Here is a simple menu for a dinner party that can be made ahead and served in minutes. Serves 10
Cheese Strata with Shrimp
I prepare this dish in a large cassarole dish for the buffet table, it will serve 8 to 10 for dinner and more if there are other entres.
6 cups Italian bread, cubed
1 cup cheddar cheese, divided into thirds
1 cup caramelized onions, divided into thirds
5 eggs, beaten
2 cups milk
2 tablespoons mustard
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
2 pound shrimp, lightly steamed and peeled
1/4 cup parmesan cheese
1/2 cup dried bread crumbs
1/4 cup fresh parsley, minced
Combine 5 eggs, milk, mustard, salt, cayenne. Heavily butter deep casserole dish. Cover bottom of dish bread, add caramelized onion, shrimp, grated sharp cheddar cheese. Repeat layers twice more. Pour egg mixture over all and refrigerate for at least 8 hours. Bring to room temperature; top with parmesan , dried bread crumbs and minced parsley. Bake at 350 degrees for an hour or until golden brown, puffy and done in the middle.

Endive Salad
For ten
3 heads endive, washed and trimmed
1 bunch water cress
1/2 cup chopped black walnuts
1 tart apple, peeled and minced
1/4 cup dried cherries
freshly ground pepper
Curls of fresh parmesan
Apple butter vinaigrette
2 tablespoons apple butter
3 tablespoons cider vinegar
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup walnut oil
1/2 cup peanut oil
Arrange separated leaves on a large round plate like a sun burst, add water cress, sprinkle with walnuts, minced apple and freshly ground pepper. 10 minutes before serving pour apple butter vinaigrette over all and garnish with parmesan curls and dried cherries.

Jam Sauce over Ice Cream with Ginger Snaps
For 10
1/2 gallon vanilla ice cream (I use Bryers)
1 pint jam (I typically use my own damson or pear preserves)
1/2 cup brandy
Heat jam over low heat in a small pan until liquefied, add half of brandy and heat through. Heat remaining brandy; ignite it carefully and pour it into heated mixture.
Spoon over ice cream served in stemmed glasses; tuck a ginger snap into the top. This can be prepared and served at the table in a chaffing dish if you wish. On the buffet table kept prepared sauce warm in a small chaffing dish for guests to fix their own. In which case, scoop ice cream into a chilled bowl placed in a larger bowl of cracked ice.