What do you serve with lasagna?

[Crissy]

I'm having guests tomorrow night, one of whom is a vegetarian. Meat eater that I am, I've been agonizing over our menu all week.
Finally, I decided on a basic tomato-basil lasagna with fresh mozzarella.
But what else do I serve?
As an appetizer? I'm leaning towards an antipasto tray.
The salad? A simple Caesar?
The vegetable?
The dessert?
And of course the wine. What about the wine?

As comfortable as I usually feel in the kitchen, I'm hesitant this week. I love these people, and I don't want to serve a wreck of a meal.

Help?:(

[mrscopterdoc]

I think your meal sounds fine. If you have to have a vegetable {and I don't think you do} how about zucchini or green beans? You can't go wrong with something chocolate for dessert.

Red wine goes with pasta and don't forget the bread!:D

[abbeyej]

Sounds like a lovely meal! :)

I don't think you *need* to have another vegetable if you're serving lasagna and a nice salad. (If you go with a caesar, check your dressing's ingredients -- some have fish products in them, which may or may not be okay with your friend.) Spinach sautéed with garlic and olive oil would be another nice side (and so pretty with the red-and-white lasagna). Or mushrooms sautéed with wine?

At this particular moment, I can't get past chocolate cake in my mind as dessert. I'm thoroughly fixated. I'm sure there are other desserts in the world, but I can't think of another one... hm... ;)

And I'm hopeless with wine. I make dh pick it out.

[WTMindy]

a loaf of french bread or some kind of crustini and a green salad (Caesar sounds great!) An antipasta tray sounds good for an appetizer. Don't ask me about wine, cuz' I'd just get something red and cheap! :-) For dessert, I think you could do almost anything. I don't think it has to continue the Italian theme, but tirimisu would be amazing if you wanted to continue the theme. Mmmmmm, can I come?!?

[Mrs Mungo]

I'm having guests tomorrow night, one of whom is a vegetarian. Meat eater that I am, I've been agonizing over our menu all week.
Finally, I decided on a basic tomato-basil lasagna with fresh mozzarella.
But what else do I serve?
As an appetizer? I'm leaning towards an antipasto tray.

How about Insalata Caprese? Where you take fresh mozzarella and slice it up. Then you sprinkle with a little ollive oil, salt and pepper and add fresh basil. It's yummy and good for vegetarians.

The salad? A simple Caesar?
The vegetable?
The dessert?
And of course the wine. What about the wine?

Any green salad will do.

For a veggie I like green beans or zucchini with lasagna.

I'd also add some bread.

Dessert-do you want simple or complicated? I love tiramisu but you can make in easy trifle-type version.

eta: I see while I was pondering many people made the same suggestions I did!

Oh and I prefer white wine, I always choose a Riesling that's just a shade on the sweet side.

[Mrs. Readsalot]

It I actually fixed this sometime dh would probably fall madly in love with me all over again.

[strider]

I'm having guests tomorrow night, one of whom is a vegetarian. Meat eater that I am, I've been agonizing over our menu all week.
Finally, I decided on a basic tomato-basil lasagna with fresh mozzarella.
But what else do I serve?
As an appetizer? I'm leaning towards an antipasto tray.
The salad? A simple Caesar?
The vegetable?
The dessert?
And of course the wine. What about the wine?

As comfortable as I usually feel in the kitchen, I'm hesitant this week. I love these people, and I don't want to serve a wreck of a meal.

Help?:(

I like the idea of an antipasto tray. Go towards pickled vegetables and away from cheese.

For salad I would definitely do caesar.

For vegetable I would go with either green beans sauteed with a bit of garlic and kosher salt, OR spaghetti squash with butter and basil.

Serve a hearty Chianti or Shiraz.

Dessert should be light to counter all that cheese. Perhaps a fruit medley drizzled with melted chocolate and some whipped cream. Serve with coffee or a dessert wine such as a nice Moscato d'Asti.

Hope it goes well.

[strider]

Serve garlic bread.

[Wendi]

It contains Worcestershire sauce (made with anchovies).

Wendi

[Karen sn]

An awesome salad (with homemade oil/vinegar dressing), fresh green beans, and garlic rolls (real butter - real garlic).

[j.griff]

Are they dairy consuming vegetarians, or are they vegan? :D
Don't be stressed. I always love salad with lasagna and/or spaghetti. I would suggest
not tossing the salad with dressing though, but instead have a couple of options on the table for them
to choose from. Oh, and garlic bread- yum. :D

[Crissy]

Thank you, Abbey and Wendi, for pointing out the fish products in Caesar dressing. That wouldn't have occurred to me.


French bread is on my grocery list, and a chocolate dessert sounds wonderful. Maybe my boys and I will bake a cake in the morning.


Thank you, thank you! :)

[GreenKitty]

With lasagna, salad, garlic bread, dessert.