Tips for Dinner Parties
How to feed an extra guest
Soups
Add stock, wine or cream to extend soup without spoiling the flavour.
Casseroles
Depending on the type of casserole, add a tin of sweetcorn, kidney beans, tomatoes or other suitable ingredients. A dash of wine will make the juices go farther without watering them down.
Rice
If there’s no time to cook an extra portion, heat and stir in a tin of drained kidney beans or chick peas, or mix toasted almonds, cashews or peanuts.
Desserts
If you are not sure a dessert will stretch to an extra portion, offer a bowl of fresh fruit as an alternative.
Bread
Most supermarkets now sell part-baked bread and rolls which can be kept in a freezer until you need them. They will bake within minutes in an emergency.
Making a roast go farther
A roast will usually stretch to another portion if necessary, and extra vegetables will help to eke out a small joint. You could also open a packet of stuffing, add a few nuts or chopped dried fruit, and bake it in the oven to accompany the meat.
Savoury snacks and nibbles
Guacamole
Blend together an avocado, lemon juice, garlic and a dash of chilli sauce. Puree until smooth, add a roughly chopped tomato, blend again and season.
Stuffed cherry tomatoes
Cut off the tops of the tomatoes, scoop out the insides with a teaspoon and fill with seasoned and mashed avocado or a cream-cheese mix.
Savoury sticks
Small pieces of contrasting foods speared on a cocktail stick make a delicious mouthful. Try thinly sliced smoked ham wrapped around cubes of melon, whole unpeeled prawns with a stuffed green olive, or peppered salami wrapped around Feta or Mozzarella cheese.
Dips
For easy entertaining, try these dips, served with crunchy vegetable slices or pitta bread.
• Plain yoghurt, wholegrain mustard and salt and pepper to taste.
• Fresh chopped herbs such as basil, chives or parsley mixed into fromage frais and seasoned with black pepper.
• Cream cheese with a handful of chopped walnuts and a little mayonnaise and Worcestershire sauce.
• Equal quantities of peanut butter and Cheddar cheese gently melted with a little curry paste and served hot.
• Stilton or other blue cheese crumbled into cream or mayonnaise and seasoned with black pepper.