I'm crap when it comes to food for entertaining - HELP ME!

[Glitterygookwithchocsonthetree]

We are having friends over on the 23rd - a couple with 2 boys the same age as of ours - so there will be 5 children aged 2-5.5.

Am thinking of doing the children something separate to us earlier on and we'll eat later but I have no idea what to do.

Any wise ideas?

When I want to be able to do most of the meal im advance I will often do something like a beef or wild mushroom strogonaff with rice, served with crusty bread. You can do most of it in advance, and then the final bit with the cream, etc only takes 5-10 minutes just before serving. Also handy when doing a starter too, as not long to finish between courses.

I freeze cottage pie with topping. I find the mash is better for freezing, if you prepare it without milk/butter - I use a potato ricer for this. Then a fut small dabs of butter over mash before reheating, after defrosting.

Have attempted a beef casserole - made it last night and cooked it for 2.5 hours. Will heat again for a good hour tonight - my brothers are the guinea pigs!!