If you click this website’s links I may earn a small commission.
Do you know one thing I miss about the (not-so great) utopian suburban couple-based dream? DINNER PARTIES.
In my past life I loved a good dinner party. One year, as a 25th birthday treat to myself, all I wanted was for my friends to come round for supper and a day and a half to prepare a five-course feast for them: cooking for dinner parties is my jam. Give me a week of planning, a stack of recipe books, a big grocery shop and 12 hours in the kitchen and I will happily work my fingers to the bone creating restaurant-style food, only better because you don’t have to pay for it.
So when the supermarket cashback service Shopmium got in touch to ask me to host a dinner party using products I’d bought with them, I was all over that literal gravy train. I dug out my recipe books, started planning and convinced my BFF Bryony to come over to Casa More Than Toast for an evening of wine, gossip and delicious food (it didn’t take much).
Shopmium is a brilliant new app that gives you the option to try new products or save money on old favourites via a cashback system. I’ve never really tried anything like this before, always wondering if it would be worth the admin time, so was interested to see how I’d get on.
It was easy to get started: I downloaded the app and scrolled through the list of products currently on offer to find ones that would suit my dinner party. I selected Poshcorn (B and I love to nibble on nice popcorn when we gossip), bread and sausages (that I halfheartedly threw in the direction of the kids that evening while I focussed on the grown-ups food ;). Off I popped to do my supermarket shop as usual and made a special note to buy these particular products – variations of which I would have purchased in any case.
Before I got cooking I decided to try out the app’s cashback process. Using these sausages as an example, all I had to do was scan in the barcode so their eligibility could be checked, then snap a photo of the receipt before whizzing that off using the app, too. Within 24 hours my cashback had been confirmed, and within 48 hours nearly a fiver had been deposited into my PayPal account. It really was that simple! At the frequency I shop I reckon I could claim back around £25 a month, which although isn’t going to make me a millionaire is still pretty impressive: that’s £300 a year. I’ll take that!
You can download the app here, and if you use the code ‘ALICECHOC’ when you sign up you’ll get a free bar of chocolate (you’re welcome ;)
For Bryony I pulled together not only a feast of Poshcorn but also a lovely quick smoked salmon and lemon starter using the Genius bread I’d bought with Shopmium (shhh! She didn’t realise it was gluten free!), followed by the most incredible Cote Du Boeuf with homemade chunky chips and homemade béarnaise sauce. Pudding was apple crumble made with apples from my garden: it was all AWESOME.
But, more importantly than my amazing food, it was so wonderful for us to have the chance to catch up properly without any chatty children in tow. With life seemingly moving at a million miles an hour for not just me but all of my friends, busy with careers, kids and relationships, it made me realise I don’t set aside enough time to nurture our friendships as much as I should. This stops now – I might not be in couple-based suburbia any more but there’s nothing stopping me hauling my girlfriends over for evenings of good food, great wine and raucous gossip.
And if I can earn a fiver back from my food shop while doing it? Well, it doesn’t get much better than that!
(I’d like to say I’m don’t always have a glass of wine in my hand when I’m cooking but that would be untrue)
WIN A £300 SHOPPING VOUCHER
Shopmium have kindly given me a £300 voucher to a supermarket of your choice (not Co-Op, Aldi or Lidl) to win! You can enter using the easy form below – and don’t forget to use the code ‘ALICECHOC’ when signing up to get a free bar of chocolate. Good luck!!
Go here to see competition Ts & Cs.
What a brilliant idea I’m going to have a proper look at this after! I love dinner parties but I can get into such a flap that I usually stick with something quick and easy like steak and chips. Who doesn’t love a nice steak, eh? Great competition Alice!
I’ve got to be honest and say I’d go for a really good medium-rare steak, home made skin on oven chips with garlic, a rocket salad and a peppercorn sauce. I’d probably do a gooey chocolate brownie with ice cream for dessert as well.
Mmm you made me want to eat steak now!! I’m loving this app.
I would cook good old fashioned filling food, beef casserole with three veg & fluffy mash potatoes & sticky toffee pudding :)
MMMM hard question – I would probably serve Spanish tapas as a starter, followed by homemade paella served with homemade crusty rolls and a refreshing sorbet as a dessert!
This is making me crave steak! I always tend to do really easy stuff at dinner parties – Mexican food or tapas nibbles etc. Sometimes I’ll do a slow cooked pulled pork or a beef joint. I think I’m really lazy mainly because I just want to drink wine with everyone else. I’m a much better dinner party guest than host!
Honestly, my ultimate dinner party would mean not having to do any cooking at all! I’d get my partner to do the cooking, I’d do the entertaining. (Drinking). ;-)
Anything with Fish, maybe Fish stew we all love that
waygu beff steaks and chunky homemade chips mmmmmm
Oh my god what a great app.I have been using something similar but this looks fab!
