What would be a nice simple dinner when having a neighborhood couple over? (dessert, too)

Please include recipes. Thanks so much.
Wife doesn't drink, but her DH does.

Roasted Cornish Hens with Uncle Ben's wild rice and a green vegetable, broccoli with a simple bechamel or green beans with slivered almonds. A nice green salad with tomatoes, cucumbers, perhaps some dried cherry's, sliced black olives, a feta or goat cheese crumble, garlic croutons and a homemade vinaigrette. Some sort of bread product... crescent roll, Parkerhouse rolls. There are some really great ready made desserts in the grocery stores these days, but if you want to DIY, a crumble is very easy and tasty especially if you serve it nice and warm. Another good dessert is frozen FRESH berries served with melted warm white chocolate ganache poured over them in individual serving plates while the berries are still frozen..

This is a very simple menu and even if you're a novice cook, you can make it with some guidance. After you've gotten other suggestions from the better cooks than I on this board, pick the one you like best then ask for specific recipes! You may want to pick and choose different items from different posts. Have fun at your dinner party... that's the best ingredient!

I'm in Italy and no recipes here but I do java a couple
Of ideas

First. What is you level of expertise in the kitchen?

For something simple.

Bagged lettuce with Newmans balsamic vinaigrette,stuffers lasagna,garlic bread and a great dessert the one you like to make the best or if you java a great bakery something from there

More complicated

The same salad

Pork tenderloin. Simple to make and elegant with a sauc
Your favorite potatoes. A casserole like gratin is nice but whatever you're comfortable with
A vegetable you like to fix. Can be fresh frozen or canned. And your favorite dessert
Serve some bread with the meal. And you're good to go

And another that I like to fix. Brisket,cheesy corn casserole, my German coleslaw and your favorite dessert

Not sure when your party is but if its after the 7th will be as to share recipes and other ideas when I have a real computer rather than my one fingered iPhone

If you check my blog lflinderhof.com and click on dinner on the right hand side it should give your re ideas and recipes as well

thanks so much, so far. Dinner party not planned yet. Maybe toward the end of the month.

I like the pork loin idea. They are trying to lose weight (aren't we all?), but not to worry about that. I walk with her. They just like a good meal like the rest of us. We'll walk it off later...

Will it be warm enough to grill something (I see you are from Minnesota, soo??? maybe not

Are you wanting to go casual, formal sit-down, or a certain 'theme' like St. Patty's Day or???

cjo: yep from MN, so won't have the grill dug out yet. Looking to do something nice, informal. Just conversation and dinner with new neighbor friends -1st time for dinner. Not out to impress. (cuz then I'd have to live up to that.)