General Chat

My son is doing GCSE catering and needs to prepeare for his exam a three course meal for 2 to celebrate their 1st wedding anniversay. Does anyone have any ideas that will impress..but can be cooked by a 15 year old?? OK HE HAS DECIDED ON MOZZARELLA, BASIL AND TOMATO SALAD AS STARTER, CANNELONI FOR MAIN COURSE AND CHOC MOUSSE FOR PUD..........ANYONE HAVE A RECIPE FOR CHOC MOUSSE THAT DOESNT NEED TO BE CHILLED FOR SEVERAL HOURS??

Cannellini Bean/tuna/Wild Rocket Salad (no cooking - just assembly) Italian Chicken - chick breast stuffed with blue vein cheese, garlic, basic breadcrumbs, rolled and roasted. rosemary Pots. and veggies (minimum effort) toffee baskets - (shop bought) - with mascapone icecream, strawberries and strawberry coulis - assembly only. This works - trust me!!! lol

Starter : rich tomato and bazil soup with croutons, with a circle of sour cream running through it ,served with a sprig of parsley on top. Main course: vegi... roasted vegetable tartlet (using puff pastry) with a medertaranian side salad.. or meat... Pork chops done under the grill, the last side to be cooked is then covered with apple source and a slice of cheese melted over, served with traditional vegies.. desert: toffee'd strawberries and fresh cream (make toffee as in toffee apples and cover strawberries with it. cool til toffee hardens and serve with either cream or icecream...) PS. I'm starving now, lol... xxxx

First course - something easily prepared in advance. A salad with tomatoes (called 'apples of love' by the Italians) spinach, rocket etc with some parma ham Second course - salmon poached in white wine served with a bed of plain boiled rice and steamed veg (steamed over the poaching pan, economical, easy and yummy) - I'd suggest asparagus/broccoli/spinach pudding - raspberries pureed over vanilla icecream, with shaved chocolate on top Mmm. nell

Main Entree Chicken and Mushrooms in Phyllo Pastry (easy) I don't have a formal recipe, just something that I made up. Saute 2 whole, boneless, skinless, chicken breasts. Set aside Saute in butter, about a pound of sliced fresh mushrooms. Spoon to drain. Set aside. The mushrooms will leave a 'stock'. Bring the stock to a boil. Add salt and white pepper. Stir in whipping cream (unwhipped). Reduce. If the cream mixture is still on the runny side, thicken with a little corn starch. A touch of white wine to the sauce at this point is optional. Reserve about a cup of the sauce to pour over the finished product. Chop chicken into bit size pieces. Add to cream sauce along with the mushrooms. Have ready 10 sheets of phyllo pastry (bought frozen, unless he is a fantastic pastry chef!) On a damp cloth lay the first sheet of phyllo, brush with melted butter. Repeat for 5 layers. Do this twice. Keep phyllo under a damp cloth or it will dry out. Place chicken/mushroom mixture in the center of the pastry. Fold to make a package. Bake seam side down, at 350f for about 20 - 25 mins. The temperature and cooking time should be on the pastry packaging. Thats it! Serve with asparagus and roasted baby potatoes. Deb

thanks guys for all your suggestons..i'm starving just reading them

ok he has decided on mozzarella, basil and tomato salad as starter, canneloni for main course and choc mousse for pud..........Anyone have a recipe for choc mousse that doesnt need to be chilled for several hours??

How about him doing a creme brulee for dessert instead? It will demonstrate a number of skills and it is quite easy and quick. He could wizz some raspberries for a coulis to serve with it. Not sure what's involved in the exams nowadays, but when I took mine you needed to demonstrate different cooking techniques. Doesn't necessarily have to be difficult. A swirl of whipped cream piped on the side of the plate could add another skill! I all helps get extra marks. GP

All mooses would need chilling for hours. Would he consider cheating a little? Cream cheese, Whipped cream and chocolate sauce mixed together to foarm a cheesecake mix (without the base), it's quick, easy and doesn't need to be in the frige for hours.

YUM YUM, will he come around and cook it for us all afterwards? sounds delicious, dont forget the champagne hic!!! and good luck

good idea GP, there are different skill levels and he needs to demonstrate at least some 'high skill' mousse is a high skill where as salad is low etc, the cnalloni counts as high i think as it white sauce, he needs anothe high skill at least to get a good mark, which he is after to get in to a catering course at college next year

A high skill dessert would be a sufflay (sp?) but they are so difficult to do that I wouldn't recomend it for an exam. Marange (sp?) and toffee/ sugar cages may be camplex enough to gain high marks.

faith what is Zabaglione?? sorry bit dim Bummer!! just spoke to son teacher said mousse & cannelloni OK salad started not high skill has to do cream of tomato or cream of mushroom soup!! OMG does she want blood..he is only 15 years old!! any one got a recipe for cream of tomato soup using fresh tomatos not tinned??