Is this dinner too heavy?

[La Lioness Priyanka]

my parents are meeting lisa's for the first time..all told there will be around 10 people. I am now worried that I should switch out the dessert for something fruitier

Appetizers

Crab cakes

Guacamole on crackers

Main Course

Roast Chicken w. Moroccon Spices

Shrimp w.Paprila and cumin

Rack of lamb (rosemary/garlic)

Sides

Rice pulao w. Apricots and Pine nuts

Scalloped Potatoes

Sauteed spinach with Garlic

Green Salad w. Mandarin Orange, Almonds, Grapes

Dessert

Warm Chocolate Cake. Fresh Whipped Cream. Berry sauce.

[grasswire]

1. maybe if you offered some fresh berries...

...in a separate bowl in their natural state with just a bit of powdered sugar, those who have no room for the cake will be perfectly satisfied.

[kestrel91316]

2. Agreed. It's summer. Toss together a bunch of mixed seasonal fruit

chunks and dress it with some sort of honey/yogurt/lime sauce on the side.

You could serve the fruit salad with angel food cake for those who wish. Nice and light.

[hippywife]

3. I think

the same. A lighter cooler dessert would be better. Maybe even a little sorbet with fresh fruit on the side with just a dollop of creme fraiche. This is always best with a heavier, spicier meal.

Personally, I would also swap out the scalloped potatoes for nice roasted potatoes with rosemary.

I've seen a couple of your other dinner for the family threads and I'm always impressed with how all out you go.

I found this salad this past week and haven't made it yet but it looks and sounds awesome:
http://www.bhg.com/recipes/salads/ideas/salad-recipes-ideas/?page=7

It probably doesn't have a place in this particular dinner line-up but it would be a great option when looking for something different for a light supper where the salad is the main attraction.

Hope you guys have a fabulously successful evening all the way around and strong new family bonds are created to support you and Lisa into the future. :hi:

[La Lioness Priyanka]

5. thanks hippywife. next to my mom's dinners i barely go all out

[hippywife]

6. Your mom's dinners

must be incredible then because I always envision a whole day or more preparation when you post what you're cooking!

Oddly enough, I just got my Cooks Illustrated email notes and they had this very refreshing summer salad that might also compliment your menu:

http://www.cookscountry.com/recipe.asp?recipeids=3589&bdc=43068&Extcode=L8HN3AK00



In case the link doesn't work for you:

Spicy Asian Cucumber Salad

Serves 4

1/2 cup rice vinegar
2 tablespoons sugar
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
2 tablespoons minced fresh ginger
1 hot red chile , minced (1 1/2 tablespoons)
1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil
3 cucumbers , peeled, seeded (see related Tip), and cut crosswise into 1/4-inch slices
4 scallions , white and light green parts, sliced thin
1/4 cup packed fresh basil leaves , chopped
Table salt and ground black pepper

1. Bring vinegar and sugar to boil in saucepan over medium-high heat. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer until mixture reduces by half, 5 to 6 minutes. Transfer to medium bowl and cool to room temperature.

2. Whisk in lime juice, ginger, chile, and sesame oil. Toss in cucumbers, scallions, and basil; season with salt and pepper, and let sit for 10 minutes or up to 1 hour. Serve.


Cucumber salad, a quick, refreshing companion to any grilled dish, is especially suitable for warm weather. But cucumbers' high water content can dilute any dressing. We needed a dressing that wasn't watery. Here's what we discovered.

Test Kitchen Discoveries

* Create a double-strength base for the dressing by simmering rice vinegar and sugar until reduced by half, then add seasonings and toss with the cucumbers. The water from the cucumbers will dilute the base to create a final dressing with just the right potency.
* You can substitute 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes for the fresh red chiles. Add them to the saucepan with the vinegar and sugar.

[Gormy Cuss]

9. I make a similar salad and it's excellent.

The version I make is Vietnamese and doesn't have ginger or sesame oil and calls for shallots instead of scallions, cilantro instead of basil. It's also just a mix in bowl dressing -- no cooking needed. The salad must sit for at least 30 minutes before serving.



And to lionesspri, I think your menu sounds fine. I agree with the chopped fresh fruit dessert idea as others have mentioned.

[NJCher]

16. that edamame salad looks delish

But why oh why does Better Homes and Gardens have to be so commercial? Pop ups. Ads everywhere. Once they somehow got me on their newsletter list and it took a phone call to the EDITOR to get me off it!

They have good stuff at their site but because of the rampant commercialism, I refuse to go there.

Anyway, I copied the recipe and intend to make it this week.



Cher

[Callalily]

4. I concur with the advice

stated above.

Also, wishing everyone a great time.

[Warpy]

7. Dunno, the part I find a bit heavy for August

is the rack of lamb, but I'm not a meat eater. You might also think of serving that fruited salad between the appetizer and the entree as a palate cleanser.

That way you can offer a fruit and cheese plate in lieu of the warm chocolate cake.

[sandnsea]

8. 3 meats???

for 10 people? I don't even get that at all. But I'm sure you'll all enjoy, no matter what's on the table!

[grasswire]

10. I think it's a buffet.

That allows a lot of mix-matching and pick-choosing to go on.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

12. really not three meats. one red, one white. 2 seafood. very traditional

layout for a bengali.

[sandnsea]

14. Ah, cultural differences, I see

It was just a little peculiar to me to worry about chocolate cake, of all things, after serving such a huge and heavy meal, from my perspective. My sil did oysters and halibut the first time we met his mother, and that was a lot. Your meal sounds like a feast for the entire family, lol. But if that's the culture, then that's the way it's got to be. Have a wonderful time!

[Tektonik]

11. I would add a tomato salad in there somewhere

or a gazpacho. I love love love green gazpachos.

http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/GREEN-GAZPACHO-103484

A cucumber salad would be good too.

A plate of cut up fresh fruit is always great as well.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

13. i was going to do a tomato,cucumber, feta salad but lisa doesnt think

her parents will like it

[Iwillnevergiveup]

15. What a lovely, thoughtful meal

and your address......?????

and what time.....?????

Hope it's a great event - the food will be a rave!:toast: