How to fake a 5-course meal from scratch

Step 1: Easy soup course

The key to faking the soup course is to avoid canned soup. Purchase a high-quality boxed soup (butternut squash is a great choice) instead. Then, garnish it with store-bought creme fraiche and a sprinkling of nutmeg or parsley.

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Step 2: Pre-prepare the palate-cleanser

A palate-cleanser is served between each course. Lime sorbet is a common choice because you can pick it up at any market. Just use a melon baller or small ice cream scoop to fill small glass dishes, and store them in the freezer until you need them.

Step 3: Salad course in a cinch

Take the prep time out of the salad course by buying fresh, precut salad mix. For the dressing, use a high-quality brand or find your favorite mild vinaigrette recipe online; put all the ingredients into a jar and shake well just before serving.

Delicious raspberry vinaigrette recipe >>

Step 4: Simple starch course

You can serve any starch you'd like, but potatoes make this course easy. Just toss quartered red potatoes or fingerling potatoes in an herb-flavored creamy dressing or yogurt dip of your choice (a plastic storage bag works well for mixing). Place the potatoes in a single layer in a greased shallow baking dish or foil-lined pan and bake at 400 degrees F for 30 or 40 minutes, turning halfway through.

Step 5: Entree course cheat

Often, the most time-consuming part of a five-course meal is the entree — it doesn't have to be. Let your favorite restaurant help. Just order a plain protein (steak, chicken, tuna, etc.) to go, then make your own elegant topper. Try a bleu cheese cream or marsala wine sauce.

Try the toppers from these recipes >>

Step 6: Delectable dessert course

Five-course meals traditionally finish with a warm, fruit-based dessert. Skip the frozen pie and call a local bakery. Ask them to prepare a pie or tart but without baking it so you can do it at home just before your meal. They do all the work; you take all the credit!

For more cooking tips, check out:
Super Moms guide to cleaning & cooking for the family