Last minute entertaining

[Globesround]

Need ideas! We invited 2 families for early dinner tomorrow. Was going to cook a big lasagne before they arrive as I have the day off. Just found out one of my colleagues is very unwell and I need to go into work all day.
Any advice on what to cook? Will now need to shop on way home and will arrive shorty after we get back. Was going to buy a load of anti pasti they can nibble on while i prepare, will give kids pizza. Any quick but tasty ideas for the adults please?

Antipasti, fresh tagliatelle and a ready made or homemade sauce? Big salad, garlic bread. Make meringue/shortbread/brownies buy berries and ice cream.

Explain work situation, apologise for ready made nature of meal.

Chicken breasts stuffed w Boursin or pesto or mozzarella then wrapped in bacon. Baked for 45 mins. Rice or mash. Salad.

Finely sliced chicken breasts, halved mushrooms, juice of a lemon, good shake of paprika, black pepper. Give a good stir and leave for 10 minutes. Turn up heat and stir until chicken is cooked 7-8 mins, turn down heat.

While thats going on cook rice. (1 mug rice stirred into a slice of melted butter, add two mugs boiling water and salt, bring to boil, tight fitting lid and simmer - about 10 mins u til water absorbed). Once that going add boiled water to pack of green beans.

As rice and beans are almost ready add pot of cream to chicken and bit of salt. Put rice and beans i to warmed serving dishes take to table, add chicken to warm dish and take to table with warm plates.

Pudd: strawberries, good vanilla ice-cream and flake.

Will be on the table within 25 minutes.

PS: set table tonight or first thing.

Loads of nibbles as you say, buy two or three top of the range moussaka or lasagna and decant into your own dish, sprinkle liberally with grated cheese and bake.

Pour wine liberally through out the meal.
Ice cream and posh biscuits or a nice cake for pudding.

Thank you! Both great ideas. So used to being organised for folk coming round but these ideas are achievable!