dinner party help

I'm having friends over for dinner saturday. there will be 7 of us in total. Last time it was my turn, I made risotto milanese (my recipe) and vegetable parmiggiano (giada recipe).

I obviously want to make some yummy food that will impress, but 1. i'm feeling in a funk and am not so into it this week and 2. i'm limited to italian because that's what I cook well and i KNOW that's what they will expect.

So I'm going to make chicken spiedini for my main - this is a family recipe and is basically rolled thinly sliced chicken, stuffed with seasoned breadcrumbs in a lemon/garlic/white wine sauce.

what else can I make that would complement this? am tempted to do risotto again, but need a different one and milanese is the only type i make. Or a simple pasta?

I basically need a starter, a side to the chicken, and maybe a dessert.

Help, please?

also: pork is off the menu as 2 of my guests don't eat it. otherwise, I'd have made sauce and meatballs.

Re: dinner party help

gnocchi with brown butter and sage
sauteed broccoli rabe

butternut squash risotto
roasted zucchini

dessert: I would do simple apples sauteed in butter with some cinnamon, maybe sprinkle some nuts on top. serve with homemade whipped cream.

Message edited 10/6/2010 3:51:42 PM.

Re: dinner party help

starter options: baked clams, stuffed mushrooms, thin slices of toasted baguette spread with basil pesto and topped with slices of mozzarella and varied toppings (olive, sundried tomato, cherry tomato, etc), roasted shrimp cocktail, caesar salad with homemade croutons

side dish options: roasted asparagus, burnt broccoli, if you already make a good risotto, why not try risotto cakes? they're delicious! take your leftover risotto and stick in the fridge until firm (overnight even)... then dredge in panko and fry on both sides in shallow pan with oil. you could do that and a light mixed greens salad.

dessert options: grab some cannolis & italian cookies from a good italian bakery, serve with some espresso, cappuccino or whatever and call it a day! or what about affogato? (sp?)

ps - can i have your chicken recipe? sounds delicious!

Re: dinner party help

Re: dinner party help

Re: dinner party help

burnt broccoli is SO easy!

Preheat oven to 450.

Put some Italian breadcrumbs into a small dish and add a few cloves of freshly chopped garlic, then moisten with EVOO (should be like wet sand texture).

Take broccoli crown and cut the broccoli into long strips (not just florets! leave the stalks on... I promise it's good!)

Toss the broccoli with maybe 3/4 of the breadcrumb mixture, some kosher salt and freshly ground pepper and sautee it in EVOO for a few minutes (the broccoli with turn bright green and the breadcrumbs will toast a bit).

Put the whole mixture into a baking dish and add the rest of the breadcrumb mixture to the top. Cook at 450 for about 20 minutes, then broil for another 2-3 minutes until the tips of the broccoli are slightly blackened and the stalks are tender.

Re: dinner party help

that doesn't sound hard at all, AND i can use the same breadcrumbs i'm using in the chicken... i love that idea. thanks!