Can someone inspire me for Sunday lunch?

[headfairy]

We've got a friend coming round, she's really well orf, spends most of her time schmoozing with billionaires in Monacco, and she's coming to our tip of a house for lunch

I'm a pretty good cook, but I do want something fairly uncomplicated that I can do with the kids running around and I don't have to spend hours stirring etc so I can sit and have a few glasses of fizz and a chat. My usual fall back is roast chicken with buttery herbs under the skin, duck fat roast potatoes and some sort of veg, which I don't mind doing again, but it would be nice to ring the changes too.

Shoulder of lamb slow roasted with rosemary and garlic, new potatoes with butter and mint and steamed asparagus? All of that's in season now. The lamb can cook for 5 hours at 140 and it'll fall off the bone.

Delia's summer chicken basque?

I'd stick with what you do well. Surely it's best to reduce stress when entertaining others?

oh gawd, now dh has thrown a spanner in the works and said we should do something Italian... is lasagne a bit too informal for sunday lunch?

I'd say "Great, DH, what are you going to make then?"

Antipasto (no hard work) followed by a big massive paella for everyone to tuck into

haha MadameChinLegs, the man can't boil water without burning it! We were thinking of some kind of antipasto to start, possibly some pannacotta for pud. Can't think what to do in the middle.

Chicken and chorizo one-pot:
Chicken thighs, chunks of chorizo, small/halved new pots, chunks of pepper and red onions, few garlic cloves. All in a casserole, few glugs of olive oil, pepper and some herbs. Cover and cook for 45 mins ish at about 180 til chicken cooked and veg soft. Serve with lots of crusty bread to mop up the juices, and a robust red wine. Even my kids love this

Shoulder of lamb or rib of beef

Slow cooked shoulder of lamb with cannelini beans. It's italiany but also easy...

Add lots of flavours to the liquid (wine, balsamic, stock)

Paella is Spanish...

Whoops!