Help!! Dinner for a Gluten Free, Dairy Free, Vegetarian.

[Chim Girl]

You know how it goes.... "Come over for food on Friday, I'll cook". Then 2 days before the event, you're told that your mates other half doesn't eat dairy, gluten or red meat, or anything spicy. She will, however, eat chicken and non-boney fish, but not shellfish!

I'm a fairly competent cook, looking for suggestions for 3 courses, please.

Edited by Chim Girl on Wednesday 20th February 19:46

[Plotloss]

Vegetarian but eats chicken? Behave.

Prawn Cocktail
Roast Chicken
Lemon Meringue

Accompanied with a bit of Earth Wind and Fire, flares, a bottle of Asti Spumante and perhaps substitute a small glass of orange juice for the prawns.

[Chim Girl]

Asti...how could you! Mateus Rose for these fine diners.

[Plotloss]

Chim Girl said:

Asti...how could you! Mateus Rose for these fine diners.

Mateus!

Thats the bloody one I was thinking of but couldnt remember the name. I was stuck on Muscadet for some reason.

I think on balance I'd cook whatever you were planning before the new information came to light and just throw her bananas at convenient intervals.

[Bob the Planner]

Chim Girl said:

...I'm a fairly competent cook ...

I would drop the "fairly" tbh. I am fairly cometent and you FAR outreach me !

Any ideas on any other NoNo's ? Things like the black bean with mushroom which you experienced at the barn weekends could be an option if an Indian bent is possible (and went down well with the meat eaters too !). Mail me for recipe if its a possibility. If not I can think of a few Thai things too. I have a few Tudor recipies if thats more appropriate.

[small]Edit - my spelling is cr*p ! {/edit]

Edited by Bob the Planner on Wednesday 20th February 23:07

[Chim Girl]

Hey Bob, thank-you for the kind words.

Mmmmm, your lovely curries, I'd love the recipe for the spinach and bean curries you did at the barn, they were delicious. I have done my own variation, but haven't quite got the taste you created. I had thought about serving indian themed dishes, as it is easy to serve a selection of dishes to suit veggies and also the carnivores, however she won't eat anything spicy. That also rules out another favourite of mine, thai.

At the moment, I think it'll have to search Amazon for '1001 ways with eggs'.

Current thinking:

White Bean Soup, with truffle oil
Monkfish (not decided how, yet)
The whole sweet thing has me stumped, guess it will need to be fruit based... hmmm

[Plotloss]

Cook a meringue, cover it with sliced tinned/preserved pears add roasted hazlenuts and chocolate sauce.

Alas I cant claim the genius, its in the Jamie Oliver Jamie @ Home book but I did it at the weekend, its simple and glorious.

[Timberwolf]

Lamb rogan josh with rice and chapatis.

Can't stand finicky eaters.

[Bob the Planner]

Chim Girl said:

Hey Bob, thank-you for the kind words. :snip:

Reality - You do fancy and refined - I do agricultural !

I have a couple of augbergine and courgette recipies that might fit the bill. They have a few spices but no chilli so are not "spicy" hot. Where do your guest(s) stand on garlic/ginger ?

I have a couple of decent veg pizzas that work or sea food it thats not out of the picture.

[Bob the Planner]

Chim Girl said:

:snip:
The whole sweet thing has me stumped, guess it will need to be fruit based... hmmm

Steamed banana with tumeric - an indonesian dish to die for ! Banana, coconut milk, brown sugar, pinch turemic, lime juice and a steamer !

[Chim Girl]

Bob the Planner said:

Steamed banana with tumeric - an indonesian dish to die for ! Banana, coconut milk, brown sugar, pinch turemic, lime juice and a steamer !

mmmm,

[Bob the Planner]

YHM

[bint]

My spicy bean burgers (Ainsley Harriott recipe) tends to go down with the other half's sister as she's a bit finicky like that too.

Spinach, beans, chili etc.

[Chim Girl]

Bob the Planner said:

YHM

Thanks Bob, any chance of the aduki bean and spinach side dish recipes too? I loved those.

[drfrank]

Simple solution...don't invite them round !

I can't believe anyone with such finnicky requirements would be much fun at a dinner party anyway.

(Or ask them to bring their own food)

I find finnicky eaters as annoying as people who bring crap wine to a dinner party and drink only the good stuff provided by the host, refusing to drink their own vinegar !

[Bob the Planner]

Chim Girl said:

Bob the Planner said:

YHM

Thanks Bob, any chance of the aduki bean and spinach side dish recipes too? I loved those.

YH More M.

[Wadeski]

cook what you want to eat, and tell her eggs are in the fridge, enjoy your omlette.

[horton]

I am vegetarian, and if I whenever I was invited to a meal, if the people were not aware that I was vegetarian before they invited me, or if the meal was for more than just the host and myself, I would bring my own food.

I don't see why someone should have to base their menu around my requirements, neither do I see why other guests should have my vegetarianism forced on them.

If someone invited just me, or me and the mrs and they are aware of my culinary requirements, then they can deal with it.

Sometimes I turn down nights out to a restaurant, because I dont want other people being forced to go to a certain place, just because they cater for vegetarians.

Frozen vegetarian meal will be the best choice, and cook whatever you are great at for the others.

[Chim Girl]

Thanks to all who contributed, here's what I served...

Chunky tomato and basil soup (with homemade bread, for the gluten eaters)
Portobello mushroom with a porcini mushroom reduction (the rest of us had a lovely organic chicken breast too) along with griddled asparagus and roast potatoes.
Strawberry and Prosecco jelly

It was well received.

[SPR2]

Has anyone any recipes for gluton free cakes and scones etc,please.