Karen,

The recipes look great. I would appreciate your thoughts with regards to the menu. This dinner party is to introduce to my mother's side of the family, my father's new wife (my mother died 1.5 years ago after battling ovarian cancer for 3 years).

My family is very emotional and outspoken and I am the youngest of 3 girls that although I am over 40 still only gets to make the salad or set the table when we get together at my sisters' homes! So this is the first family dinner at my home and a sensitive occasion as well.

I would like to have 2 main courses - chicken and beef or chicken and fish or fish and beef; 2 side dishes and a dessert. The meal will be traditional (silver and all).

Thank you for your help -

For something like this, you want the food to be good but simple. You probably don’t want it to be the focal point of the evening either.

What do you like to cook? In a situation like this, you want to make something you are comfortable with. A special dinner is not a good time to experiment.

Do you want platters of food on the table that everyone shares or individual plates? How many people will be having dinner?

Karen