Is it me or him?

kittylester I haven't made it for years either, I may try it again.

You would have to do a microwaved steam pud at the last minute anyway - always a bit dicey when you have guests!

I like those meringue nests you can buy ready-made. I fill them with a compote of different kinds of berries. You kind buy frozen versions of those too if you want to make it really easy. Then cook them with a little ground cloves and some muscovado sugar. Fill nests and top with whipped cream - delicious!

Madsad I also swear by Delia and an old Bero cookbook. So simple and easy to follow.
If I were you I'd buy a pud , or make a crumble. Or fruit salad. Something easy. Life's too short and it'syou they are coming to see, not the food!

Fresh fruit salad.

Hilda I used to make that dessert years ago, but substituted the sherry for Cointreau and grated some orange rind over the cream. It was delicious.

What yummy ideas! When can I come to dinner?

Jalima, I used to make that loads and had forgotten about it, thanks for the reminder.

ps soaked rather than drizzled!

That's quite good made with ginger biscuits, whipped cream and fruit as well (strawberries in season but not at the moment).
Not too gingery and best eaten the next day.

Or a plain sponge cake made in a ring tin, drizzled with strong black coffee and coffee liqueur eg Tia Maria, then whipped cream over the top. Sprinkle with flaked chocolate.

No calories btw

Simplest dessert ever, sherry biscuit log.

1 pack of chocolate chip cookies
1 tub whipping cream.
Sherry.
1 chocolate Flake.

Method:
Whip cream until soft peaks form.
Dip the cookies, both sides in sherry and sandwich together into a log.
Coat with remaining cream.
Sprinkle with chocolate crumbles from Flake.
Refrigerate overnight or for a couple of hours.

Whip cream cheese and double cream, icing sugar and lemon juice Add lemon zest, stir in. Spread on a biscuit crust (crumbed digestives and some melted butter in a springform tin( Chill in fridge for at least 8 hours. Open springform and put on plate. Easily made and really delicious. No cooking, no hassle. Hope it goes well.

Just let Waitrose take the strain ( or any other favourite good quality shop). It takes the pressure off your friends too, they don't feel the need to compete in future. Finish with a lovely cheeseboard and voila! Relaxed hostess. Win, win situation.

Sticky toffee pudding. Really easy to make in the oven. I use individual pudding basins and serve it with Clotted cream or ice cream. I don’t like cooking,but this looks good without effort.

I'd suggest making something light like a fruit fool. After two courses your guests may prefer that. Good luck and get well soon.

Waitrose do some good frozen puddings and tarts. You have been ill so go easy on yourself.

My go-to pudding is from a Dairy Diary from 1992! It never fails me.

Pina Colada Cheesecake

Serves 8

Ingredients
50g (2oz) butter, melted
100g (4oz) digestive biscuits, crushed (I use ginger nuts for a change)
25g (1oz) desiccated coconut
135g (4¾ oz) pineapple jelly
225g (8oz) skimmed milk soft cheese
150g (5oz) natural yogurt
30ml (2 tablespoons) coconut rum liqueur
150ml (5 fl oz) fresh whipping cream, softly whipped
Fresh pineapple and kiwi fruit to decorate

Instructions

1.Mix the butter, biscuit crumbs and coconut together. Press into the base of a greased, loose bottomed 20.5cm (8 inch) cake tin and chill.

2.Dissolve the jelly in 150ml (¼ pint) hot water and cool. Beat together the cheese, yogurt and rum, then gradually stir in the jelly. Mix well then fold in the cream.

3.Pour onto the biscuit base and chill until set. Remove from the tin and decorate with the fresh sliced fruit.

(Pineapple jelly can be a bit difficult to track down. I have found it in Sainsbury and Morrisons)

No pud at my table but lovely cheese board with grapes that have been in freezer for an hour before serving. Nobody has ever turned down a second invite to supper- so it works for me. No stress.

My easiest pud is apple crump

Melt for 10 mins in oven 100grms each butter ,sugar ,flour
Cut up cooking apples in bowl
Mix the butter mixture and spread on apples
Bake on 4 for 40 mins

Really easy and everyone loves it.

How about a French apple tart with a bought sweet pastry case if you want something hot or a summer pudding if a cold dessert is OK.

madsad
Can't stand JO and certainly not his recipes Too full of himself
Microwave is not a good idea if you want a light pudding Can't beat the Delia way.I also have a very old Bero cook book that advises standing your pud on a upturned saucer not your best Royal Doulton in a saucepan and fill up to an inch of the top of your pudding with boilng water and making sure it is topped up with boiling water gently steam for as long as the size of the pudding recommends.There are steamed pudding recipes on line.

Thanks for all your useful replies. I have had the Aldi cheesecake and toffee pudding which were delicious.
If I feel well enough might do as suggested and make an old favourite.
If still not up to it I'll jazz up a bought pudding.

I used to make lots of microwave steam puddings, recipes all from the book that came with my microwave. All delicious but be warned microwaved puddings can go very stodgy when they cool down.

I agree with others, buy a nice sweet or do a cheeseboard. Good luck

We had a tinned steam pudding last night with custard. It was really yummy. Personally I always buy puddings. It's not worth the hassle to make them.

When feeding a large number of people I usually do two puddings one bought one homemade - guess which goes first! Eton Mess my fallback pud.