In a moment of madness you've invited people round - on a school night - and now you've got to feed them something
Midweek dinner is not the time to be trying new culinary wizardry so dust off old favourites from your recipe collection and give them a fresh twist. It's all about food that you can throw in the oven and forget about while you worry about the more important things…like cracking open the Chablis…
1: What's cooking?
Urban-peasant cuisine is in, so think a rustic hotpot of organic potatoes, meat and veg cooked the night before and reheated for a more intense flavour and that home-cooked look. For instant flavours, try fish baked in foil parcels with capers, anchovies, garlic and tomatoes served with fresh salad
2: Store cupboard staples
Once you have an idea of what you want to make you can buy most of the ingredients in advance during your weekly shop. Stock up on store cupboard items and those condiments and spices that often get forgotten, and don't forget the drinks. Meat and fish can be bought at the weekend, frozen and defrosted (thoroughly) the night before.
3: Last minute supplies
Good food means good ingredients, so buy the freshest herbs and vegetables that you can in your lunch hour from the local shop or a street market (miles cheaper and less queuing required). Treat your guests and lift your senses with a bunch of flowers and nurture your inner domestic goddess as you battle your way up the high street with a bunch of colour.
4: Once you get home - breathe!
Worry about yourself first. No one will mind if you've still got a bit of cooking to do when they arrive, but if you're still in a towel with wet hair it may be a little harder to keep things running smoothly. Take a shower, change your clothes, or put on some slap – do whatever you need to do to make yourself feel relaxed and as though you've left work for the day - after all, this is meant to be fun.
5: Get your pinny on
Not only practical but very Lulu Guinness-chic, tie those apron strings and get cooking. Lay out all your ingredients like they do on the telly to avoid that 'I forgot the lime/cranberry sauce/coriander' mid-meal moment.
6: The big chill
Once all the food is out, your fridge might be looking a bit empty, so now's a good time to slip in the white wine and fizz and anything else that needs to be chilled. You, on the other hand, will be cool enough already…
7: DIY food
Make your guests do some of the work with platters of food and do-it-yourself courses – that way everyone can eat as much or as little as they like. Serve antipasti - lay out figs, mozzarella, sun dried tomatoes, olives, basil, and prosciutto and let everyone help themselves. Pizza's not just for kids and video nights – let your guests make their own with focaccia bread bases. Or make smart tarts with ready-rolled puff pastry and a selection of mushrooms, cheeses, hams, peppers, pesto, basil, and artichokes. Put them in hot oven and leave for ten minutes – just enough time to enjoy a starter, or another glass of wine…
8: Eating light
Entertaining a dieter can be a nightmare, from making everyone else feel bad with their virtuous ways, to enforcing a diet of cardboard and water on the rest of you. It may be tempting to let them have it with both barrels of celery, but there is a way to accommodate dieters without sabotaging their efforts. Let people serve themselves and let the skinny beans stay in control – as well as making life easier for you. Have plenty of salad or vegetables with dressings or sauces served on the side. Desert can be tricky but try baked fruit compote, summer pudding or oat-topped crumble and your other guests won't notice that they're being fed a lean deal.
Entertaining a dieter can be a nightmare. It may be tempting to let them have it with both barrels of celery, but there is a way to accommodate them...
You've fed, watered, and charmed your guests with your culinary skills and witty repartee, there's one job left to do. And it's not pretty. You may not feel like it, but loading the dishwasher or putting the dishes in to soak now will be so much nicer than waking up to a house strewn with dirty plates and glasses. If you've served fish or seafood, take the bones or shells to the outside bin before bed to avoid a whiffy kitchen come morning. Give work surfaces the once over with a damp cloth or squirt kitchen spray on splashes and stains and leave to dissolve grime overnight.
10: It's all over
The good news is that you now have, in addition to your aching limbs, heavy eyelids and possibly chardonnay-knees, a house full of happy guests, yummy leftovers and absolutely no more cooking to do. Just remember the painkillers and a glass of water by the bed for the next morning.
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