Help! My Mom is coming to dinner!

[JanetJ]

My Mom is coming to dinner this Saturday to see where I'm living now (BF and I moved in together). I have decided to make the Lemon Garlic Chicken with Blond BBQ Sauce that I found in the recipe finder - I made it before and told her about it and she has requested to try it. My question is, what to serve with it? I need a starch of some kind to keep my BF happy, but I'd like to find something that pairs well with the chicken and is more unique than plain rice or potatoes. I also would like a veggie to keep my Mom happy and show her I can make a well-balanced meal. :)

Any suggestions are very appreciated!!

[SandyM]

Hi Janet,

This is a really good dish, posted by our own Bulletin Board Goddess (Gail). I've made it several times, and I think it would compliment the chicken dish quite nicely. Then again, I'm of the feeling that one simply cannot consume too much garlic in one setting!! :D

ROASTED GARLIC AND ORZO PILAF from Gail's Husband's Aunt Norma

8 to 12 large cloves garlic(resist the urge to cut down on the amount of garlic. As it cooks in the olive oil, the garlic softens and the flavor mellows)
1 tablespoon oil
1/2 cup orzo
1/2 cup long grain rice
1 14-ounce can chicken broth
1/4 cup sliced green onions
1 tablespoon snipped fresh parsley or more to taste

Peel and quarter garlic cloves. In a medium saucepan, cook garlic inhot oil over medium heat till light brown. Add orzo and cook till light brown. Watch so that garlic doesn't burn. (Gail note: Please don't do this too quickly. Burnt garlic is GROSS)

Stir in rice. Slowly add chicken broth, bring to boiling. Reduce heat and simmer, covered, for 15 to 20 minutes or till orzo and rice are tender and broth is absorbed. Stir green onions and parsley into the pilaf and season with salt and pepper to taste.

Serves 4-6

[Shirley Ekstein]

Hi Janet - you could perhaps go very French, and serve nothing but the best bread you can find with the chicken, and as an hors d'oeuvres, lose the salad and try a vegetable dish - whatever is best in season where you are. (One of our favourites is tiny french beans, no more than an eighth-inch diameter, boiled 6 mins, drained, pan back on stove with huge lump butter, tip drained beans back then toss with few squeezes lemon juice, generous sprinkling chopped parsley then straight onto heated plates, a sprinkling of Maldon sea-salt on top and serve. Bliss! - Maybe not very low-fat, but you're saving it other ways by not serving anything but bread with chick. And any good crystalline salt would do - doesn't have to be Maldon.) [And this is just an idea - am sure you must have veggies in season that you'll know much more about than I!]

[SusanL]

...as an appetizer I often make my salad as an antipasto and everyone shares it. This doesn't answer your sides but having fresh bread and a salad first, does away with worrying about the appetizer and salad. I am not familiar with the entree you are serving, perhaps the Lebanese Fatoush??

[JanetJ]

As I sit here reading the great ideas you all have given me, my BF is outside mowing the lawn. I told him 8:30 might be a bit early, but he is convinced everyone is at work by now (we are both on vacation this week). The funny part is, he got up at 6am and when I came downstairs at 7:30 he was almost done cleaning the garage. He is convinced my mom will have some overwhelming need to see it and he wanted it to be tidy. This was no small project either. I'm feeling mildly guilty for drinking a cup of coffee and browsing the boards, so I will start cleaning the house soon, but I thought he was being funny...and very sweet.

Sandy, I think I will use your suggestion of the Garlic and Orzo Pilaf. It sounds very good and anything with lots of garlic is usually a hit with me. :)

Shirley, I love your idea of the beans. Beans I will be searching for now. BF is an anti-vegetable guy, unless you can somehow deep fry it or cover it in butter and/or cheese, but he says he will try anything once and I will make him stick to that.

Susan, I had been planning on serving a salad and bread beforehand, but hadn't thought of doing it in the manner you suggested. Thank you! My mom loves this.

Thank you again for all your ideas!!