Planning a 3-Course Menu
When planning dinner for guests, it can be tough to figure out just one course, let alone three, but don’t be overwhelmed. Planning a multi-course menu does not have to be daunting. Just follow these tips:
Plan your proteins first. Once you choose that central component, the rest will be easy.
Cook with the season. Knowing what’s at its best, meaning that it is in peak season, will help you build the most delicious (and nutritious) dishes.
Avoid repetition and overlap. This is where planning is key. If you wish to serve a creamy dill sauce with your chicken main course, perhaps your potatoes should be roasted instead of au gratin or creamy mashed.
Balance your colours. Imagine each course in your mind and see that there is colour variety. Nothing looks more bland than a plate of all-white foods (creamy chicken, cheesy cauliflower, potatoes), even if it does all taste good.
Evaluate your timing. Plan your dishes so that you don’t need to have 5 pots on the stove when you only have four burners! Is it hot outside? Plan a menu that doesn’t require turning on the oven.
Here’s a sample of a menu I might make this time of year, working in a little grilling and dining al fresco:
First Course: Finger-Food Fun
Sausage-Stuffed Grilled Jalapeños
Pan con Tomate (Spanish Grilled Bread Rubbed with Garlic and Tomato)
Marinated Olives
Second Course: BBQ Feast
Slow-BBQ Spice-Rubbed Pork Shoulder
Creamy Rice Salad with Garden Peas
Waldorf Coleslaw with Celery, Raisins and Walnuts
Market Green and Yellow Beans with Tomato and Feta
Third Course: Refresh
Lemon Buttermilk Panna Cotta with Local Raspberries and Blueberries
So, for today’s Monday Giveaway, I want to know:
What’s your signature 3-course meal?
Answer the question in the comments section below by 6 pm ET today, and 5 of you will be randomly selected to win a KitchenAid® Baking Package!*
I look forward to hearing about your 3-course meals!
Anna
*Baking Package includes 3-piece bakeware set, mixing set with bowls and set of small KitchenAid® gadgets. Some restrictions apply. Click HERE for Official Rules for today’s Baking Package giveaway.
This giveaway is now closed. We will randomly select 5 of you and send you a Private Message this evening. We'll report back soon and let you all know who won!
Update: Congratulations to the winners of this giveaway: Mark, Heather Theilgaard, Andrea Amy, Erin Macdonald and BLONDY!
63 comments
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Congratulations to the winners of this giveaway: Mark, Heather Theilgaard, Andrea Amy, Erin Macdonald and BLONDY! -
Sorry you missed all the fun, Heather! Lorraine and Chuck those sound like fabulous menus! Wolfyinto, we let the winners know last night and will post them up here in the very soon, so stay tuned!
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Here is a menu that met with rave reviews during my installment of our dinner club>
Soup/Salad Course:
Roasted cauliflower, blue cheese and brandy bisque with side of arugula under balsamic drizzle, topped with parmesan biscuits.
Entree:
Grilled pork with hazelnut gravy with oven roasted garlic mashed parsnip puree and haricot verts Francais.
Desert:
Individual vanilla bean cakes, with chantilly cream accompanied with carminier & tarargon scented truffles. -
Hi Miss Philly, I do not see a list of winners posted anywhere... I would love to know if I won :)
Your last post does say that you were going to list the winners last night... I hope I didnt miss an email :(
Thank you -
three course for me would be....
appetizers: lobster stuffed mushrooms with a chessey top
main course: slow rosted beef with perl onions in red wine, twice baked potatoes, with bacon topping, and green beans stemmed with babay carrots in butter sauce
dessert: black forest cupcakes -
I was away shopping all day, I missed all the fun planning. Yes it does taste good, chicken, mashed potatoes and cauliflower and I can't say how many times I have tried to whip up a quick supper and that is what ends up on the plate! -
Oh, wow! Thanks for all of your wonderful 3-course meals! Now I am very hungry...The giveaway is now closed. We will randomly select 5 of you and send you a Private Message this evening. And we'll report back soon and let you all know who won!
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Summer 3 course menu
First course:
Grilled polenta with tomato, onion and zucchini chutney
Second course:
Lemon and Dill stuffed, smoked chickens
sauteed green beans with a creamy lemon and dill philly sauce
blanched and flame roasted whole baby potatoes
Third course:
Individual cheese cakes with warm fresh berry compote -
My easy Italian meal
caprese salad with real buffalo mozzarella
linguine with clams
gelato with in season fresh fruit -
My usual 3 course meal consists of:
Appetizer - Spring rolls or Salad
Main course - Lasagna and garlic bread
Dessert - Cheesecake -
My favourite 3 course meal for the summer time would be as follows:
Appetizer: Caesar or garden salad - light dressing with a variety of vegetables(cauliflower, broccoli, cucumber, radish, carrots & lettuce)
Main course: BBQ'd grilled chicken with my special sauce and seasoned baked potatoes
Dessert: My homemade apple crisp (extra cinnamon & served warm) with vanilla icecream. -
These are a some of my favourite courses to make using fresh local fruits and vegetables.