My ultimate dinner party would be Soup Starters with a Lasagne and Salad Main with Ice Creams and Meringue Nests for Pudding!
I’d definately plump for a Mexican themed dinner party however I think I’m coming over to yours for steak and chips soon… please ;-) mxx
I would cook Lasagne everyone loves a good home made lasagne with homemade cheesy garlic bread.
Waffles, fried chicken and maple syrup! And then invite someone hot and single to cook it for me. X
This sounds great, I think it would either have to be tapas as i lovenibbling or an awesome chinese dish! x
Camembert and crusty bread for starter. Beef wellington, baby potatoes and veggies followed by pecan pie and an espresso.
I’m so hungry reading all these comments and now craving camembert, steak and brownies at 7.23 am! ! Id make spicy tiger prawns and chorizo for starters and peppercorn chicken with smashed baby potatoes, roasted plum tomatoes and mushrooms for main and creme brulee for dessert
Camembert for started , then steak and chunk chips followed by eton mess x
oh this is a great idea! Dinner party – antipasti to start, a delicious pasta dish followed by cheesecake!
Amazing! I want to come round to your house for dinner! We’ve just moved house so I can’t wait to have people over for dinner – plus with autumn coming I’m all about slow cooked beef with mash and roasted veggies, followed by a gooey chocolate brownie and lashings of fizz and great chat! Mmmmm! I want this tonight!!!!! x
I’d like to try something really showy like Beef Wellington or Lobster Thermidor. It would probably be an unmitigated disaster but it would be fun to try just once and we could always open some tins of soup and more wine and laugh about it (maybe).
A pasta dish such as gnocchi or carbonara
I’d serve a Greek salad starter, seafood linguine for main & then for dessert I’d serve a lemon sorbet
P.s I’d already downloaded the app so didn’t use the link
A good old curry!!
beef wellington and veg
steak and chips
I’m rubbish at cooking so somebody else would have to do it.
A really good fish pie with mashed potato and fine beans!
I like a nice Beef Wellington.
id make a nice mushroom risotto followed by a warm chocolate fudge cake and real cream
Chicken curry,white rice,lamb chops and salsa salad with corn on cobs and chilli and yoghurt sauces. I would make a mango drink.
Leek and Poatato Pie
A nice juicy beef joint with all the veg usually goes down well, with a choice of sherry trifle or good old apple pie.
Beef bourguignon
vegetable madras curry with rice and side vegetarian dishes
I love making spaghetti bolognase (packed with lots of veg, even if my kids and husband don’t know it!), so would probably make this with linguine, parmeggiano and flatbreads.
I would keep it informal and make something simple like chicken or fish goujons with new potatoes, salad served with lots of wine!
beef wellington, and lemon cheesecake with cream x
An Indian feast
a big paella with rioja and cava
Starter would be stuffed field mushrooms. Main course would be rack of lamb with minted new potatoes and seasonal veg. To finish, a homemade warm bakewell tart with cream.
Of course this is all just theory as I’m nowhere near organised or skilled enough to actually pull this off!
I’ve actually already got this app, I’ve been using it about a month and recommend it.
My boyfriend would cook, he is great at it and I do the chopping, cleaning etc! My ultimate would be a starter of olives and garlic bread, spicy tomato pasta with veg, and an exceedingly extensive cheeseboard!
a nice sea bass
Parsnip & apple soup, followed by artichoke, aubergine, & lamb moussaka, and to round it all off a mixed fruit sorbet.
Beef Wellington
I would cook prawns!
Red onion and goats cheese tarts, fillet steak, potato gratin and greens and key lime pie to finish, yum!
mini bbq chicken wraps for starter, pulled pork and roasted chips, lemon cheesecake for dessert
Beef wellington, its so rich but it’s pricey to cook for a normal meal
Chicken and mushroom pasta – not much that can got wrong with that…. famous last words of course
pork stew in green tomatillo sauce with corn tortillas and refried beans!
scallops on a bed of greens
Tandoori chicken
I’ve never held a dinner party so not sure what to serve. Maybe my dads popular pork and apricot casserole or his lasagne.
Oh I haven’t had a dinner party for so long! I would serve a lush soup to start, a goat’s cheese, mushroom and red onion risotto (risotto is a bit fiddly but soooo delicious when it’s done well and it’s such a comfort food joy) and something decadent for dessert like a rich chocolate torte. Yum *is envisioning self on Come Dine With Me*
Watercress & celeriac soup with goat’s cheese croutons, roast duck breasts with maple syrup vinaigrette and champagne & raspberry possets
probably a pasta dish im quite good at them
I’d make a lovely lasagne, always a favorite of mine.
