Dinner Party Menu for people who have children and want to look composed...

Had a friend over for dinner last Saturday.  Needed menu.  This is what we came up with...

 

Stinky Cheese and Bread (Morbier is a nice choice)

Corn Pudding (try this recipe from Bon Appetit...I added some Asiago cheese.  Delish.)

Zucchini Arugula Salad (the sleeper hit of the meal, it was awesome.)

Grilled Butterflied Chicken with Rosemary, Garlic and Lemon

Apple Crostada

Why is this a good menu for a working mom when you have kid(s) running around and its Saturday so you have 75 errands to do, but guests are showing up at 6pm so they can meet the kid(s), so you need to cook/bathe child/set table/get kid to bed all while being watched by a GUEST?  Because, the cheese is purchased; corn pudding assembled ahead and baked when you need it; salad is just tossing, not really cooking; chicken marinates all day and then you outsource cooking it to your husband who will grill anytime anywhere anyweather; apple crostada, use a Julia recipe for crust or buy crust, assemble it, put it in fridge then bake when needed.  See, easy.