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Post by lesfire on Feb 4, 2005 22:09:14 GMT -5
My aunt and my sis's birthday's are both this next week, so I am going to invite them over for presents and dinner sunday. What do you think I should serve? My options that I have on hand are a turkey, a corned beef brisket, Ocean whiting fillets, or some type of ham casserole or ham quiche?  I would do the traditional sides with the corned beef and turkey. With the whiting I would probably grill the fish and serve with baked potatos and mixed steamed veggies or maybe salad? Or should I buy some steaks or shrimp or something? What do you guys think? |
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Post by Chrisnstar on Feb 4, 2005 22:20:17 GMT -5
Hmmmmm... well, I would like any of the above! ;D
Guess I'm not much help! I loff grilled fish and steamed veggies...
But I also loff corned beef and cabbage and potatoes and carrots... hmmmm...
chris
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Post by Sheryl on Feb 4, 2005 22:46:10 GMT -5
First choice is something they really like, a favorite. Second choice would be something that "presents well" - you know, looks dramatic.
Whatever you choose, it is nice to serve an attractive salad (like baby colorful greens or a well made cesaur) or a well presented, unusal soup. We did a cold weather meal recently - pumpkin soup (from Trader Joe's out of a box) topped with diced chives and croutons as the first course. Main course was roast beef (crock pot, wonderfully tender) served with garlic mashed potatos and green beans with almonds and honey ginger carrots (we often do two vegetables due to picky veggie eaters).
Here is how to make awesome roast beef in a crock pot. Start with a FROZEN CHUCK roast (very important to be a FROZEN CHUCK), season well with something with a little kick. We use Emeril's seasoning, but really anything will do. Put a little water in the bottom of a crock pot (or beef or vegetable broth if you prefer). Cook on low all day and you will have that wonderful tender, fall apart roast.
Mostly, have fun!
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Post by lesfire on Feb 4, 2005 22:59:57 GMT -5
LOL I would be hard pressed to find a favorite that they both agree on and besides they both like everything pretty much. I'm leaning towards the whiting just because it would be so easy to fix and somewhat "elegant". I like to do elegant for someone's birthday. I don't know though, for a crowd it is hard to beat a turkey dinner. Steaks would be perfect but I don't have any and beef is so expensive right now. I may splurge though and just consider it part of their gift.
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Post by Chrisnstar on Feb 4, 2005 23:55:46 GMT -5
My suggestion is to cook whatever you feel comfortable preparing and know you can do well. Maybe make the turkey and then go all out for a special dessert...
chris
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Post by Mary Ann on Feb 5, 2005 9:26:52 GMT -5
Do the whiting, and instead of going out for dessert, make individual Baked Alaskas. They're so easy, and can be prepared the day before. You take a layer of cake (yellow or chocolate, as you think they'll like) and top it with a premium ice cream. Cover the tops and sides all the way to the bottom with beaten sweetened egg whites (beat until they peak). Freeze on a cookie sheet with lots of peaks pulled out. Then the day of your dinner, get the oven really hot (like 450) and put them in until the peaks brown. Pull out and serve on individual plates. You can do this on the plain side, or you can make it really dramatic. Some ways to make it more sophisticated is to match cakes, liqueurs, and ice creams. For example, use chocolate cake, pierce the little pieces with a toothpick repeatedly and drizzle on a tablespoon of Kaluha. Top with a premium coffee ice cream like Ben and Jerry's Coffee Heath Bar and cover with your merengue. Or you can use a yellow cake, pierce it with a toothpick and drizzle it with Amaretto, top with Cherries Garcia, and cover. And if you really want to wow them, take a tiny bit of the eggshell from the pointed end of the egg, and sink one deep into the top of each Baked Alaska like a little cup. Draw some rivulets down the side with your spatula, and freeze. Next day, right after you brown it, transfer them quickly to a pretty metal serving platter, fill each little cup with brandy or cognac, and light them. Happy Birthday; cake, ice cream, and 'candle' all in an adult package!  |
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Post by Frosty M on Feb 5, 2005 9:35:11 GMT -5
It all sounds delicious!
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Post by Chrisnstar on Feb 6, 2005 21:15:36 GMT -5
How did your dinner go, Lesfire?
chris
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I would do the traditional sides with the corned beef and turkey. With the whiting I would probably grill the fish and serve with baked potatos and mixed steamed veggies or maybe salad? Or should I buy some steaks or shrimp or something? What do you guys think? 