Sounds great! Must try it :-)
well done steak with crispy chips.
A mixed grill
I like to cook salmon en croute for dinner parties.
Sounds like a fab idea. I love dinner parties!
I would cook Traditional Spanish tapas
Beef Wellington. Thankyou so much for the chance xx
I would cook Lamb shanks in a mint Gravy with rosemary fluffy mashed potatoes and roasted vegetables
Roast pork and stuffing!
Steak Diane chips and peas
A roast dinner with a big joint of beef, a joint of lamb covered in garlic rosemary, giant yorkshire puddings, all the trimmings and a homemade banoffee pie for dessert.
i would do steak with roasted vegetables and homemade wedges
i WOULD HAVE A MEXICAN BANQUET
Ooh decisions decisions! I love dinner parties :D I’d make nibbly canape things to start with, probably followed by soy & ginger salmon with couscous and asparagus, and then if I was being fancy I’d serve a croquembouche!
I think I’d cook duck l’orange and a chocolate mousse for dessert
Anything with avocados!
The app looks amazing and now I really really really want a steak! xx
I’d make a mushroom risotto and homemade garlic flatbread
I make chorizo and butter ran stew with crusty bread! Easy and delicious!!
The only thing I’m good at is a stir fry so would have to be that! Simple but scummy!
Haloumi, Greek salad and something massively calorific for pudding. I love toffee flavours so maybe a toffee mousse with toffee sauce!
A beef joint with all the trimmings.
It would have to be my orange and pomegranate salmon with potatoes and vegetables followed by lemon cheesecake.
Veggie stir fry, quick and easy!
Probably a winter chicken caserole with added extras such as parsnips, yorkshire puddings, and dumplings. Always has to be followed by a pudding but really not much room for one.
Pheasant and roast potatoes peas and strawberry cheesecake
rack of welsh lamb with winter veg and wild apple & berry crumble
Not the greatest cook, my neighbours will vouch for this as my children are often assembled across the street when the smoke alarm goes off :)
But I can manage a scrummy Sunday roast with all the trimmings, yummy
egg fried rice and chicken curry
I’d go for steak and triple cooked chips with a Stilton sauce,and chocolate brownies and clotted cream Xx
As a lover of Mexican cuisine i would serve …. Appetiser – Mexican Ceviche ( Fish Salad with olives and avacoado )
Main – Spicy Mexican Chicken Casserole served with Cornbread ( Seperate kid
friendly cassrole done if the munchkins are invited )
Desert – Tequila soaked Mexican Fruit Salad ( Apple juice soaked for the kids)
Risotto :)
I would cook a butternut squash lasagna just because I love them and don’t do them enough.
I’d make something in my slow-cooker, I’m a bit of a panicker so if I can get prepped in advance I can relax – so it would be something like lamp in port with redcurrant sauce, done this before and it is delicious, followed by pavlova (another make in advance!)
Steak with crushed potatoes and asparaus followed by home made pavlova
I would cook a salmon pasta bake and a stem ginger and date sticky pudding
I really like beef Wellington, so that’s what I would probably make!
At my ultimate dinner party i would cook chicken fajitas and a healthy chicken salad
My ultimate dinner party would definitely be Italian, including homemade pizzas, a lasagne, salads, and delicious breads all in the middle of the table for people to help themselves to followed by tiramisu for pudding
I would serve seabass in a pesto sauce followed by creme brulee – and lots of wine!
I’d make a middle eastern feast! Although your menu looked pretty ace :)
Gorgeous tapas!
a big vegan feast …
stuffed mushroom … nut roast with roasted veg and meringues and fresh fruit
This is fantastic! Being a vegetarian, I’d make asparagus, spinach and new potato frittatas :)
Hmmm.. Dinner parties? I usually love to make roasted salmon, garlic spinach, a steak joint, sweet potato mash, and of course a fancy dessert to wrap things up nicely! :)
My nanna is Hungarian and I love her food soil I would make cucumber salad and paprika chicken with galushka
Peppercorn steaks and triple cooked chips :)
i love lasagne
i would cook a delicious nut roast, even if your not a vegetarian this is so good
Full Christmas Lunch even if it’s July! Who doesn’t like Xmas lunch?
I’d cook a roast dinner, as this always goes down well!
I’d make garlic lime chicken and rice. Can’t do without spicy food.
I would cook homemade soup for starter, a chicken dinner for main and a chocolate cake for dessert :)
That steak looks amazing!
Mushroom soup for starters, butternut squash risotto for mains and profiteroles for dessert.
