My husband has asked a few of his junior colleagues round for a meal on Sat night. I want this to be as informal as possible but preferably seated for a meal rather than a buffet-style affair. There will be a mixture of meat eaters and vegetarians and no's (to be confirmed) will be between 10 and 14 (anyone got any spare chairs??)
So far I can only think as far as possibly lasagne, salad, garlic bread type thing or a thai curry that I have a great recipe for. Not sure I will do a starter but really need some ideas for main course and pud---ASAP PLEEEEEASE

For minimum effort and maximum impact, you can't beat Pavlova for dessert. Takes 10 minutes to whip together and stick in the oven (the day before) and then 10 minutes to whip some cream and throw some fruit on when you need it. People think you've slaved for hours and fall on it like wolves.

This recipe works well for a chewy, marshmallowy lump of fabulousness. I normally do 6 eggs and 1.5 times the other ingredients if I'm doing a big one for a party.

Nigella would say don't use anything but passionfruit, but I usually use raspberries as I think anyone will eat those and some might be put off by the passionfruit. I usually drizzle a bit of dark chocolate sauce over the raspberries.

M.

I can help with an idea for a pudding, it's the easiest pudding in the world to make and it never fails to impress anyone who comes to dinner.:)

Key Lime Pie

6 limes, 1 pint of double cream, 1 tin of condensed milk, digestive biscuits (i use the choc chip ones) and a good knob of butter probably about 50g. You also need one of those cake tins that the bottom can be pushed out of.

Crush up about half a packet of the digestives (1/2 a big pack), melt the butter and add the crushed biscuits then spoon into the cake tin and line the bottom with it, put in fridge to chill for about 10mins.

Juice all the limes and add the full tin of condensed milk and the cream, stir it until it thickens (it doesn't look as if it will thicken at first but believe me it does), pour mixture on top of the biscuit base and put in the fridge for at least an hour. Push it out of the cake tin, cut into slivers and serve. The above recipe in a large cake tin serves at least 8 - 10.

Good luck with your dinner party whatever you serve, your a braver girl than I am to do dinner for that many people.:)

Chilli con Carne-easy peasy.
Could you use Quorn mince and do a veggie version too?

If you want to do Chili con/non carne but don't want to use Quorn or similar, I have a nice lentil based recipe which always goes down well with meat eaters and veggies alike.  Dead easy :-)

Easy casual food idea:

Several roast chickens (always looks like you've pushed the boat out I once did 6!), tray of baked potatoes, salads.  Add Nigella recipe for very garlic(ky) greek yoghurt, spring onion and chilli thing - goes perfectly with pots and chicken.  Big tray of roast peppers with red onions.  Can add an additional spicy bean or lentil dish to give vegies more options.

Makes sense to do only one meal with dishes people can subtract for vege option rather than several different meals on the table.  Go for the 'feast' look with simple food piled high for a more informal 'just dig in' approach rather than the hostess serving route.

Can't beat a great pavlova but if you are worried about making one, most 'farm shops' have a range of 'homemade' pav bases and also have frozen berries that you can heap in the middle.  Local ice cream too
If you aren't doing a starter, another option is to finish with cheese and biscuits and heaps of unusual fruit to go with it like chinese gooseberries, lychees, and kiwi as well as the more common apples and pears.  I usually do a couple of puds like Tarte au Citron, something chocolate, and cheese - covers everyone - and I find that lots of men would rather eat cheese.  It also keep people at the table longer if you don't have much alternative seating and 'pass the cheese', or 'yuk, goats cheese' keeps the conversation flowing!!

How about mexican?  you could do both meat & veggie fajitas, enchiladas or tacos, serve them with some spicy rice & a nice salad, so easy to adapt for meat eaters & veggies!  You could also maybe make some margaritas.  The key lime pie someone else suggested would go well with mexican!

Thanks for all the great suggestions so far!
Woke up this morning thinking I'm not going to worry about this!
I have an Italianish theme in mind --may do antipasti, - veggie platter and meat platter as that can all be done well in advance. Then a big, bubbly traditional meat lasagne and a more unusual, exotic vegetarian lasagne, served with a green salad and tomato and basil salad and lots of garlic bread.
Not sure about puds yet but think I will give the pavlova a go as I can do it the day before, so if it's a disaster then I've got time to do something else.
Do you think choice of 2 puds is best or pavlova and/or cheese, crackers and fruit etc ?
And of course---all washed down with some nice Italian wine followed by some limoncello liquer--Yum

Agrred with pavlova but how about fajitas for main course, you can do the dips seperate gugamole, sour cream & chives and salsa. Do the chicken in one pan and a mixture of peppers, mushrooms & oninions in another which will suit veggies & non veggies, plus grated cheese and a side salad easy peasy.
Or baked fruit - take melon, strawberries, banana, apple anything you can fibd, sprinkle with sugar and bake for about 4/5 mins (in a hot oven) serve with cream or mascapone mixed with a tablespoon of vanilla sugar (its a Jamie oliver and great). Only takes a few mins in the oven with the fajita wraps.

Room for one more?
It sounds delicious :-)

I often do pavlova's for pudding at dinner parties as they are so easy and delicious.
I'd say yes to cheese and crackers if you don't mind the cost. I love to finish a meal with cheese and biscuits and it's always a bit of a treat.
Bon appetite!

Lots of lovely ideas here.

When you do the Pavlova, don't spread it out too thinly - keep it piled up a few inches high so it stays chewy. Oh, and don't worry if the middle has collapsed when you open the oven in the morning. Just makes a handier 'nest' for the cream and fruit.

M.

tapas is always a faveraite in my house.