Calling all Chefs/Bakers/people who have a lot of recipes!

I need your help! I just realized I have three things coming up in the near future that require me to make something. And see I have no cooking skillz to speak of (and I'm a slow learner).

False advertising.

Tomorrow night we are doing a wine tasting with Joel's family. This is how it works: each couple was assigned a country (we randomly chose out of a hat) and we are to bring a red and white from our designated country. We got Australia/New Zealand so the wine picking part is easy. But we also need to bring an appetizer that sorta matches the country. I can't really think of anything that screams Australia though. (Yes I've already considered getting a bloomin' onion from Outback and calling it a day, so don't even try that.) At this point I'm not as concerned with the app matching the country, so much as it I want it to be delicious!

Our wines are a Shiraz and a Sauvignon Blanc. Apparently smoky meaty items are good with a Shiraz, and seafood/fish is good with Sauvignon Blanc. Any app ideas?! Talk amongst yaselves.

Sunday night and Tuesday night we are having friends over for dinner. (Don't ask me how I got roped into entertaining for people in general, let alone with only ONE night break in between. I am a novice homemaker, OK?! The thought of this makes me want to take a nap.) But I'm looking for something easy, hot, delicious and meaty (something about that sentence sounds sorta fresh. And I like it!). Like a casserole or something. For my laziness factor simplicity's sake, whatever I make Sunday night I'll also make Tuesday night. Heyooooo.

So...ANY IDEAS?!?! Please just post links to recipes if you don't feel like typing them. I greatly need your help. The Waspy Redhead I'm lookin' at you!

T.A.I.F.,

Charlie

p.s. Guess how many thank you notes we did last night? Oh wait. None. Laying on the floor of the baby's room and trying to get our cats to eat our hair seemed significantly more productive.