What to cook for lunch with friend??

[Joolyjoolyjoo]

Right, need some ideas. My friend is coming over on Saturday for lunch. We were supposed to be going out, but I asked her over here, as DH is away and don't want to ask dad to mind the kids AGAIN! She is bringing her boys (3 and 5) and I will have my 3 kids there. So needs to be child-friendly food.

I'm working till 12, so won't be home until at least 12.30, so need something I can do night before and then stick in the oven.

All I can think of is lasagne, but seems a bit boring. Kids won't eat chilli/ curry etc, so that is out. Stew seems a bit heavy for middle of the day.

I owe friend a lunch, so want to make something that looks like I have gone to some effort, but WHAT? All suggestions gratefully received!

In these situations you can never go wrong with a shepherds pie!

Of course! I even have a recipe somewhere for a shepherd's pie with a twist (Mediterranean pie, I think it's called!) Thank you!!

I think lasagne is fine - I'd be more than happy with that for lunch. Esp with a nice salad and bread.

Lasagne is indeed tasty, but I'd go with Sheperds pie, Nigel Slater style - make it with turkey mince and instead of potatoes, use steamed mashed butternut squash. Same amount of effort, but a little bit different.

yy to shepherds pie or fish pie

Make a cake the day before? A lemon drizzle maybe?

I second the cake idea. For these types of get togethers I tend to do something very basic for the main (maybe a homemade soup with good bread, or fish and a salad) and go for an extra special pudding or cake.

A cake, huh? Hmm- I'm not much of a baker, but I do do a good banana bread- would that do, or do you think it should be the kind of cake that looks good on a stand?!

I found the mediterranean pie recipe- it's just like shepherds pie but with red pesto and sunblush tomatoes and olives- sounds good, I think?

I could do soup- and everyone loves a bowl of homemade soup in this chilly weather, but my blummin kids won't eat it, so I'd need to do something else for them. Mind you, they quite possibly won't eat the pie either..

I direct you to the famous MN lemon drizzle cake by MarsLady - all in one, can't go wrong. Under recipes on here.

If your DC won't eat the pie, then do a really good soup - my fave atm is a spiced butternut squash, with some great bread like sourdough, and some cheeses for you and your friend, and some little sausages, wedges and raw veg for the kids.

But you must make cake.

OK- I'm off to look for the drizzle cake recipe- you have talked me into it

Joo- what recipe do you use for mediterranean pie? Sorry hope you mind me asking :)

Not at all- it's a recipe I got out of Good Food years ago, although I adapted it a bit, as my DH detests polenta (and capers!)

Heat oil, then cook 500g lamb/ beef mince 5 mins, add chopped onion, cook 5-7 mins more. Stir in sliced courgette, chopped sunblush tomatoes and 100ml water (I use stock) Bring to boil, simmer for 10 mins

Mix in (1tbps) capers and choppedfresh basil. (I also stir in couple tablespoons red pesto at this point, possibly some olives)

They say to top with polenta, but the one time I gave DH and the kids polenta I had a mutiny on my hands, so I top with creamed mashed potatoes and grated parmesan. You can then grill it to melt the cheese (but as I'm doing it the day before I'll just stick it in the oven next day!) then I plan to serve it with a nice green salad, baby tomatoes, crusty bread.

Just - I saw the episode where Nigel Slater made that pie with the butternut squash and it looked heavenly.