Help with menu for fifteen this Saturday... can I do it all in TM???

[teagg]

Dear All
I've invited two other families here this Saturday... which will make for six adults and nine children...

can I do all the food in the TM?  I'd like to think that I can....

Could anyone suggest any recipes or ideas that would work...

my thinking so far is:
-home made pizzas for the kids - variety of toppings, possibly the tomato frito sauce from the MWOC (?) book as the tomato sauce on the pizza
-I've done the Pork and Potato with Ginger recipe that I found here online somewhere.. which is really really good.... if I do that again, can anyone suggest any 'appropriate' second main dish/es to accompany it?
-bread rolls - milk ones from one of my books (sorry can't remember which one... but my daughters can make them into rolls for baking!)

-we've done a lot of the sorbet and rice pudding... i could always make some in advance and keep in freezer (sorbet!!) and just reheat for  the rice pudding...

I've also been asked what I should tell the guest to bring... they are always happy to make something....

anyway - if anyone has made it this far through the post - thank you and and I'd *love* to have your thoughts advice and or suggestions
with thanks
Gillian

[judydawn]

You have a big job ahead of you Gillian but the TMX should help you make light work of it.  I am presuming you are talking about my Pork recipe (if not, which one is it).  Gosh I haven't done that since I posted it and yet it was a regular in this house preTMX.  As that was one of my earlier postings, I couldn't believe I said chop the onions by hand   - I would now chop them 3 sec/speed 5, check them to make sure they are chunky then add another second by second until they were right.  Will do the recipe again myself ASAP and change the instructions.  That one is great to make ahead, even the day beforehand as it gets better with age - obviously you are going to double it at least for that many people.  Of course the accompanying rice is a great filler - you may need to use a rice cooker in addition to the TMX for the amount of rice needed for that many people if you are cooking the rice at the last minute.
I'd do a chicken dish to go with it - here are some of my favourite chicken recipes from the forum.
Nico's Thai Chilli Chicken - this is always a winner and not too hot for children either.
Peanut chicken
Tasty chicken with turmeric rice
Chicken & Leek Filo Pie - can be made in advance, another one that improves with age.  Double or triple the filling only.
There are lots of desserts that you can do ahead which will either reheat well or just cut and serve - eg cheesecakes.
Good luck with choosing your menu, you are going to be very busy.
I usually only ask visitors who want to bring something to bring the wine, soft drinks and nibbles as I can always manage the main fare on my own but that's up to the individual.

[Chelsea (Thermie Groupie)]

How fun! Yes with planning you could definitely do it all in the thermie.

I think pizza is a great idea for the kids. Just check that you choose a pizza sauce with some sweetener in it.  Some are a bit full-on for kids.

Quirky Jo's Satay Chicken is divine and would be great as a second main as you would then have rice ready to serve with your mains. You could keep the ginger pork in the thermoserve while the satay is cooking.

I like having pre-made desserts for dinner parties as I only have one TM bowl and don't like having to wash it between courses.  Nay's Rhubarb pie with EDC vanilla ice cream is always lovely. The apple pie from the budget busters booklet is also great (with reduced spice). Sometimes I make a pie for the adults and some ice cream cones for the kids.  Here is my recipe for honey wafer cones.

Like JD I would ask your guests to bring drinks or nibbles.

[Nay-nay]

Yes - have the desserts made. Instead of sorbet you could get a box of frozen fruit and do the berry foam  to accompany any dessert you make. It can be made before hand and put into freezer ok (unlike sorbet) unless you are putting on a TMX show for them, if not it is way too noisy to just keep talking and TMXing at same time.  When I have a big group I bulk out the meal with bread rolls, veggies and garlic rice or pasta dish. For dessert I make a big batch of crêpes, passionfruit or lemon butter, strawberry foam, variety of fruit (even bottledcherries,peaches etc), whipped cream and maple syrup and let everyone make their own combo. It depends how formal or informal it is. 

[achookwoman]

Like others I like to make the dessert ahead.   The Macadamia and Honey Tart is always a winner (if nuts are OK).  I also make Isi's Light Coffee Custard.   I'm not much good on mains in the TMX.  Bread can be made well ahead and frozen. The "grape " bread is good fun and very decorative on the table.  Have fun.