I'm making dinner for 14 (!) tonight and I haven't had any time to prep. I'm still not sure on a main course. My menu is bacon wrapped dates, smoked trout mousse - for apps, for sides - potato gratin and endive salad with pear. I still need a green too if anyone has easy suggestions. And for dessert - bread pudding. If anyone could advise a low-fuss crowd pleasing entree that goes with that menu, I'd be thrilled! I have one lactose intolerant guest so if it could be dairy free, that'd be perfect. Thank you all!
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Another easy green would be asparagus. Drizzle with olive oil, garlic, salt, pepper. Cooked any way. Steamed, roasted, microwaved (very easy), stir fried.
credit the recipe to Cooking Light magazine.
I think it will go really well with your other dishes.
Here is a pot roasted loin dish. I think the loin gets too done for being so lean and cooked so long, but it is still a good dish. You can adapt it for oven roasting. The sauce is great. And it is a pot roasted dish so it will not matter on the temp, I just think it might be better for a fattier cut. Sorry I can't find the source of the recipe but I have made it a couple of times.
Pork Loin with Brandy and Dried Cherries
1/2 cup dried tart cherries
1/2 cup brandy
2 pounds boneless pork loin, trimmed
1 teaspoon dry mustard
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/2 teaspoon salt
Cooking spray
1 cup finely chopped onion
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 cup fat-free, less-sodium chicken broth
1 tablespoon red currant jelly
1 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme
1 bay leaf
Combine cherries and brandy in a small bowl. Let stand 1 hour.
Preheat oven to 325°.
Sprinkle pork evenly with mustard, pepper, and salt.
Heat a Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Coat pan with cooking spray. Add pork; cook 8 minutes, turning pork every 2 minutes or until browned. Remove pork from pan. Reduce heat to medium; add onion and garlic. Cover and cook 5 minutes. Add cherry mixture, broth, jelly, thyme, and bay leaf; bring to a boil. Return pork to pan. Cover and bake at 325° for 1~ hour or until tender. Remove pork from pan; let stand 10 minutes. Discard bay leaf. Bring broth mixture to a boil; cook until reduced to 1 1/2 cups (about 3 minutes).
http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ina-garten/engagement-roast-chicken-recipe/index.html
Have fun!!