What are your best make ahead meals/ desserts for larger groups of people?

[TheNewandImprovedMrsHollywood]

Ideally for 5 adults or more.

I'd like ideas for mains and desserts that aren't going to stress me out in the day but show that I do have some cooking ability!!

So, anything that works well for you in situations like this?

Lasagne (made with no pre-cooking needed pasta sheets), make and assemble ahead, will sit happily in oven on low heat for ages.

A real cheat one. 2-3 tins of chicken in white sauce (M&S do a nice one) in dish, top with thawed, frozen shortcrust pastry to make a pie.

Mary Berry's Latimer Beef or Thai Green Chicken.

Desserts, any cheesecake can be made in advance, chilled ones are extra easy. I often do a lemon or white chocolate one and serve with fresh fruit.

BTW, Ina Garten aka Barefoot Contessa says if doing a 3 course dinner you should make two and assemble one so I often do dips, nibbles, etc for starters if making main and dessert or if making starter and main, serve a store bought dessert

Good ideas - and great advice about the 3 courses. I think that will be my new maxim for dinner parties!!

Gooey Chocolate Cake can be made three days in advance, it actually gets better after a day or so as the outside is slightly crispy and the inside remains softish and gooey.

200g dark choc
6 eggs
250g butter, unsalted and softened to room temp
200 g sugar

1. Melt chocolate over bain marie
2. Add butter to choc and stir in
3. Whisk 4 egg whites with a teaspoon of sugar until peaky
4. Whisk the 4 yolks with two remaining whole eggs until double volume
5. Add egg yolky mix to choc and stir in
6. Add egg whites and stir in

Bake at 180 for 30 mins for runny middle or 40 mins for soft middle or 50 mins for firm middle

Trifle! We love trifle, mmm!
Can make from scratch if you like - ie bake your own cake and make custard.
But I assemble using Ambrosia Devon custard, sponge fingers and frozen (homegrown usually) raspberries - normally have these in store cupboard so can always prepare a trifle.

Or my other standby is Banoffee pie - either make base using digestives or ginger nuts crushed and mixed with melted butter or a ready made pastry case. Tin of ready made caramel (- much simpler than boiling tin for hours yourself) or jar of dulce du leche, sliced bananas and topped with whipped cream and grated chocolate or crumbled flake choc.

Or in this cold weather a crumble - I whizz up a crumble mix and keep in a plastic bag in freezer. Always have some frozen prepared fruit in freezer too - either home grown or bought. This way, I can assemble a crumble in no time at all. Can also use tinned peaches either on own or add to tart fruit - I always have some value tins in store cupboard.

Ooh, that cake sounds fab! Wish I'd known about that before this weekend!! Thanks!

just remembered another easy fave dessert - pavlova or eton mess
And (our DCs/cousins love this)
Forgotten Pudding

God, I love trifle - and Eton mess!

I have made forgotten pudding before actually - it was very good. Must do that again sometime.

If you whip up some cream, how long will it last in a bowl in the fridge?

Can be made ahead and looks impressive.

www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/winter_swiss_roll_bowl_27318

whipped cream? last? Not in this house! [bugrin]

But I would expect it to last about 2-3 days in normal household! Make sure you cover it well as you don't want it to end up tasting of whatever you have in the fridge!

Glazed ham can be easily d

Oops

Glazed ham is good to do in advance. I serve with creamy cheesy leeks (lots of leeks in a cheese sauce - you can make in advance and bake for 30 mins in the oven before serving.

Side of salmon can be done in advance with home made mayonnaise. Also, small potatoes (don't bother peeling) roasted with olive oil, Rosemary and garlic - crowd pleaser!

Thanks for that, pengymum!

Glazed ham is a good one. I love Nigella's Ham in Coke - should deffo cook that more often!

Another slightly dumb question - if you roast new potatoes, do you parboil them first or just wash, toss in oil and chuck in the oven?

I wash new potatoes, part steam and then toss in oil and roast. But either method is ok - just have to be organised and which I, sadly, am not.

7 hour lamb - easy, fairly impressive looking, can't be overdone and freezes nicely if you want.

Beef brisket in the oven on 130 degrees with loads of spices, red wine, stock, carrots and onions cooked for about 6 hours is my fail safe!

Lemon posset trifle is lovely. Put cut up pieces of lemon sponge (can be bought) and raspberries into glasses, then spoon over a little lemon curd. Make the posset by bringing some double cream to the boil, then add sugar and lemon juice. Whisk together and cool mix slightly. Once cooled a little pour over cake and raspberries and put in the fridge to set. before serving Top with whipped cream and more raspberries. Yum!!