What food is worth making yourself?

[Postmanbear]

I am hosting Christmas for DH’s family for the first time this year. My original plan was to buy all ready made (I have two toddlers) but then I have been a bit shocked at the price (hosting for 5 days, 3 big meals expected). I don’t have a lot of time but was thinking of freezing some things that were worth doing. So far I’ve thought about homemade cauliflower cheese and the red cabbage (?!).
What tastes better homemade in your opinion?

Chilli is much nicer made in advance and freezes very well a box of boil in the bag rice and some nachos quick easy meal.
Pulled pork can be made in advance serve with some salad coleslaw and part baked hot baguettes.
A paste sauce can be made quick and cheap.
For Xmas dinner I always do Jamie’s make ahead gravy - you can then just buy the pre prepped veg to steam in the bags in the microwave they are often on 3 for 2 in Asda

Hopefully your guests will also help out with the cooking I know I do when I’m being hosted

Homemade roasties and stuffing are always way better.

Postmanbear im not taking away it can be stressful for some.but its really not that bad.its always worse when you get sickened with worry in your head.you build it into something horrid.when really your just...cooking.
and i taking away budge or mental health worries and it really is nothing to fear.
we manage to not prep.there are a few of the things ive nentioned above in the freeer but hardly lol. we cooked all the meals from scratch.(no frozen meals in the freezer ever!)and everyone mucks in.
always have a take out night.lunch at a pub etc after a walk.
always have tins of mins pies and a tray.
i cant say im the best at advice but if you need to vent or talk anything through im here always.just pop back.and there are far better people than me to advice hre too for you.

also do you have aldi?they have great meal kits.so whole chicken casseroles and spanisi chicken packs that freee and a couple of them feed a good amount.and in the pack is the chicken veg and gravy.you bung it in an oven dish cover and cook and they are devine!
they also do these in chicken stir frys and currys too.an they arnet ready meals so no worrys,they are simply all the fresh stuff there packed for you to make the meal.

www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/food/article-1328728/Christmas-dinner-CAN-stress-free--long-start-cooking-NOW.html This is what I've been doing for years. Much less stressful than last minute preparation.

If I have people staying I plan so I can manage everything.
I have a jotter and I have a page or two for each day.
Each of three meals gets written down , ( or not if we are going out)
A shopping list for each day is written out.
A note is made if it needs cooking and freezing first.

Xmas day is straight forward but requires time planning, I use hairy bikers or Delia usually but there are lots online.
I write out all my timings so I can get on with Xmas day after a couple of glasses of champagne.

I put my shopping list for the week onto an online shop, I often split it into heavy items like water, juice etc alongside bulky items like kitchen roll, toilet paper, tin foil and clingfilm one week and then fresh items the next.

Then I can just enjoy the guests because everything I need is in the house and I know what I am doing each day.

Red cabbage is much nicer home cooked.

Mince pies. l had a recipe years ago that had ground nuts in the pastry. Then before you put the 'lid' on, you put a whole hazelnut in the middle, and cut a little cross in the middle of the pastry lid. When you put the lid on, the cross made a little 'crown' round the hazelnut. They were very popular and looked really nice.

A big sausage plait would be easy and cheap to make and provide a main meal with mash and veg. You could festive it up with Cranberry or sage and onion