I’d cook risotto with mushrooms and veggies. Pudding would be a home make apple pie and cinnamon! <3
macaroni al forno
Roast beef and Yorkshire puddings
I would love to cook beef wellington with potato dauphinoise, and with steamed green beans to finsh it will be a lemon tart and homemade madagascan vanilla ice cream
i would cook brown stew rice and peas
Well I’d get the Hubby to cook for a start as he is much better than me! He’d probably Jerk Chicken with rice & beans. Than do a vegetarian stir fry for me :) Chocolate Mousse for dessert.
Think I may have put my tweet ref in the box saying I’d followed you on twitter – I blame being awake this early!!) – my Twitter ref is @CakeReev
I’d cook my Beef Wellington – OK – so, I’m stuck in the 80’s but it is delicious
I already downloaded the app, I’d cook my mum’s lasagne :)
Roast beef and Yorkshire puddings
i think a mild chicken and veg curry would be great :)
Melon and raspberry coulis for starter, beef wellington for main and a jaffa chocolate orange cheesecake for pudding
I would cook a selection of indian dishes, lamb and lenti Balti, chicken Korma etc..
Looks fab! I would start with chicken liver parfait, followed by lobster Thermidor and chips and finished off with a cheese board.
Lamb shanks, creamy carrot and swede mash and winter veg. Mmm.
I’d make a roast chicken dinner with plenty of gravy :)
Tapas, so there is a little bit of something for everyone – that way all your guests are happy :)
The ulimate dinner party for me would involve a roast chicken dinner. I love roast chicken dinners. I’m not a good host because i would cook what i love :-)
Id have to cook an Italian feast, bruschetta for starters, a lovely home made lasagne for mains and a tasty tiramisu for dessert! Loving the shopmium app some great deals or money off and lots of freebies!
It would have to be my chilli, marinated over night. with homemade garlic bread
I also make a mean apple crumble, that people just love
simple real food
I would cook mushroom stroganoff! A favourite since student days! Thanks for the competition!
It would have to be something I can cook really well but that tastes great. That seriously narrows it down for me, but my Spinach and Mushroom cannelloni is pretty .
My ultimate dinner party would be all my favourite foods, lots of comfort food and easy to prepare, seafood salad, followed by lasagne and pavlova to finish
I’d cook an Indian feast for dinner party. Making everything from chutneys to naan breads and not forgetting a couple of currys. I’m vegetarian so Indian is a life saver.
Thai Green and red curry, with sticky rice. Chocolate mousse to finish, yummy
I cook a mean Chinese curry with sesame prawn toast and boiled rice :)
I would cook some jerk chicken with some coconut rice and serve up a salad on the side.
An Indian Banquet
Steak and chips
I would serve up a huge Caribbean style buffet banquet! Rice n peas, macaroni pie, cou cou, pudding and souse and yams! Yum yum yum
Steak with crispy roast potatoes and creamy mushroom sauce :)
There are no words to describe how boiaodcus this is.
Haven't had any vaccines since childhood (which were sadly forced upon me despite kicking and screaming and sobbing for hours afterward) and I get sick far less than most people I know who DO get vaccines.
A chicken dinner with mash, roast potatoes, yorkshire puddings infact all the trimmings
i’d love to make the 80’s fave dish Beef Wellington, never quite perfected it.
i would would a beautifu seafool Paella , yummy
Lamb
Beef
At my ultimate dinner party, I’d cook a hearty chicken and chorizo paella
Lamb medallions in red wine sauce with new potatoes and garden peas.
Rack of lamb and new potatoes
Something easy but tasty, chicken pasta bake – I’m not very adventurous!
chicken pasta and pepperoni bake xxx
Lasagne! There’s nothing better for a good catch up than a giant lasagne and a glass of red to match it…
I would cook paella or risotto. They are my favourite dishes.
Halloumi to start, followed by a nice steak dish, and finished up with a chocolate and peanut cheesecake.
Chicken and mushroom stir fry
Prawns with Avocado and Zesty Citrus Dressing, Coq au Vin with Duchess Potatoes, and Pear Charlotte to finish :)
A slow cooked leg of lamb with a curry sauce, Bombay potatoes and green beans
For starters it would be Smoked Salmon Toasts, for main Rack of Lamb with Roasted Vegetables, and for afters its got to be Chocolate Orange Tart
My signature dish is a spaghetti meatballs :)
A roast dinner. Yummy!
I woudl have to go for a a lamb roast with all the trimmings, roasties, yorkshire pud, stuffing balls, a mix of veg.
I woudl have to go for a lamb roast with all the trimmings, roasties, yorkshire pud, stuffing balls, a mix of veg.
hmmm probably home made lasaagne with crusty warm garlic bread with butter and a beautiful side of fresh tasty and juicy salad including lettuce, tomato a little onion and anything else you may want to add…deeeeelish!!