009/07/…
http://www.chefchloe.com/blog/2/16-new-w…
Consuming dairy is supporting animal exploitation. Go vegan.
Plenty of recipes at these online sites:
fatfreevegan.com
drmcdougall.com
pcrm.org
Books:
McDougall Quick and Easy Cookbook
The Conscious Cook: Delicious Meatless Recipes That Will Change the Way You Eat
The Vegan Table: 200 Unforgettable Recipes for Entertaining Every Guest at Every Occasion
That's alot of food! Veggie lasagna is super filling no matter how you make it (or just bake it lol). I would go with something lighter as a side. I don't know what that could be....fruit salad or something with artichokes or fried eggplant bites...IDK.
I'm a fan of the brownies.lol
Sounds wonderful! As for the dessert, as much as I do love brownies, you might want to go with something a little bit lighter after the heavy (albeit delicious) meal that precedes it. And maybe for the side dish try grilled zucchini and bell peppers.
yummmyy.
for desert do like a pie or somethingg. i don't know something more homemade. it's like you have an orginal dinner, then generic brownies. just google easy deserts.
i think instead of a pasta salad, serve a simple green herb salad drizzled with a nice vinegarette and instead of brownies, maybe a nice quality vanilla ice cream with homemade choc sauce.
Everything sounds delish except for the dessert. Brownies are great, but for an Italian theme and trying to mix with all of those others? I am not sure if brownies are the best idea. Have fun cooking!
Sounds good. Love to cook? You should check out my new articles at http://contributor.yahoo.com/user/934610… for some of my favorite recipes.
hmm... well if your making a vegetarian themed dinner and for dessert you want brownies. how about just making a carrot cake instead...
I agree that brownies aren't really Italian and that having lasagna and pasta salad would be too much pasta.
Lasagna with a side of pasta salad? Thats to much pasta. You could use a non starchy hot veg instead.
That dinner sounds good but, you should change the desert to a kind of pie. Maybe apple or coconut cream.
I think it may be a little starch-heavy but all the courses look delicious individually.
The caesar salad doesn't really go...I would do a salad with a vinaigrette dressing....more Italian.
You don't need more pasta as a side dish. I would go for a hot vegetable; something like sauteed spinach?
Can I come Over???? :)
Sounds good!