Fall Dinner Party - need menu help

[Yoga0829]

I'm hosting dinner for 6 adults in a few weeks, and would love some input on the menu. One person is a "meat & potatoes" guy and one is a vegetarian who eats fish.

I thought I would make CL's Beef Daube Provencal and a lentil & barley soup that I've made before. Do I need another soup? I can also make CL's Ham & Cheese Scones, but would need another bread option that's vegetarian. Maybe a loaf sandwich cut into pieces would be a better option?

I also wanted to do a salad, but am at a loss for ideas. It seems like I always make the same basic salad (greens, nuts, cheese, fruit with a savory-sweet vinaigrette).

For dessert I will make CL's Pumpkin Pie Cake, mainly because I already have the layers made and in the freezer. :-) Should I offer another dessert option?

[Canice]

It sounds like you're going for a cozy, homey meal, so I wouldn't make it more work than it needs to be. Two soups are plenty and why not just leave the ham out of the scones? (I'm not familiar with the recipe, so maybe the answer is obvious.) I don't think you need both beef and ham at dinner, and cheddar and chives are a nice combo in bread. No need to offer a choice of desserts!

[amarante]

I think for six people, you are making a lot more dishes than is necessary.

Since the vegetarian eats fish, why wouldn't you make one entree that everyone likes. Surely there are fish dishes that would appeal to a meat & potatoes kind of person.

One dessert for six people is plenty IMO. You could do some kind of nice coffee with liqueur.

[Canice]

Surely there are fish dishes that would appeal to a meat & potatoes kind of person.

I wouldn't bet on it

[PurplePotato]

I wouldn't bet on it

Agreed.

It does sound like a lot of heavy dishes for 6 people. How many courses do you want to end up with?

From what you've posted, what about:

Appetizer: cheese & chive scones
Salad: misc green fall salad. I have no suggestions.
Soup: lentil that you planned to make
Main: could you do roasted and stuffed squash or pumpkin as a main dish for the vegetarian if you want to do a meat course? Then the filling could be a side dish for the rest of the party.
Dessert: one cake is enough for 6.

[Tutalady]

Yoga,
Have you ever posted your recipe for the Lentil and Barley soup? If not, would you please........those are two of my favorite things. Thanks.

[Celeste]

Here's a nice salad that may not be too different than what you usually make. The sweet nuts are good in it. I usually scale back on the quantities in the dressing. It makes a lot.

New Harmony Salad
Dressing:
½ cup raspberry vinegar
1-1/2 c. salad oil
1 shallot
4 cloves garlic
½ cup honey
Nuts:
Walnuts & pecans
Honey

Salad:
Mixed greens
Blue Cheese
Craisins

Imulsify first 5 ingredients with hand blender. Toss nuts with honey. Toast in the oven on a parchment lined baking sheet.

Toss dressing with greens; add blue cheese, craisins & nuts

[vbak]

Celeste, that salad sounds good. Thanks for posting.

[luv2cook]

The vegetarian has plenty to eat with the soup, salad and scones. I don't understand why people bend over backwards to please one person 5 different ways. Most vegetarians -- my stepsister is one -- are fine with whatever is served and do not expect special treatment.

[luv2cook]

I have never seen a fresh wax bean. I ASSume that's what you mean? I know they exist but I haven't seen any next to our regular beans.

[cherylopal]

I have never seen a fresh wax bean. I ASSume that's what you mean? I know they exist but I haven't seen any next to our regular beans.

are you kidding me???

[Yoga0829]

Yoga,
Have you ever posted your recipe for the Lentil and Barley soup? If not, would you please........those are two of my favorite things. Thanks.

Thank you all for your input! And for reassuring me I have plenty of food. I've hosted this group several times before and have done salmon/fish, so wanted something different this time. It's really the combination of a vegetarian person, a meat & potatoes person, and others that fall in between that spectrum that has been a challenge to create a menu for. But I think I've got it!

This is the Hearty Lentil Soup recipe I use...it is easy and fantastic. My apologies for not knowing the source, I've bene making it for years:

INGREDIENTS
2 celery ribs, thinly sliced
1 medium onion, chopped
1 garlic clove, minced
2 tablespoons butter
6 cups vegetable broth
1 (28 ounce) can diced tomatoes, undrained
3/4 cup dry lentils, rinsed
3/4 cup pearl barley
1 tablespoon oregano, chopped
1 tablespoon rosemary, chopped
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1 cup thinly sliced carrots

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
STEPS
1. In a Dutch oven or soup kettle, saute the celery, onion and garlic in butter until tender. Add broth, tomatoes, lentils, barley, oregano, rosemary and pepper; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 40 minutes or until lentils and barley are almost tender. Add carrots; simmer for 15 minutes or until carrots, lentils and barley are tender.

[cherylopal]

I have never seen a fresh wax bean. I ASSume that's what you mean? I know they exist but I haven't seen any next to our regular beans.

my apologies- i think i misunderstood the tone in your response. i reposted the recipe in its own thread- it really is good- i have used all green beans if wax aren't available. still very good and still colorful with the tomatoes- might see if you can find some yellow grape tomatoes to add some additional color.

[Tutalady]

Just printed it off and when it gets cold here in TX, will try it. Sounds really good.

I have never seen yellow wax beans in our grocery store either but know that my grandfather always grew them
Wonder why we can't buy them??

[vbak]

I can buy yellow wz beans once in the summer at the farmer's market. I usually make soup with them.

[margeslp]

I have never seen a fresh wax bean. I ASSume that's what you mean? I know they exist but I haven't seen any next to our regular beans.

It's a regular in vegetable gardens in the northeast