Help! Need easy to make ideas................................................

[chocolaterobin]

I have foolishly agreed to hosting an after xmas get together for all the family as we cant all be together at christmas but have no idea what to cook. It will be for 8 adults. I want to do something that can be prepared in advance as dont really want to spend the whole evening in the kitchen. No special dietry requirements. Budget is middle of the road, want it to be lovely without being hugely expensive. Should add that i have never done this before! Any ideas??

Are you thinking sit down meal or buffet style food?

Sit down meal, thats why i have ended up hosting as have huge table and enough chairs!

Well if you do a traditional style roast you can prepare a lot before hand. Get all the veg ready and pack in airtight boxes in the fridge so that you can just chuck them in the steamer/pan when the time comes. Get frozen roast potatoes or if you really hate those some of the nice fresh ones that are preprepared and you can just pop them in the oven. Make the starter (if you have one) something like pate with melba toasts or nice bread that you just plonk on the table and people help themselves. Keep pudding simple too. You can make up some lovely puds that will keep in the fridge overnight so all you'll need to do is serve up.

I would suggest a chilli or curry. A chilli can be made the day before and then you just have to stcik some rice on. Same applies for Spagetti bolognaise

I always think chili tastes better the next day anyway You can do the same with lasagne and serve it with nice crusty bread or garlic bread.

a casserole, eg chicken thighs & plenty of veg and a bottle of wine, cooked slowly, with a pile of mash and more veg if you like (sliced sprouts fried in garlic butter with bacon is nice)

Some good ideas thanks, am liking the casserole idea as i can just bung it in and forget about it and as for those sprouts they sound lovely!