A new friend is coming to dinner on Thursday. As always, I want this
meal to be relatively informal and normal while still impressing the
hell out of her. As always, I've asked if she has dietary restrictions.
She said she's an omnivore who tries to eat relatively healthy
(meaning that she's not going to stuff herself with rich food though a
small rich
dessert or one rich side dish would be fine). She doesn't like
shellfish (meaning oysters and shrimp), raw onions or raw peppers.


With our weather so hot, I thought cold gazpacho would be impressive as
something people don't make for themselves but still normal and healthy,
but then I remembered the no raw onions restriction and nixed that idea.
(Unless someone has tried it with no onions or with cooked onions and
can recommend that route.) Then I thought of cold cucumber soup, but
Jim made yeching noises when I suggested it. I've never been overly
impressed with vichyssoise myself (cold potato soup) as it has always
seemed bland to me. Cold fruit soups have always seemed like dessert to
me. Any ideas? Of course, I don't have to serve a cold soup as a first
course. I just liked the idea.


Perhaps a quinoa salad? I could put in minced carrot, celery, cilantro,
snow peas, cucumber and zucchini with a sesame dressing. Normally I'd
put a little scallions and red bell pepper in it too, but I could leave
them out.


I need ideas for a main course too. I don't want to cook out barbecue
style. Maybe I could broil marinated chicken, serve corn on the cob and
put some marinated mushrooms, eggplant, tomatoes and zucchini on skewers
and broil them too. Thoughts?


Dessert should be easy. I've posted the recipe for raspberry fool with
whipped cream and creme anglaise before. I'm doing that though our
raspberries aren't quite ready. I may use frozen raspberries and
blueberries, or I may use fresh strawberries.


--Lia