Dinner party dessert ideas! Help!

So a small get together with two friends has turned into a full-blown 6-8 person dinner party TONIGHT!  I'm responsible for bringing a dessert, and I've got chef's block. 

One person is a vegetarian.  She does eat eggs and milk, though.

Dinner itself is pasta with some kind of vegetable sauce. 

The group is mostly American with one Brit who keeps halal.

My oven is temperamental - I cannot tell what temperature it is set on because all the little numbers have been rubbed off.

I have four vanilla beans from River Swale that might be fun to use.

I have to go to the store regardless so ingredients are not an issue.
 
I'm utterly at a loss of what to make.  Instinct is telling me some kind of vanilla custard or something, but I'm desperate for ideas. 

How about a tiramisu?  Fairly easy to make...no baking and Yummy!

Creme caramel?  It's easier than it sounds.  Here's UKTV's recipe, and here's Delia's version.

Victoria sponge is easy, and you can infuse the sugar with your vanilla beans.

Or maybe a sherry trifle?  That's DH's favorite dessert ever.  And you don't need to include the sherry if some of your guests might object to alcohol in their desserts 

Or maybe a sherry trifle?  That's DH's favorite dessert ever.  And you don't need to include the sherry if some of your guests might object to alcohol in their desserts 

I was going to suggest a trifle! They're DELISH and very very easy.

If you'd like, you could even do a chocolate trifle. Delia has a super-easy cheat's version. (I know it says to soak the cherries overnight, but you don't really need to if you're pressed for time.)

You still haven't figured out all those dials?  Eeek!

I'm no help - though that chocolate trifle sounds good! - but I'll be keeping an eye on the thread to see if I can't find some use for our vanilla pods....

Actually, now that I think about it, the lemon buttermilk pie that I made for Thanksgiving would be awesome right about now...especially with fresh vanilla.

Mrs. Robinson  posted a recipe for Nigel Slater's Hot Chocolate Puddings once, found here

http://www.nigelslater.com/recipes_view.asp?nRecipe_ID=%7BC031A372-707A-4883-B1F4-6653B35EBC6C%7D&nRecipeCat_ID=%7BACCFD0C0-6F59-4487-8C1B-B35A8DACDA8F%7D&sSrc= 

I've done it and it's easy, impressive, and delicious! 

Argh!  These are some great ideas.  I'd love to do a trifle or little hot choco puddings or even the creme caramel (man did I have a great one in Paris), but I don't think I have the dishes to accommodate those.  Even the tiramisu I'm not sure about (unless I make a huge one in my 13x9 pyrex glass casserole dish).  I have an 8x8 shallow casserole dish, but I think that might be a bit small for 8.  Hrm.

I also realized I brought 0 cake pans and 0 pie dishes.   Clearly when I was packing for this move I was not thinking about anything other than how tiny my eventual kitchen was likely to be.  What was I thinking?

This is annoying.    I really, really don't want to go the weak route and buy something from the bakery.  Especially since I'm home not working and people are expecting something fabulous from me

Many many thanks for the ideas... maybe I'll run to the charity shop next to the store and see if they have any dishes for cheap that would work.

Argh!  These are some great ideas.  I'd love to do a trifle or little hot choco puddings or even the creme caramel (man did I have a great one in Paris), but I don't think I have the dishes to accommodate those.  Even the tiramisu I'm not sure about (unless I make a huge one in my 13x9 pyrex glass casserole dish). 

You could do mini trifles or puddings in anything! Glasses, coffee cups, etc. Be creative! 

Mrs. Robinson  posted a recipe for Nigel Slater's Hot Chocolate Puddings once, found here

http://www.nigelslater.com/recipes_view.asp?nRecipe_ID=%7BC031A372-707A-4883-B1F4-6653B35EBC6C%7D&nRecipeCat_ID=%7BACCFD0C0-6F59-4487-8C1B-B35A8DACDA8F%7D&sSrc= 

I've done it and it's easy, impressive, and delicious! 

Mega super happy thanks to EllieJean (and by proxy Mrs Robinson) for the hot chocolate pudding idea.  The charity shop had 8 little coffee cups (mine are all the mega-american variety) that were the perfect size, which was basically the deciding factor.  A trifle or a souffle dish and it could have gone another way.  I've also picked up strawberries, raspberries, and mint to serve alongside.

Any suggestions on whether I should make these ahead of time and reheat at my friend's place, or whether I should just mix the pudding and cook them there?

Mix the pudding and cook there.  Reheating puddings never really works great, and if your oven is a bit duff it could go a bit wrong.  Also, it would be easier (I imagine) to transport the mix in one big container than to transport already part cooked puddings in cups.

Vicky

I PM'd you, E.  These puddings are sort of like a chocolate cake/brownie with a gooey molten chocolate center.  Best fresh out of the oven, and still hot/warm.  You'll want to prep and bake them where you're serving them.

They're scrummy! We always have them for Valentine's Day. 

I've never made them (though I want to now!), but I will say that it's hard to go wrong with a Nigel Slater recipe! They're usually pretty simple and straightforward and always delicious! 

Thanks for the PM, Mrs R!  I think I'll make a pouring custard with the milk I bought (thought I needed milk and not butter, and clearly got that wrong) that I'll flavor with a River Swale vanilla bean (snuck it in there Meg after all)

Wish me luck!    And thanks for all the suggestions - my next charity shop search will be for a trifle bowl.

my next charity shop search will be for a trifle bowl.

Try a car boot sale! You can get gorgeous ones for as little as 50p!

It sounds like you've already made your decision, but I'm just chiming in to say that crumbles (cobblers) are a great dinner party dish.  You can make them in a 9x13 casserole dish and serve them hot with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.  Mmmmm!