HOW TO HOST A GREAT DINNER ON A BUDGET

During this time of year you invite and receive several invites for a dinner to keep in touch...first try to do it all around the year and not only on Xmas time, then if you want to have a great dinner you think that you must to spend a lot...WRONG you can easily host a delicious dinner staying an being perfectly on a budget of €25 for 6 person...Consirdering that this is the average cost for a single person in a restaurant, this is the cost for all the guest and all the dinner, not bad!!!

MENU:

• PARISIAN GNOCCHI (€5,50)
• SCABBARD-FISH FILLET WITH BREAD CRUMBS(€12)
• BAVARIAN CHEESECAKE WITH LEMON(€ 7,50)

PARISIAN GNOCCHI:

ingredients: 

1 l milk

245 gr flour

190 gr butter

30 gr gruyère cheese grated

4 eggs+ 1 yolk

3 spoons of milk cream 

30 gr grana cheese grated

1/2 nutmeg

salt & pepper

In a large pan put 400 ml milk, salt, a pinch of nutmeg, 80 gr of butter and cook until butter became liquid, add 190 gr flour and stir quickly, put again on the fire and cook slow until the mixture comes away. When it will be warm add the eggs, one per time and the grana cheese.

Put the mixture in a a bag, in a pot water boils put little pieces (gnocchi) and cook for 2.3 minutes; when the gnocchi float must drain.

In a pun put 50 gr of butter the flour and 600 ml of milk, add salt & pepper, stir frequently for 10 minutes, then add gruyère cheese and away from fire add the yolk stirred with 1-2 spoon of cold milk. Put again on fire and add milk cream stirring.

butter a baking dish and arrange the dumplings in layers, covering every layer with some sauce. Cook in oven for 15 minutes at 180°C.

SCABBARD-FISH FILLET WITH BREAD CRUMBS

To serve 6
650/700 GR scabbard fish fillets, about a half an inch (1 cm) thick
100 GR cherry tomatoes, quartered
A small bunch parsley, minced
(300 g) stale bread, crumbled finely
1 1/2cup  freshly grated mild pecorino romano
Olive oil
Salt and pepper to taste

Preheat your oven to 360 F (180 C)

Combine the bread crumbs with the cheese and parsley, and season the mixture with olive oil, salt, and pepper to taste.

Lightly oil a baking dish large enough to contain the fish in a single layer and arrange the fillets on it. Sprinkle them with the breadcrumb mixture and dot them with the tomatoes.

Bake them for about 5 minutes, and serve, with a crisp white wine. 

BAVARIAN CHEESECAKE WITH LEMON

1. VANILLA SPONGECAKE:
2. 3/4 cup sugar (granulated)
3. 4 egg yolks
4. 1 tsp vanilla extract
5. 3/4 cup flour (all-purpose)
6. 3/4 tsp baking powder
7. 1/2 tsp salt
8. 4 egg whites
Cheesecake Mixture
9. 6 oz cream cheese
10. 6 oz baker's cheese
11. 2 egg yolks
12. 4 oz granulated sugar
13. 8 oz sour cream
14. 1 oz lemon juice
15. 12 oz heavy cream
16. 1/2 oz gelatin
17. 2 oz water

Instructions

Vanilla Spongecake
1. Preheat an oven to 375 degrees F.
2. Sift together the flour, baking powder, and salt.
3. In a mixer, add the egg yolks and sugar beat until light and creamy. Add the vanilla extract.
4. Gradually add the flour mixture to the egg mixture.
5. Beat until smooth.
6. Whip the egg whites until stiff, but not dry.
7. Gently fold this into the cake batter.
8. Place into two separate greased and lined 8-inch round cake pans.
9. Bake for approximately 10-12 minutes.
Assembly
10. Whip heavy cream until soft peaks.
11. Set aside.
12. Mix together in a mixing bowl the cream cheese, baker's cheese, egg yolks, and granulated sugar until smooth.
13. Then add the sour cream and mix until smooth.
14. Gently add the whipped mixture to the cheese mixture being careful not to over whip.
15. Dissolve the gelatin in the water over a double boiler until the mixture is clear.
16. Be careful not to whip the gelatin so it does not get air bubbles in it.
17. Add the gelatin mixture into the cheese mixture and fold quickly.
18. When adding the gelatin mixture to the cheese mixture set the mixer on medium speed, and add it from the edge of the bowl, being careful not to get the gelatin on the whip or the side of the bowl so as to prevent lumping.
19. Using a springform pan, place one of the vanilla sponge cakes smooth side down.
20. Immediately pour the cheese mixture on the cake, and smooth out surface.
21. Then place the other cake on top with the smooth side out.
22. Let set overnight.
23. Remove the cake from the springform pan.
24. Sprinkle the top of the cake with powdered sugar.

This is a simple menu that permit you to cook quiet quickly and on abudget and every your guest will ask for bis and for receipes, the cost of dish with fish could be cheaper than of €12 but in the grocery store you can easily find good wine with affordable price...so 25 is for 6 persons included beverages...!!!