lunch for 12 just after Christmas..... ideas please

[EmmaGrundyForPM]

I am doing lunch for 12 people on the 27th of December. I don't really want to do a buffet and ideally would like to do something I can make ahead and freeze. But what?

I'm working up to and including Chrisa Eve. I could dash to Morrisons on the morning of the 27th for additional things but in reality I'd have to do the main food shopping the weekend before.

I was wondering about something like a venison sausage casserole that I could shove in the freezer and then serve with jacket potatoes. Or make 2 large lasagne and freeze but lasagne isn't very exciting.

We have one oven plus a combi microwave and oven, plus a hob. I can create enough freezer space to freeze ahead but fridge space will be limited.

Any ideas?

Buy a slow cooker some are £15

Prepare the night before and put in the fridge to marinate

Put in slow for the day

You can cook all sorts or things chilli stew pulled pork spicy chicken or curry - no effort involved

Or try one of those new steam/slow cooker combinations

Sorry !

www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/pulled-lamb-shoulder-sticky-pomegranate-glaze

www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/lemon_and_pomegranate_48177

If I have oldies coming I normally do wee roasted new pots as well as all the nice bread,dips, salad etc.

I always add lots of huge chunks of red onions under the lamb, they are delicious!!

Thanks @fussygalore118. That looks yummy, my only concern is that I'd have to get up at the crack of dawn to get it in the oven in time for lunch.

@GreenTulips I do have a slow cooker but it wont hold enough for 12 people

@EmmaGrundyForPM I'd have thought a lovely fish pie is a winner for Scandinavians?

OP you could just cook the lamb overnight in a low oven - see the Nigella recipe You could just use the good food recipe using Nigellas instructions.

When hosting on 27th have just done lasagne, garlic bread and salad. Some people don’t want to eat much by that point.

Chicken and pepper traybake sounds good.

@DeRigueurMortis that sounds possible.

I don't think the visitors will have over eaten as they are renting a house in a (to them) strange country. When I invited them I didn't actually expect them say yes given that we've never met and they will have to hire an additional car etc to dry either 2 hours to us, but apparently they are very keen, so i really feel I need to make it worth their while!

A big gammon joint or 2 - always half price just after Xmas with a huge dish of dauphinoise and braised red cabbage with apple is my go to. Can all be done ahead of time. Smoked salmon /gravadlax starter. Panetone bread and butter pudding for after. All very easy and can make ahead.

www.rivercottage.net/recipes/shin-of-beef-with-ginger-and-soy

Soy and ginger beef (I use brisket, the recipe calls for shin) served with rice and Asian veg? I've frozen the recipe before and it's been fine (but I would add fresh chilli when reheating, I don't find it gets any spice at all from the amount he suggests, and certainly not once it's been frozen).

How about cod wrapped in pancetta, do it as a tray bake with peppers, red onion, sweet potatoes, courgettes, cherry tomatoes. Drizzle with pesto and a little olive oil if needed. You can use frozen cod, onions and potatoes will keep fine and then buy peppers, tomatoes and courgettes on the day along with green salad and nice bread. Literally takes 10 mins to pull together on the day and a change to Christmas food.

Missing the point but how comes a) you've never met them and b) you invited them?

steak pie with mash.

So long as you're not in Scotland where we usually have it on the 1st.

It is easy - buy from butcher - ideally order ahead as you will need 2 big ones - then shove in oven. A massive pie does look impressive as well

I'm hosting Boxing Day for 12.
I'm doing a gammon, roasted salmon side, potato gratin, winter slaw. Lots of fresh bread, cheese crackers and alcohol 😀

@crunchymum good question! They are ds girlfriends family. She usually goes home for Christmas but this year apparently her family (who I've never met) are coming to the UK for Christmas and renting a house about 2 hours away from us. I said casually to ds a few weeks ago that, if he thought it was a good idea, maybe they could come over for lunch between Christmas and New Year and didn't think it would come to anything. Then a week ago his girlfriend texted me to say her family would love to come but it would have to be the 27 as they are flying home on the 28th. I had thought they were staying through New Year and so had been thinking in terms of the Sunday or Monday after Christmas which would give me time to prepare. Obviously I've met ds' girlfriend but there are 7 family members coming who I've never met.

I'm loving the recipe suggestions, but really don't want to do anything that relies on my buying ingredients on the morning of the 27th as I have no idea how well stocked the supermarket will be.

You can make this in advance, perhaps freeze it, defrost the night before. It is DELICIOUS...

www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/wordofmouth/2017/mar/09/how-to-cook-the-perfect-boeuf-bourguignon

Lasagne pre done
Massive salad homeade coleslaw garlic bread all dive in help themselves

I would be pretty disappointed at being served lasagne and garlic bread at a festive lunch.

@speakout me too so I'm definitely not doing lasagne.

Boeuf Bougignone that I can do ahead and freeze might be the best way to go. Then I can do baby new potatoes roasted in the oven plus some veg.

We rarely have 12 people round to dinner but when we do its family or people we know really well so it's ok for everyone to pile in. This is a bit different, and not knowing them means I'd like to spend time chatting to them not stuck in the kitchen.

I can vouch for the FC recipe...it is slightly time consuming in the preparation (and I have not included the oxtail... I replaced it with beef shin one time and omitted it completely another time), but slow cooking the cheeks with all the other delicious things results in a completely melt in the mouth dish..... luxe comfort food!

If they’re from Scandinavia it’s unlikely they’ll have had turkey for Christmas dinner.

I think I’d do a chicken bake or casserole of some kind - it’s nice and easy, and you can just stick it in the oven and forget about it. We had a chicken cacciatore last night, cobbled together with bits from the fridge that needed using, and it was delicious. No effort at all and lends itself well to being left in the oven until everything is ready which means you’ll be able to relax and chill with your guests.

We used this recipe:

www.olivemagazine.com/recipes/healthy/chicken-red-pepper-olive-cacciatore/

We did crushed garlic and thyme potatoes to go with it - again, these are so easy and can be boiled up ahead of time, crushed and then just sit in the oven with the chicken.

All you need to go with it is a good crusty bread and a few bottle of wine. 👍

*bottles.

But if you will have plenty of leftover turkey and you like making pies and feel confident with it then I actually think a nice turkey pie is a great idea.

Oh sorry I skimmed the OP and didn’t see that you want to freeze it.

In its defence this dish is so easy to do, minimal prep and into the oven...but you could freeze it too, if that would make it easier.

Thanks @Ninkanink. I don't mind cooking on the day if it's a "shove in the oven and forget it " dish but I don't want to go shopping on the 27th as (a) time restraints and (b) I can't rely on being able to get the ingredients that morning. So freezing ahead is safer if possible.