Something nice to make in advance?

[bigbadbarry]

My parents are popping in for dinner next weekend - this is their Christmas visit. I'd like to cook something a bit special and festive but I don't want to spend the day in the kitchen rather than with them. So I am after suggestions for things to be made in advance - some sort of posh stew? a lovely pie filling? Something that freezes and reheats nicely? TIA

Gammon? Just soak the night before, boil with onion, clove and potatoes and carrots. Is that festive enough?

How about a nice coq au vin, you can make it up in advance and even make some mash in advance, just re heat. Also a raspberry trifle with raspberry liquor, you could make this the day before. enjoy.

to make it more festive you could perhaps have a side of red cabbage and brussels.

Coq au vin prob more festive than gammon (I always cook one for Christmas anyway so will be a bit gammoned out). I should have said, I am doing Nigella's chocolate meringue stack for pudding so is only a main (poss a starter) I need ideas for.

Last 2 years for entertaining I have made the beef and cranberry stew on goodfood site, search beef cranberry it will come up. It's yummy.

That sounds good and Christmassy, will investigate thank you