Food ideas for hosting on the other days

[Theprincessisblanketed]

My family all travel far to get to us for Christmas so they stay for about 5-6 days. Which is lovely, but a lot of meals to prepare.

Christmas day we do the traditional big roast & nut roast, and boxing day we have the leftover cold meat, cheeses, part baked bread and a vat of pumpkin soup (that I cook in advance and freeze). Plus we will probably do a takeaway one day.

So I really need a couple of other meals that are quick/easy to do or can be prepared in advance for 10 people including vegetarians, that won't take up any fridge room as the fridge will be full of turkey and cream! Any ideas?

What do other people cook if they are hosting Christmas eve and after Christmas as well?

We're having 4 celebrations, different sets of family and friends!

Christmassy baguettes for a quick lunch, bacon, Brie and cranberry with some Christmassy crisps!

I'm doing Nigellas reindeer pie for one meal with loads of veg and probably pigs in blankets.

Festive afternoon tea, if needs be buy in your ready made sandwiches, pastries and cakes.

Leftover meat with homemade chips always goes down well.

I've done a naice cured salmon with beetroot salad and potato cakes in the past as well!

Depends how fancy you want to get? I'd stick to simpler meals but I'm lazy
E.g.
Jacket potatoes with baked beans, cheese and frozen veg. After a long walk in the cold. Aaaah. Yes.

A big pot of morroccan style slowcooked stew with cousous.

Posh pasta eg tortellini with pesto and frozen veg and a dash of cream+salt

Something fresh after all the rich food e g. A posh fruit salad with sliced meats (yiu could cook your own gammon if feeling keen), cheeses and breads on the side

Veggie chillie with rice or jackets

If you have freezer space, buy a ton of ready made pizzas plus homemade salad and a few jars of beetroot/gherkins/pickles

Puddings
Quick Eton mess with packets of meringues, whipped cream/thick Greek yoghurt and frozen raspberries

Individual ramekins/glasses with alternating dollops of Greek yoghurt, honey, fresh , rumbled up biscuits and dried fruit that you can pre-soak in any alcohol of your choice eg sloe gin

Fajitas and margaritas
pizza
lasagne (can pre-made and freeze)
risotto
turkey and sweetcorn pie
bolagnaise
jacket potatoes and bean chilli

I always do a big piece of gammon, easy to have cold with jackets and salad or coleslaw.

Curried parsnip soup is v nice, quick to blitz in the pan, nice and warming after a chilly walk.

Some good old spag Bol sauce, made well ahead and frozen, makes for an easy meal as long as you remember to get it out! I make garlic bread for the freezer, too.

I am hosting for 4 days and have planned:

Homemade focaccia, meats and cheeses, homemade pate (will make a few days before) , homemade sausage rolls (these already made ready to bake in freezer), salads inc homemade coleslaw

Slow cooked beef short ribs with mash and greens

Ham with cauliflower cheese and potatoes

Seafood platter, sausage rolls, smoked salmon blinis

Coronation turkey pie with salads

Leftover veg tarte tatin

Breakfast will be buffet - panettone, clementine and cranberry Bircher muesli, fruit inc pineapple, melon, berries and leave out stuff for toast