Delectable Dishes

Because it’s not just about taste when it comes to dinner party delights!

Tips and tricks to fool the guests you’re worth a Michelin star:

-Remember KISS, Keep It Simple Stupid!

-Don’t slop food on your guests plat like a dinner lady, artfully arrange it.

-Wipe stains from plates when arranging no one likes splodges.

-Don’t put too much sauce!

-Use the right herbs to bring out different colours in you dish

-Stack foods using culinary rings to keep foods in shape.

-Put an odd amount of something on a plate

-Line canapés up

-Fill a simple squeeze bottle up with sauce and as if by magic you can draw patterns of zig zags, simple dots or even stripes.

-Keep in mind smaller portions look better

-Never use plates with took much blue in them, blue is proven to be the least appetising colour.

-Match you plates and always use side plates with a knife if serving bread (it’s nice to warm the bread up too!)

-Experiment with ideas try use slates as plates, jars for anything from soup to a soufflé, try a wine glass for a mousse or a tea cup for a cupcake mould (just make sure its heat proof!).

 Good luck with some practise dish designing will become second nature!

How to treat a burn

·         Whatever you do remove the injury or injured person from the cause immediately but do not put yourself in danger. You may have to smother the flames with a blanket or extinguish with water.

·         Make sure you remove any clothing or jewellery near the afflicted area but be careful not to remove anything stuck to the burn as it may be burnt to the skin and cause more damage.

·         Cool the burn with cool or lukewarm water but NOT ice, iced water or any greasy substance or cream especially NOT butter. Do this as soon as possible for approximately 10 to 30 minutes.

·         Make sure the injured person stays warm as there could possibly be a drop in body temperature if large area is burnt. You can do this by wrapping a blanket around the person.

·         Then cover the burn in cling film, you can use a clean clear plastic bag for hand burns. This is to prevent infection.

·         Keep burn clean and change cling film as needed. If burn appears infected or you have any other problems see your doctor.

Dressing Tables

Creating the perfect  atmosphere

What to do?

-          Turn the lights down low and light some candles.

-          Pick up some flowers or cut some from your garden anything just to brighten up the table.

-          Add some colour to the table with a colourful napkin, a napkin ring or an ornament.

-          Play some background music nothing to dance or sad an excellent playlist is the Come Dine With Me Presents Dinner Party Songs by Various available on iTunes.

-          Centre pieces of heart ornaments, pebbles or plastic jewels, they sparkle under candle light and are great conversation starters.

-          Place names are a lovely personalized touch which you make from anything.

Here are some more table scapes for inspiration:

1. Perfect for a yummy autumn sunday dinner.

http://diningtables.typepad.com/.a/6a013487ce60ae970c0133f4aeaa37970b-320pi

2. A chic spring dinner with some friends

http://www.hometrendesign.com/75-trend-christmas-table-design-decoration-ideas

3. Holiday fabulous celebratory dinner

http://trendirs.com/modern/decoration/5-ideas-for-decorating-your-table-in-summer/

4. Pre dinner drinks on the lawn.

http://housetohome.media.ipcdigital.co.uk/96%7C00000b1da%7C12b9_orh550w550_table-setting.jpg

5. Cosy Winter gathering

http://media-cdn.tripadvisor.com/media/photo-s/02/23/28/3a/dining-table.jpg

6. A sassy summer evening

http://www.planet-tango.com/Valorie/N-Target%20dinner%20table%201.JPG

 Hope it gives you some inspiration!

 

How to Stem bleeding of a cut

·         Cutting yourself is a very common accident when cooking.

·         When you get cut the best thing to do is immediately wash cut under cold water.

·         The in the cut is shallow and bleeding stops dry the skin with a paper towel or cotton wool.

·         After drying apply a waterproof plaster.

·         However if the cut is deep apply pressure with a clean paper towel or cotton wool to soak up the blood.

·         Raise cut above your heart to reduce blood flow.

·         Seek medical attention immediately.

·         Always keep emergency numbers in kitchen.

