Family 'Come Dine With Me', suggestions for teens?

[Fuuuuuckit]

My teens have been invited to do a CDWM challenge at their dad's over Christmas.

Rasonable capable teens, not too much experience in the kitchen. They both want to win, so I'm racking my brains for simple yet effective menus for both of them. (Budget no problem, ex is paying)

Any ideas other than supernoodles and Angel Delight?

Theme it. So Mexican, guacamole, salsa and home made tortilla chips to start, chilli con carne for main. The secret is to caramelize the onions really well - takes loads of prep. Or American, homemade burgers followed by brownies and ice cream.

Won't lie. Supernoodles and Angel Delight is a winning menu for me 😅 love them both.

If its 3 course. Maybe start with a soup? And a no bake cheesecake or cake (secretly made from a cake mix) or maybe even a trifle?

Mains, I don't know if it has to be festive themed. If not just a slightly fancy spag bol and garlic bread maybe? Or risotto? Or some sort of roast but could do the roast in a slow cooker for ease?

What's the favourite meal? I have always joked I would do a variation on fish fingers and chips - so like home made fish fingers and posh chips instead of the frozen type.
Could they do some sort of fancy version of typical teen food? So some type of homemade pot noodles or homemade version of a Greggs steakbake?

Clearly the no blame cheesecake, cake or trifle was meant to have dessert written after it, looks like I meant as a starter🙈

Another possible starter could maybe be a cheese fondue or something similar, or a fancy bread with a selection of toppings or something.

Some ideas for starters, mains and puddings:
Puff pastry tarts
Stuffed chicken breasts
Cheat’s paella
Chocolate mousse (or this recipe)
Tiramisu
Cherry cheesecakes

If there is a bread maker available, what about pizza?

Other ideas..
Baked camembert starter
Mushroom stroganoff served with rice or fresh (bought) tagliatelle main
Lemon posset or rhubarb fool pudding

Maybe something like prawn cocktail, spaghetti puttanesca and bread and butter pudding. All simple crowd pleasers.

All day baked lamb for a main tastes amazing, is proper cooking and is very very simple.

put red wine, garlic cloves and chopped onion into the bottom of a roasting dish. Put a whole lamb leg on top. Cover really well in foil so that no liquid can escape. Bake for 6 hours at 150.

Serve with flat bread and a green veg.

Either a salad or something like smoked salmon as a starter. an easy make ahead pudding like Eton mess (buy the meringue) or lemon posset would be good for dessert.

My daughter (16) has been cooking using the BBC Good Food website for recipes since she was about 12/13.

There are some really nice, simple and effective recipes on there.

DS is 14 he would make Mussels either marinara or in white wine, Spag Bol and Frangipane tarts or pavlova or cheesecake. Not the most exciting but he can make it all and he loves to eat all of them