Lunch for 8

[WanderlustHenpeck]

I am having some family over for lunch. 6 adults and two kids. Everyone fairly unfussy but quite 'traditional' in their tastes. Usually we will have lasgane or quiche or something similar.

I have a newborn DC and a toddler. I'll be doing the cooking (happy to!) and I want something fairly simple to whip up that doesn't make a lot of mess. I don't want to do bread/cheese/soup etc as they take up loads of room on the table and we don't have that much space.

Any bright ideas for a nice, simple not too heavy lunch? If it can be prepped in advance that's an even bigger bonus!

Jackets with chilli, sour cream, guacamole, grated cheese
Chicken, chickpea and apricot tagine with cous cous (prep in advance, cous cous really easy to do just before serving, easy to jazz up with fresh herbs and pomegranate seeds)
Nice butchers sausages, onion gravy and peas and mash (make mash in advance, add plenty of butter and cream then pipe into individual serving sized swirls on a baking tray, can then reheat in oven before serving, get a really nice crispy shell but lovely creamy middle.)
Fish pie and brocolli.
Chicken, chorizo and pepper tray bake

Salmon en croute realfood.tesco.com/recipes/salmon-en-croute-with-watercress.html This one serves 8, is very simple but delicious with the watercress added. It's freezable too.

Alternatively, this sausage and caramelised onion plait is delicious served warm with leeks or cold with a crispy salad. Also freezable. realfood.tesco.com/recipes/sausage-plait-with-caramelised-onions.html

One of Jamie’s meat tray bakes that has the meat/fish and veg and potatoes all in the same tray.

You’ll prob need 2 trays for 8 people.

chicken fajitas- prep everything before hand and just throw in the pan last minute or bake it in the oven

macaroni cheese - prep ahead and reheat in oven with a simple green salad

make a curry and reheat when needed

tray bake with chicken thighs, chorizo, new pot and peppers/onions with a salad