A delightful couple from down the lane invited themselves to dinner Friday, so I find myself scrambling for recipe ideas.

I think I'm going to do... at least 3 courses.
Leaning toward 5.

Italian is a strong suit of mine, but I tend to get a bit out of people's range with bold flavors and not-so-mainstream recipes.

Added challenge

Cooking for vegetarians.

One thing that stands out in my mind is "it doesn't have to be anything fancy, we'd eat spaghetti"

which made me think of doing a "pasta bar" where I serve hot pasta and a variety of additions to a basic sauce.

So
Pasta
Basic tomato-basil sauce

Diced fried vegetables.
Sliced mushrooms.
Chopped olives.
Herbs.

Problem is our parsley is blooming... and not really leafing right now.

A problem I can probably work around.

So

Main course is figured... ish.







I think I want to do two antipastas
one ultraconservative
one out of nowhere (and completely dependant on market availability)

I think I'm going to do roasted artichoke/tomato (and if there are none fresh, because I live in a fucking blackhole of produce I'll get jarred)

That would cover the "ultraconservative"

The second would be a black olive, orange, and fennel bulb salad...

>> Its totally not my idea!
But it sounds suspiciously awesome.



Fourth.... fourth...
I can't in good conscience do another pasta dish... can I?
Broccolli with garlic and peppers is too on the nose and a soft serve after the artichoke.
If I do another pasta dish I'd do pesto ala genoa, which is green beans, potatos, sauce, and pasta.
I think maybe a showy salad, or vegetable dish would be easy, but again, flirting with an easy out.

Normally I'd braise or roast some giant slab of meat, but ... that's out with vegetarians.

For dessert I'm leaning toward peaches poached in white wine, or one of those adult shaved ice things. Grena...something Italian-word.

4 Courses wouldn't be a pud dinner.
But its such a weird number...


So to review-

Artichokes/tomatoes antipasta
Fennel/olives/orange salad
... am I missing a soup course??? (probably a warm salad)
Modular pasta
Dessert- poached fruit?

I'm excited to cook, but in all honesty I'd like to get a couple test runs in and ... with my jank schedule, and ultra short notice, I don't know if I'll even get a dress rehearsal XD

... and I usually want to get at least one of those in for any service.

Did I leave anything out?

Thoughts?