Hi there I am about to host a dinner party for 6 close friends and have run out of ideas for recipes for 3 courses. Any takers on some new ideas, bearing in mind I have a 1 year old and only 3 days to prepare. Thanks

Hopefully you will receive this reply, second time lucky! What about the menu Gino prepared yesterday with Jenny. Antipasta with grilled mussels, Baked Seabass, and Apricot Cheesecake or Fruit Salad. My friends and I often have a themed evening - I thought I would have a crack at this when it is my turn to do Italian. Good Luck

Easy no stress meal. Starter smoked mackrel pate. mix flaked fish with lemon juice and fromage frais add a little pepper and refrigerate, can make well in advance, serve on a bed of lettuce with brown bread toast and a slice of lemon. Main course.Chicken breasts stuffed with boursin. Take one breast per person make a pocked in the breast witha sharp knife and put some boursin inside wrap wht breast in streaky bacon to hold, put in an ovenproof dish and refrigerate, you can do this hours before. When ready to cook,put a little white winein the dish with the chicken cover with foil and cook in a med oven for about 35/40 mins meanwhile slice some mushrooms, an onion and when ready saute in a little butter add a little white wine and a good desertspoon of boursin let the cheese melt into the sauce and season, take the chicken out of the oven and drain some of the cooking juices into the sauce, if the sauce is too watery add a little cornflour and water mix to the sauce to thicken. serve with roasted potatoes and a green veg simple. A simple good quality vanilla ice cream with a raspberry liqueur, or a tot of malibu. lovely. most of this menu can be prepared in advance including pre boiling the potatoes ready for roasting. enjoy.

I'd agree with Jude1 about the dessert, good ice cream seems to please practically everyone, nad there's swedish glace out there if you've got lactose intolerents or vegans to dine.
I find Tapas to be the perfect starter, and so quick and easy, all you really have to do is lay it out, and plenty of variations for all dietary requirements, that chicken sounds fantastic Jude1, hope you don't mind if i 'borrow' it at this time of year i find that folks get a bit funny about poultry, so I tend to go for a fish or veggie main, an elegant roast snapper, packed with lime and coriander, served with sesame noodles and crispy salad of stripped peppers, carrots, and shredded red onion, or a lovely stir fry.
best of luck, it's always hard to entertain this time of year without going for a festive theme.
xx