Allotments 4 All

Next Sunday we are having an after Christmas get together with all the family we didn't see cos we were away, have totted it up and it comes to 15 at least of us.
Has to be a CHEAP dish, was thinking of a casserole type thing maybe served with Jacket Spuds, and preferably able to cook the day before.

I really fancy doing something different that looks and tastes posh, but am just not able to think of anything yummy, cheap and new.

Any ideas anyone? ???

Meat please! ;D ;D

Ohhhhhhh  good idea Wards, hadn't thought of cassoulet, I have a yummy recipe lurking somewhere too, mine had baked beans as a substitute too!

Ooo, yeah, me to!  ;D  I can hob nob it with the Pinks!!

if you are talking meat, ie beef perhaps, there is nothing quite like 1/3 to 1/2 bottle of red wine added to the juice to spruce up OK to WOW   ;)

p.s. don't forget the home grown garlic bread too  ;D

A variation is french bread 'crouton' slices added to the top of the dish just before serving!!  These need to be coated liberally with required garlic/whole-grain mustard/herb  mix then baked in the oven to get crisp!

I have a soup recipe that serves about 4-5 normally so you can adjust it as necessary. Here goes

ONion and Pepper Soup

50g/2oz butter
2 large onions, cut into thin strips
2 garlic cloves, crushed
1 green pepper, cut into thin strips
1 red pepper, cut into thin strips
900ml/1.5pts of beef stock
1 400g can chopped tomatoes
100g/4oz mushrooms, sliced
salt and pepper
50g/2oz parmesan cheese, grated

Melt the butter in a large saucepan. Add the onions and the garlic, fry for 5mins. Add the peppers and fry for 2 minutes.Pour in the stock and bring to the boil. Add the tomatoes and mushrooms and continue cooking for 10-15 mins or until all the vegetables are soft. Season to taste and stir in the cheese.

This is lovely served with crusty bed, if thickened I think it would make a great pasta sauce. I don't always add all the stcok as i like it a little thicker.

Peter and I were recently in France as a guest of Lyon Rotary and went to a lot of megadinners and lunches where there were from 25-40 people eating. One of the most impressive was lunch at a hunting lodge in la Dombes (just the 25 on that occasion). Each French Rotary couple had either contributed something or got together with another couple to do so, e.g. French cheese for 25 is quite expensive so 2 couples brought that.

We started with saucisson sec nibbles ( and wine bien sûr  :) :) :)) then pumpkin soup served in handy little disposable soup cups. Fair fills you up too! Lasagne for 25 followed with an eclectic  mixture of tasty salad leaves. French bread was ubiquitous. Then the mega platter of cheeses. To finish off tartes aux pommes and mousse au chocolat and ice cream and petits fours. The French certainly have a sweet tooth. All washed down with excellent but not particularly expensive red wine (about 12 bottles of it).

The point is that nothing was particularly expensive to do and that with everyone sharing a whole mountain of people had a great sociable lunch that everyone enjoyed. 8)

I think Wardy has the right idea.  Stew type things always taste better the day after anyway.  I sometimes do a chilli if we have loads of people for grub.  It's easy to do meat and veg versions (we have lots of veggies in our family) without too much faffing.  Then served with jacket strips, rice, guacamole (minced frog), sour cream, salad, salsa, cheese wraps - the whole,dare I say it, enchilada  ;D ;D ;D

I have a gorgeous recipe for Tuscan Bean Soup if you are interested, Doris.

It has cut up sausages (or any meat you may prefer) big pieces of pasta, mixed beans and Tuscan bean soup added.  It's really thick & tasty (and filling!)

I keep meaning to add it to the recipe page but keep forgetting.

my mum does a sort of 'creole sauages' thing.
it's mainly sausages, peppers, onions and celery in a sweet & sour sauce (ketchup, puree and vinegar).
very colorful, cheap and a little goes along way.
serve with 'new' potatoes in their jackets and splodge of fromage frais or with rice and side salad.
can easily be made the before or even earlier and frozen.

HAVE A WONDERFUL DAY WHATEVER YOU COOK,
Tara xx

I can't see Wardy's recipe, tho :(

i made a venison stewed in old peculiar yesterday - super yummy!
you can find diced venison at the market cheap (LIDL have a frozen version too)

or other meat in beer, how about beef in ale?

Oh Svea there is a lovely EASY recipe at Waitrose for beef in ale with horseradish and thyme, will try and find the link, great made the day before, it was what I cooked em last time they all came over! Interesting that Lidl sell venison, we have just had one open here a couple of weeks before Christmas!
Lish I will try and find my cassoulet recipe to post if Wardy doesn't get back to you.
And EVERYONE thank you for all your suggestions, the menu is now as follows:-

Starter...to be decided
Main.......Easy Cassoulet with green salad and french bread
Pud........Have no idea! ;)

So at least you have got me started in the right direction, specially Wardy  :-*
YP can you post that soup recipe please, ta luv!

Here is the beef n ale link, just perfect served with mashed pots and cabbage, squash would go well with it too!

http://www.waitrose.com/food_drink/recipes/recipesearch/recipe/0511r07.asp

Tiramsu?  ;D

I would suggest perhaps pumpkin soup with added cheese for a starter ... then chicken tortillas with a chilli tomato salsa, and cream cheese, perhaps some grated cheese as well, lashings of salad everywhere ... and perhaps some chilli con carne as a side dish.

No good on puddings, sorry ...

how about a fabulous triffle - makes a fantastic centre piece

Thanks again all, well the pudding decision has been made by my neice/Goddaughter who will be attending and it is her birthday that day....................drumroll.............................Homemade Profiteroles!

Not fattening at all then  ;D  ;D 

Oh and she wants a b'day cake too, you wouldn't believe she is going to be 25! Big kid! :D (I might actually cheat on that front and get a Betty Crocker mix :-[...but don't tell her ::))

Hello Doris,
    one of our favourite meat dishes is Italian Braised Beef,or if you want the posh name-Brasato della Reggiora!
Ingredients :
Joint of beef to your requirements -brisket works well
3/4 bottle red wine
3 carrots
2 onions
2 cloves garlic
few rashers bacon
small punnet mushrooms
1/2pint beef stock

The previous morning, put the meat in a container and add the onions and  carrots chopped.Drape the bacon over the meat and pour over about 3/4 bottle of good red wine.Leave in the fridge to marinate for a couple of hours.
Take out the meat,drain,pat with a paper towel and roll in flour.Brown in a little oil in a frying pan on all sides.Using a slotted spoon,take the chopped veg out of the marinade ,drain and fry off with the meat,also add the mushrooms chopped and two garlic cloves chopped.Fry until golden brown then place the meat and veggies in a large pan ,pour over the marinade and add around 1/2 pint of stock.Bring to the boil and then turn to simmer on low for around 2-2 1/2 hours depending on the size of the joint.Add salt to taste and cook with a well fitting lid.
When the meat is cooked,cool and store overnight in the fridge along with the sauce.
The following day,slice the cold meat ,place in a large ovenproof tray
and pour the sauce over the top(its better if its liquidised).Place foil over the top and place in the oven at Gas Mark 6 for 35-40 mins.
Its delicious,easy to make and the meat melts in your mouth!
Hope that you have a good party!
      Sue :)