Recipe: Inexpensive Dinner Party Ideas for Casey, AUS

Dear Casey,

Is chicken inexpensive in Australia? It is here, so if the same is true "Down Under" you could make coq au vin. It's a dish that simply cooks in a pot, so you don't have to do a lot of sauteeing, saucing, etc. Let me know if you want a recipe.

Also, cuts of beef that must be braised are often economical. You could do a beef bourgignonne. It is also a dish that kind of cooks itself so you're not standing over a stove.

You could start your meal with a salad -- that's always easy. The lettuce can be washed and torn up the day before. Store it wrapped in a clean towel or paper towels in a plastic bag. Your dressing can be made several days ahead and stored in the refrigerator.

You can make a soup course and freeze it until the day of the dinner. Vegetable barley soup or french onion soup should work for your vegetarian friend. Barley is very economical.

I would normally serve coq au vin or beef bourgignonne with pasta. But you asked for easy and pasta has to be cooked and drained and served quickly while it is still warm. Therefore: baked potatoes. You will have no pot to wash and potatoes go with just about everything. Although there are vegetables in both of these dishes, you may want to make a vegetable medley. I have a dish called "confetti vegetables" which I will post for you if you are interested.

Is your friend vegan or does he/she eat milk, butter, cheese and eggs?

Many desserts can be made ahead and frozen. One very simple thing to do (that always works) is to make profiteroles. Use a cream puff shell recipe (pate a choux). Make the shells on the morning of your party. At dessert time, cut open the shells horizontally, remove a little of the tender inside (and snack on it while you are doing this!), place a scoop of high quality ice cream inside, replace the top and pour chocolate or raspberry syrup over.

I'll be very happy to post any and all recipes if any of this sounds interesting to you.

Bon Appetit!

Marilyn