I love having friends over for dinner but I get into a bit of flap when it comes to the cooking.
In my attempts to impress, I often take on more complicated recipes than my limited talents can handle.
So I usually end up spending most of the evening sweating over a hot stove while my guests have all the fun.
Not any more. In future, I'm going to cheat. How? Log on to the internet and pour yourself a glass of wine.
Leaping Salmon had the ingenious idea of putting together whole meal kits, containing raw ingredients (ready measured and prepared)
with easy-to-follow instructions for range of knockout dishes.
Simply choose one of their set meals or your own combination from the starters, main courses and desserts on their web site and order by 5pm for overnight delivery (Tuesday to Friday) or request a specific date up to ten days in advance.
All main courses take no more than 30 minutes to complete, using standard cookware, and each dish has a difficulty rating to help you avoid over-reaching your abilities. Prices are for enough to generously feed two people and there are wines at £4.94 upwards to complement each of the recipes.
How about rack of lamb with a thyme and rosemary crust, broccoli mousse and parmesan and potato gratin, followed by raspberry creme brulee to serve four at £52?
Porcini offers all kinds of goodies from both home and abroad. Why not start with the finest extra virgin olive oil (£11.50 for a 50cl bottle), served Californian-style as a dip for bread? Then fresh pasta with an Italian sauce like Rucola Selvatica (£2.55 for a 180g jar) or Sugo Arrabiata (£2.55 for 270g). Finish with miniature figs marinated in wine, rum, sugar and spices (570g for £4.60), with ice cream or Greek yoghurt. If you prefer, a ready-made cheeseboard with four cheeses, chive crackers and basil biscuits costs £26.50.
Delivery costs £3.95 and you can specify the date at the checkout or order by 3.30pm for the next day.
The Lobster site has a department called Instant Gratification with two decadent options which will blow your guests away, while leaving you without a hair out of place.
The Roman supper costs £59.99 for two people and consists of antipasto of grissini and mozzarella, linguine Vologne (pasta and sauce) and coffee with crunchy Italian biscuits.
For £125, you can feed two people with caviar blinis and lobster followed by chocolate pudding, all washed down with a bottle of champagne.
Add £6.94 for weekday delivery and £12.64 on Saturdays and order by 3pm for the next day service or up to ten days in advance.
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