TIME LINE FOR MENU 3

TIME LINE FOR MENU 3
Put out nibbles and put drinks in fridge.
Lay the table 5:50pm	This should take 25mins to set try using one of the table decorating ideas I will post shortly.
Make Salad 6:15pm	Make Italian Deli Salad but do not add any oils. Then put in fridge to chill before serving. This should take 25mins.
Make Oregano sauce 6:40pm	Make sauce and keep in bowl in fridge till serving time. This should take 15mins
Dessert	Make Berry crumble until baking stage where the berry crumble filled ramekins should then be put in fridge. This should take 20 mins.
Change outfit/ clean up kitchen 6:45pm	Approximately 15mins
Guests start to arrive: 7:00pm	Take their jackets, pour drinks, offer nibbles and smile!
Starter 7:15pm	Plate up salad and serve. Don’t forget to preheat oven to 180°c for berry crumble.
Cook Pasta 7:30pm	Cook pasta, mix in oregano sauce and garnish with parmesan. This should take 15mins.
Serve Pasta 7:45pm	Serve Pasta and put berry crumble in oven.
Collect up dirty plates and take out crumble 7:20pm	Make sure top of the berry crumbles are golden and fruit is bubbly.
Serve Dessert and enjoy the rest of your evening!

TIME LINE FOR MENU 2

TIME LINE FOR MENU 2
Put out nibbles and put drinks in fridge.
Lay the table 5:40pm	This should take 25mins to set try using one of the table decorating ideas I will post shortly.
Make pesto sauce for pasta 6:05pm	This should take 15mins. Then put the pesto in a jar in the fridge.
Desert 6:20pm	Start on the lemon berry pudding up until placing the dishes in a large baking pan. Keep these in the fridge until cooking later. This should take 20mins.
Prep Starter 6:40pm	Prepare ingredients and get griddle pan out. This should take 5 mins.
Change outfit/ clean up kitchen 6:45pm	Approximately 15mins
Guests start to arrive: 7:00pm	Take their jackets, pour drinks, offer nibbles and smile!
Starter 7:15pm	Cook starter 15mins and preheat oven for desert (180°c)
Plate up starter 7:30pm	Serve starter.
Cook Pasta 8:00pm	Cook pasta, mix in Pesto and garnish with parmesan. This should take 15mins.
Serve Pasta 8:15pm	Put Lemon berry pudding in oven. REMEMBER TO CHECK ON IT BEFORE 8.40PM!
Take Lemon berry putting out of oven 8:40pm	Collect up dirty dishes and serve Lemon berry pudding.
Enjoy the rest of your evening!

TIME LINE FOR MENU 1

TIME LINE FOR MENU 1
Put out nibbles and put drinks in fridge.
Lay the table 4:00pm	This should take 25mins to set try using one of the table decorating ideas I will post shortly.
Start making the starter 4:25pm	Bake the cheese soufflé for the first time but wait until baking the second time until the guests arrive or just before. Also make vinaigrette. This should take 30mins.
Main course 4:55pm	Start making the pesto cream and prepare the chicken breasts but do not cook yet, store in fridge on baking tray to stay fresh. This should take 10mins.
Desert 5:05pm	Bake upside down plum tart and leave to cool. This should take 1h 20mins.
Change outfit/ clean up kitchen 6:35pm	Approximately 20mins.
Put cheese soufflé on for second bake 6:55pm	Make sure you put a timer on and prepare plates for serving! REMEMBER TO CHECK ON IT BEFORE 7.20PM!
Guests start to arrive: 7:00pm	Take their jackets, pour drinks, offer nibbles and smile!
Plate up cheese soufflé 7:20pm	Plate up cheese soufflé, adding a sprig or two of Rocket, a drizzle of vinaigrette and a grating of Parmesan. Don’t forget to preheat oven for the chicken (180°c)
Put Chicken in oven 7:50pm (Whenever guests have finished starter)	Cook for 20 minutes REMEMBER TO CHECK ON IT BEFORE 8:10PM!
Plate up chicken 8:10pm	Leave chicken to rest for 5 mins, while resting cook wilted spinach, plate up. Drizzle with pesto cream and garnish with pinenuts.
When guests have finished main course clean up plates and serve Upside down plum tart with whipped cream. Enjoy the rest of your evening!