Freezing food for a party

[goingmadinthecountry]

I've never really used my freezer for anything other than ice,ice cream and bought frozen vegetables. Never batch cooked because there were always 6 of us to start with, and my mother was such a dreadful cook/freezer addict I think I grew up with a bit of a dislike of them.

Dd2(at uni) is having a belated 21st at home on the last day of my term (primary teacher). Am planning on making a couple of big lasagnes. Am I better taking them out of the freezer that morning or cooking from frozen?

Also, can you recommend anything else similar that is worth freezing? Couple of casseroles?

Thank you.

Stews, tagines and curries
Fish / shepherds / cottage pie
Pastry pies

With your lasagne, it doesn't make much of a difference - but obviously will take longer to cook from frozen....

Fish pie - made a fab one with a J Sheekey recipe once! Will do that thank you. Maybe a big chicken pie too.

You could just freeze the lasagne sauce and make the lasagne on the day.

Stews, curry & casseroles do well in freezer

Roasties. Par boil then dust in flour. Allow to cool and at this stage freeze them. On a flat baking sheet at first (covered) then when they're frozen you can pile them in a bag together. Then cook from frozen as you would - hot goose fat or dripping in the oven then pop the potatoes in with enough room each and oil all over and roast from frozen for an hour. Really good!

Will definitely do that for Christmas, thanks, but we'll have 50/60 people for the party so don't think I'm up for roasties for that! Won't get back till 4.30ish on the day either and want to avoid the last minute stressy thing. Can borrow as many slow cookers as I need so casseroles/curries seem a good way to go - at the age of nearly 53 I'm about to use my freezer properly! Must be growing up.

Oh blooming heck that many. Get lots of snacks and canapés that can be passed around so people keep out of your way when you're doing last minute buffet setting out. Have fun!

I have a plan! Have asked neighbours for freezer space and I'm making lasagnes/stews/curry this weekend. Making a shopping list now. Borrowing a couple of slow cookers so can keep food hot when reheated. French bread, green salad and new potatoes. Have already been offered a couple of puddings and will make brownies and pavlovas nearer the time.

Have been a bit distracted because my dad had a very major op today. As that went smoothly I can concentrate on some fun stuff and my little girl's party. Lots of cake ideas saved on my pinterest board - don't think they'll look like that when I do them!!!