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You could have go for foods all from one country, such as do an Italian meal, Mexican, Indian, Asian, French, anywhere really.

Italian - you could have antipasti (Italian meats, breads, olives, artichoke hearts, roasted peppers, etc - a lot of these can be bought pre prepared and just put together in bowls and plates) followed by a risotto or pasta course, then the meat course (perhaps saltimbocca but using thin turkey or pork steaks instead of veal) with salad and selection of veg served separately in big bowls and finish with a dessert (could be something simple such as ice cream, which you could do yourself in advance, or tiramisu, which I've made the day before and has been fine).

Mexican, Indian and Asian - for these you can do lots of different dishes for people to tuck into as they like so keeps everyone happy!

Mexican you could have quasadillas, nachos, enchiladas, chilli, etc followed by some exotic fresh fruits cut up and served on a platter.

Indian - lots of different dishes you could do for this.

Asian - go fo things from different countries, such as Malaysia, Japan, China, Thailand so that people get different flavours.

Hope you have a great birthday!

Helen

Hi Sparkly, I would recommend that you do an easy starter and pudding that can be prepared in advance, you don't want to spend all night in the kitchen on your special day. make sure you have pelnty of wine in the fridge in preparation - that way if something goes awry they may not notice!

Good luck and happy birthday

Hi Sparkly - For a main course I rely on a leek, bacon and mushroom stuffing for chicken breasts, served with salad and new potatoes or seasonal roast vegtable with layered potatoes - if you would like the recipe for the stuffing post a message.

hi, for a pud , delia smith does a great fruits of the forest terrine, i have made many a time, do it day b 4. serve as u wish and lookds great. its in her ds summer collection cook book...for a starter, ther r loads ideas, light starter could be pate and toast, loads fancy ones u can buy, if u dont want to make your own, or do a dip, check webs for recipes, or good old prawn/seafood cocktail. main course, just breast chicken, pan fried with mushrooms, garlic, coriander, chilli,take out keep warm, add some chick stock reduce by half, 1/2 glas white wine and reduce by half again, then return chicken, add dolop double cream warm threough and serve, with steamed seasonal veg and rice or new spuds!!

Dear Sparkly,
A dessert that always goes down well at my parties is the good old fresh fruit brulee from Jamie Oliver.
put a selection of cut up fruits in the bottom of a dish.
Cover over with Amaretti biscuits.
Then cover with creme fresh.
Leave in the fridge until just before serving. Top off with a decent layer of brown sugar, whip it under the grill or get the old blow torch out to caramelise the sugar. Leave a couple of minutes to crisp up and serve.

Hi sparkly, there are two main dishes I do when having guests, first is slow roasted lamb shanks finished in a honey and mint glaze, served with a parsley mash and red wine sauce, the second one is chicken breasts stuffed with chorizo sausage, mozzerella cheese served with either a cheese sauce or rich tomato sauce.

Hi, mayajzm
Would love to have a look at your recipe...post away

A good dessert to prepare in advance is frozen chocolate souffles, these can be done a few days before and then taken from the freezer about an hour before needed to soften slighlty.

If you want the recipe post a message and i will post it on for you.