Christmas meal with friends

[UndertheCedartree]

I have a friend who is big into cooking. Every year we go over to hers before Christmas and she makes us a lovely meal mainly all homemade.

Sadly, she and her two teenagers have been made homeless and are living in a 1 room hostel. So I've invited them to ours for a meal. But I really don't know what to make. I want it to be festive and special but also I struggle with making mess and things being too complicated. I don't want it to be too overwhelming for me but I want to make it nice for them. It's the least I can do!

There will be 2 adults, up to 5 teenagers if boy/girlfriends come and 1 fussy 11yo DD. The food needs to be vegetarian. We wouldn't all fit round the table so looking for a more help yourself and find somewhere to sit type of thing! We are all quite adventurous in our eating except as mentioned 11yo!

I'd make homemade pizzas and let people select their own toppings. Jamie Oliver, pizza dough recipe is gorgeous.

I think I would do a veggie lasagne in that situation. Plus a bowl of salad and some garlic bread. All prepped in advance, no mess and easy to help yourself to and poke with a fork.

Do You think your friend might be willing to actually do or help with the cooking if you provide the space and the ingredients.? Since you said she likes to cook. It could be a bit of an outing spending half a day together getting it ready.

Sorry I don’t really have cooking suggestions as I’m not very good at it (mainly because I hate the mess!).

I imagine she's extremely limited in what she can prepare at present so I would some hearty proper food - a tagine or veggies lasagne or a couple of veggie curries with rice, naan, poppadoms. Or chilli and all the bits. Easy to eat off one's lap with a fork

@Lizzieregina that's what I would suggest too. If she enjoys cooking, you ask her if she could help you. You get the ingredients and be her assistant in the kitchen. It would probably raise her self esteem big time!

If you want a meal then I wouldn't worry about it being festive. Having something hot and easy to serve and eat is the main thing. Veggie chilli is so easy. You can use soya or just beans and peppers.

Easy to serve in bowls with rice or jacket potatoes, refried beans, tortillas.

Curry also easy.

Otherwise do buffet food, cheese and crackers, then stuff to chuck in the oven.

Cheese fondue, the ready made packs are just as good if you want to cheat, you can use a slow cooker and forks or get a little cheap fondue set. Some nice artisan bread chopped into cubes, and any other vegetable dippers of your choice ( Xmas themed sprouts, carrots?! ) it's fun and easy and interactive and yummy!

Thank you for all the ideas!

I think I might do a Mexican theme as I know all the kids will like that even DD. I'm also quite confident in cooking that. So maybe I'll do a chilli, a refried bean dish, some roasted peppers/onions, then have jacket potatoes, wraps and tortilla chips along with grated cheese, sour cream, salsa and avocado. Then I'll buy a dessert. Maybe get a bottle of bucks fizz or a cocktail for me and my friend and some j2os for the kids.