First course: Penne with roasted pepper sauce with fresh basil and freshly grated parmesan cheese
Second course: Baked Salmon with a dijon caper sauce, mashed sweet potatoes, and sweet green peas
Third course: Seasonal Fruit followed by Bumbleberry Galette and cappuccino. -
If there is one thing my parents taught me is to keep it simple. Appetizer: Salad - anything goes and use what's in season with lots of leafy greens. Main: Lasagna - most of it can be prepared the day/night before and left in the fridge until an hour before dinner. There is nothing more enticing than the smell of lasagna cooking when people come in the door. Dessert: Fruits and cheeses. -
Menu for Girls Dinner Tonight!!
Appetizer: Fresh shrimp with dill salad on endive
First course: Roasted red pepper penne with feta - served at room temperature
Second course: Grilled lamb lollipops with fresh cherry/mint relish and green bean/pine nut salad
Third course: A few treats - Local BC cheeses and a little chocolate. -
In the warm summer months this is one of my favorite 3 course meals.
Appetizer: homemade red pepper hummus, warm pitas. Greek salad including green, red, yellow, and orange peppers. (so colorful) main: B.B.Q. rosemary chicken breast kebabs served with roasted lemon potatoes. Dessert: A chilled dish of Strawberry cheesecake ice cream .....yum. -
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MY GO TO FOR EASY ENTERTAINING IS TO MAKE THINGS THAT I CAN PREPARE AHEAD OF TIME TO ENJOY MY GUESTS... STARTER - SPRING GREENS WITH CANTELOPE, RED ONION, AND WALNUTS (FROM MY WALNUT TREE). MAIN - STUFFED PORTABELLO MUSHRROMS AND SUMMER ASPARAGUS LASAGNA, FINISH with - ICEWINE BERRY ~ tiramisu~ -
In keeping with dining al fresco (we often enjoy all three meals outside this time of year), I would choose:
Appetizers: a platter of smoked salmon canapes on fresh baguette slices or crostini or cucumber slices (for our gluten free guests),garnished with capers, dill, finely diced red onion and lemon wedges
Main: Harold's famous hamburger sliders on mini brioche buns, accompanied by six onion relish and Ontario Applewood Smoked cheese
Mae's Broccoli Cheddar Salad (our favourite summer salad)
Feta and Watermelon Salad with chiffonade of fresh basil
Dessert: Poached pears filled with cream cheese, toasted pecan filling and served with raspberry coulis
and lavender sables -
Starter - Slice of tomato, slice of fresh mozzarella, a basil leaf, sprinkled with salt and balsamic vinegar
Main course- Spaghetti bolognase
Dessert- Tiramisu -
My ideal 3-course meal would consist of smoked salmon tartlets, feta and semi-dried tomato crusted lamb, and frozen chocolate mousse.
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App - Cream of wild mushroom soup with fresh tarragon
Main - Chicken breast stuffed with mozzarella & wrapped in Parma ham
Dessert - Lemon & lime torte -
1) Trio of watermelon, gala melon and honeydew melon served with a fruit coulis
2) Pan fried supreme of chicken with a white wine & cream sauce
3) Chocolate, baileys & praline roulade with fresh cream -
Appetizer would be roasted garlic with goat cheese and a variety of salsas on rainforest crackers
Main course baked salmon with asparagus sauteed in garlic and balsamic vinegar
Dessert would have to be my favourite--- creme brulee, with some kind of cookie for dipping :) -
I love to have friends over! And now that we are buying our first house we can entertain a lot more!!
I love starting out with Antojitos for an App - (spicy cream cheese filled tortilla with delicious chopped veggies and gooey cheese) with Sour Cream to dip
Dinner is usually sautéed chicken breast with a delicious fajita rub on top with steamed broccoli and some creamy mushroom rice.
Finishing off with one of my delicious cupcakes such as chocolate cupcake with a caramel center and a vanilla icing or even a cinnamon cupcake with apple pie filling inside and a cream cheese icing! That last cupcake is always a hit and so delicious!
Join the Discussion!