As we all know, entertaining guests can make one nervous and anxious, but if planned well, it can be easy and enjoyable. So for the summer season, I’ve put together four simple recipes that will make your gatherings stand out from the rest, but first, a few basic tips that I’ve certainly found useful.

When planning a gathering (lunch, dinner, picnic) always make sure that you are in a relaxed setting…

Decide what kind of ambiance you want well in advance ( music, lighting and table settings)

Select your menu items and select dishes that are simple to prepare

Make sure all your ingredients are ticked off on your shopping, because there’s nothing worse than preparing a dish and realising that you’re missing an ingredient halfway.

Prepare some dishes ahead ( i.e. if making a warm salad, prepare all the warm elements ahead and only assemble just before serving)

Now, for the four easy recipes…

Recipe 1: Prawn Cocktail

Serves 2-4

You’ll need:

2 Avocados

200g   Frozen Prawns, defrosted and drained

100g Fresh Coriander, chopped

1 Tablespoon Olive oil

1 Teaspoon Paprika

FOR THE SAUCE:

4 Tablespoons Mayonnaise

1 Tablespoons Tomato Sauce

Juice of ½ a Lemon

Dash of Tabasco sauce

Salt and pepper

Here’s how:

Cut the Avocado in half and rub lemon juice on each side, set aside

Heat Olive oil in a pan and toss the prawns, paprika and salt for 5minutes, until they turn pink- set aside to cool

Mix together the mayonnaise, tomato sauce, Tabasco sauce and lemon juice

Add Coriander to the prawns and mix in the sauce

Season with salt and pepper

Scoop the prawn mixture into the avocado halves and serve garnished with coriander

Recipe 2: Cumin and Coriander Lamb shanks

Serves 2-4

You’ll need:

2-4 Lamb shanks

2 Garlic Cloves

1 Tablespoon Cumin

1 Tablespoon Coriander

1 Tablespoon Cayenne pepper

1 Tablespoon Mustard powder

Juice of 1 Lemon

2 Tablespoons of Olive oil

Here’s how:

Make incisions on the meat and stick slithers of garlic into the incisions

Mix the spices, mustard powder, lemon juice and olive oil together to form a paste

Rub the paste all over the lamb and cover and leave to marinate for at least 2hrs

Heat the oven to 200̊C

Roast the shanks uncovered for10mins on each side

Cover with foil and cook for a further 40mins

Remove from oven, season with salt and leave to rest

Serve with Herbed mash potatoes and grilled vegetables

Recipe 3: Chocolate Soufflé

Serves 2-4

You’ll Need:

160g Dark chocolate, chopped

Butter for greasing

80g Castor Sugar

60g Milk chocolate,chopped

4 Eggs, separated

Cream to serve

Here’s how:

Pre heat the Oven to 200̊C

Put the dark chocolate in a glass bowl and set it above a pan of simmering water, the chocolate will gradually melt , stir until it is smooth

Grease the inside of four Ramekins with butter

Add ½ teaspoon of the sugar to each ramekin and shake it to coat all sides of the ramekin

Divide the chopped milk chocolate among the ramekins, set aside

Beat the egg yolks with sugar until creamy

Whisk the egg whites until they are thick enough to form small peaks

Fold the melted chocolate into the yolk mixture  until well mixed

Slowly fold in the egg whites using a wooden spoon, don’t over beat just mix lightly.

Divide the mixture among the four ramekins

Bake for 15-20minutes

The souffle’s should be puffed and sponge like

Serve warm with cream

Recipe 3: White Chocolate and strawberry tart

Serves 8-12

You’ll need:

1 Short-crust pastry shell (store bought)

225g White chocolate, chopped

375ml Single pouring cream

3 Egg yolks

500g Strawberries, stalks removed

Icing sugar for dusting

Here’s how:

Pre-heat  oven for 200̊C

Place chocolate and cream into a sauce pan and stir until smooth and melted

Remove from the heat and allow to cool slightly,  whisk through the egg yolk

Spoon the mixture into the pastry shell and bake for 35minutes, until  set

Cool in the tin

Top with strawberries and dust with icing sugar

Serve

Enjoy!!!

Mokgadi Itsweng

Four recipes for easy entertaining

Chocolate Souffle, Lamb Shanks, Prawn Cocktails and Strawberry Tarts. How can you go wrong with such easy delicious recipes.