It's winter in Oz and I've got to make a birthday lunch for 5 adults tomorrow

[FortunesFave]

and need ideas please? I've been asked to host DH's aunt and a few other elderly relatives for lunch.

I don't mind but can't think what to do! I usually make a big antipasti board thing when it's warm weather and have loads of ham, cheese, olives, cured meats and salad with nice bread etc but it's cold here at the moment.

All of the adults aren't afraid of spice so I thought about making a big curry...but what else?

Shall I make a curry or is there something else we could do? DH hates pork or we'd have pulled pork and other things.

Any ideas please?

A big lasagna or pasta dish with garlic or herb bread, a big salad with pies or fruit platter for afters.
Advantage is that you can pre make lasagna and breads and reheat tomorrow

FortunesFave What about some Curry Pumpkin Soup? I plan on making some in the next few days, it's really easy and so yummy, specially if you make fresh bread as well. You can leave out the curry if you wish, either way, serve topped with a dallop of plain yoghurt or fresh cream.

My favourite bread mix is Laucke's Crusty White which you can buy at Coles or Woollies, easier if you have a bread machine or can be hand kneaded and cooked in a regular oven, directions on the packet are easy to follow. It comes with sachets of yeast, just add warm water to kick start the yeast.

Your idea of a curry sounds nice too. A couple of days ago I cooked a whole chicken on the BBQ after cutting it butterfly-style, again, it was really delicious. Just rubbed it with Olive Oil to prevent sticking to the hotplate, then sprinkled with Ground Ginger, Red Paprika, Oregano and Ground Ginger...too easy and fell off the bones (heck, making myself hungry all over again!!).

Good luck ;-)

I'd have said lasagne too, it's warming and a crowd pleaser.
You could put out a salad as pp says, and wee dishes of olives, sundried tomatoes, anchovies etc.
For dessert I'd buy something, but Im a terrible dessert cook!

I'm also in Oz and its cold and raining. so I am making potato bacon and leek soup, and beef and Guinness pie. And a friend gave me a bag of lemons and custard apples so I need to do something with them too.

alwayscrashinginthesamecar1 Not raining here (yet) but it's cold and overcast, might have to switch the heater on soon. Your soup sounds nice too, can't beat nice soup in Winter.

When I get lemons I always make some Lemon Cheese/Spread/Butter or whatever you like to call it because it last for a long time if you seal the jars when they are hot. I usually squeeze remaining lemons and freeze the juice in ice trays and store in the freezer in a resealable bag to be used anytime I want juice. House next door sold a couple of years ago and new owner was going to remove the lemon tree so I asked if I could raid the lemons first....she didn't want them so I made good use of them.

Custard Apple recipes here

Thanks, Windyrose! I just moved house and left behind a lemon tree which made me sad, so my friend thought she would cheer me up with a bag of HUGE lemons, they are the same size as pineapples! And I've never eaten a custard apple before so I wasn't quite sure what to do with them!

Wow, fantastic lemons being that size, hope they are full of juice. It's been so long since I've eaten a Custard Apple I don't really remember what they taste like now. At the time at girl at work loved them and often had one for lunch, so I bought one at the fruit shop to try but haven't seen them for many, many years.

Another use for the lemons is to make some marmalade. I used to grow Finger Limes and a Variegated Cumquat but not enough to make marmalade on their own, so combined Oranges, Lemons, Pink Grapefruit, regular Grapefruit and Mandarin for some Marmalade. It was really nice but different at the same time.

Would they eat pizza? You need to have your oven set to it's maximum temperature so it will warm the house up nicely, and you can make a few different kinds to please everyone. Pizza dough is ridiculously easy and quick to make. There is usually a recipe on the flour packet.

I’ve been feeding oldies in Oz during isolation
Top hits
Mary Berry fish pie with crunchy potato topping
Jamie Oliver’s beef and Guinness pie
Slow cooked beef casserole
Annabel Langbeins egg & bacon pie - divine
One pot roast chicken /spuds etc etc
Potato/leek and mushroom soup.
Pumpkin soup
Thai green prawn curry
Corned beef and white sauce - big hit !
Sticky date pudding
Self saucing chocolate pud